Cattle with docile temperaments are easier and safer to handle. Safer for both the cattle and the person handling them.                                   We cull stringently on temperament.

Temperament is moderately heritable (4), but management practices also affect how animals respond (5).

We do not handle our cattle to make them quiet – we look at their flight speed or reaction in the yard at weaning- but we do use low stress handling methods (6). We do not own a cattle prod.

The cattle do not get handled very often as we do not need to dip or spray – they are truely easy care cattle.

Studies have shown that more excitable cattle have lower average daily weight gains (5). There is also a negative effect on Caracase traits, with a decrease in meat tenderness, and more bruised carcases (7).

Temperament also affects fertility: “calm cattle have greater blood concentrations of luteinising hormone”; calm cattle reach puberty earlier(7).

References

(4) Future Beef Sept 20 (2011).

(5) “Beef Cattle Behaviour and Handling”,Mississippi State University(2019).

(6) Grandin, T & Deesing, M (2008): “Humane Livestock Handling”, Storey Publishing, MA

(7) “How Temperament affects Performance and Quality of Beef Cattle”, Oregon State University, Dec 2009.