Cattle handling systems

Summary

This project aimed to improve enterprise profitability and reduce stress on animals by completing development and commercialisation of a cow/calf separator, walk-over scale and weight-based drafting system. Although these systems have mainly been developed for application in extensive beef production in north Australian, it is apparent that the technology could also easily be transferred to other aspects of the cattle industry as well as other animal industries.

The cow/calf separator system allows self-drafting of different classes of animal at a trap mustering yard. Calves and weaners are drafted into portable yards for processing on site or removal to yards. Handling time and costs, as well as stress on operators and animals, are all reduced, which means that a number ofweanings can be carried out during the year depending on seasonal variation in rainfall, pasture growth, herd health and body condition.

Thus, calves can be removed from cows at the optimal time, reducing lactational stress on breeders and conserving body condition, leading to decreased mortality and improved fertility. The management problems and supplementary feeding costs associated with early weaning will also be reduced. The 'Lapweigh' walk-over scale will allow cattle to be weighed without operator intervention and without the necessity of holding cattle on a weighing platform. It will provide producers with regular updates on animal weights, allowing them to make better-informed management decisions, such as when to start feeding supplement, mate heifers and the timing of tum-off.

The data can also be used to predict when the cattle will meet target weights and enable description for sale. Thus, animals do not have to be mustered to yards for weighing, so reducing handling stress and costs, and making the whole process more efficient. The NQ weight-drafter system will allow automatic drafting of cattle on the basis of Iiveweight and, if placed at a site that the animals pass through regularly, will also provide a regular record of animal weight changes.

Thus, it would make the selection of cattle for sale more efficient and the requirement for traditional musters to yards would be reduced as it would be possible to trap the selected cattle in to temporary yards at the water enclosure. As with the Lapweigh scale, handling stress and costs would be reduced. It would also allow different feeding regimes to be targeted to particular cattle making supplementary feeding more efficient, with the food being directed to where it is needed.