Beef cattle production and management
Practical Action
Chapter Two
Handling and kraal facilities
Introduction
Management of cattle involves dipping, hand dressing, vaccination, branding, weighing,
dehorning, castration, earmarking, pregnancy testing, drafting, loading and treatment of sick
animals. This requires that cattle are handled about 50 times per annum. Cattle management
starts with a properly designed kraal that has plenty of room for the number of cattle that will use
it 2-3 square metres for each animal.
Objective:
By the end of this session, the participants will be familiar with:
The importance of good handling facilities
Castration
Dehorning methods
Dosing
Dipping
Weighing
Choosing sites
Materials:
A picture showing different handling methods; burdizzos, flip chart and markers, dehorning iron,
elastrator ring and applicator, knife, dosing gun or bottle, weighing band
Duration:
1 hr
Method:
Group Discussion
Divide the participants into three groups and ask each group to discuss the following questions:
Group One: What do you know about castration and what is its importance?
Group Two: What do you know about dehorning and what is its importance?
Group Three: What do you know about dipping and weighing? What is their importance?
The groups share the results of their discussions in the plenary. Give a summary on the flip
chart.
Demonstrate to the participants how to perform castration and dehorning.
Important considerations in handling facilities
Site
Choose a site that is accessible by cattle and motor transport. The slope should endure surface
drainage (2-3%), have a well-drained soil type where the work area can back into the prevailing
wind; have adequate shade and a nearby permanent water supply. A shade is necessary
(east to west 2,5m height). Protection is also important (kraals should be built on western side
of a natural shelter, for example, a bush, to protect animals from western winds)
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