Calmer Cattle Yield Better Beef

When it comes to raising cattle, a calm approach by handlers is the best way to keep the herd relaxed and reduce the risk of injury to caretakers.

Retired animal scientist John Stuedemann studied the disposition of Angus cattle at the Agricultural Research Service's Natural Resource Conservation Center in Watkinsville, Ga.. Since the researchers handle these cattle so much, Stuedemann believes it's best for these animals to remain as calm as possible. Any excitement can lead to damaging equipment or injuring workers.

As the cattle stream through a cattle chute, they were given a "disposition score" ranging from 1 to 5. A score of 1 means the calf is especially docile and a 5 indicates the critter is extremely rambunctious. Most cattle in Watkinsville fall between 1.0 and 1.9.

Aids that were sometimes used to restrain or hurry cattle through the chute were removed from Watkinsville long ago. Cows are more likely to pass through the chute when pain is removed from the experience, Stuedemann said, and the removal contributes to the animals' calm demeanor.

Calm cattle make life easier for handlers, but sedate animals also tend to be healthier and gain weight quicker. In the five years of custom feeding and care, the 800 steers and heifers posted average daily weight gains from 3.1 to 4.6 pounds. A total of 381 head earned the "Certified Angus Beef" label, while only 30 animals graded "select." The rest earned the grade "Choice" or better.

This research is detailed in the May issue of Agricultural Research magazine.