(Seneca Falls, NY – June 2013) Handling cattle is serious business. Daily at the Aug. 6 through 8 at the Empire Farm Days at Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls Cornell University Beef Extension Specialist Dr. Michael J. Baker will be demonstrating the proper equipment and techniques for handling cattle and techniques including the farmer-developed ‘Bud Box’ method for safely directing cattle into chutes and pens.
The demonstrations take place daily at 11:30 a.m.
Stockmanship trainer Bud Williams of Springfield, Mo. developed a low stress handling method designed to take advantage of the natural instinct of cattle to return to the place they came from.
While not for every situation, in certain instances, the Bud Box method can further reduce the stress of animal handling, Baker says.
‘A good cattle handling system facilitates routine health management practices such as vaccination and internal parasite control application. For the safety of your animals and yourself, proper handling facilities and the knowledge of how to properly use them are absolute requirements for handling beef cattle,’ Baker says.
The demonstration area is part of the New York Beef Industry Center with the NY Beef Industry Council display and NY Beef Producers BBQ. Center exhibits and activities include a live animal beef breeds display; beef production, management and marketing resources; and information on cattle health, the Beef Checkoff and Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) programs.
NY Beef Industry Council Executive Director Carol Gillis says, ‘A well-designed system for the safe and efficient handling of cattle is one of the most important investments for beginning beef producers, and goes hand-in-hand with the Beef Quality Assurance Program that educates producers on handling and management practices to ensure safe, wholesome beef for consumers.’
Empire Farms Days features 600-plus representatives of agricultural institutions, organizations, and manufacturers; DairyProfit and Equine Center Seminars; farm family life displays and activities; test drives; live animal demonstrations with different types of livestock, and more: www.empirefarmdays.com.