Reducing Stress in Livestock Through Better Handling Knowledge

By Blake Jackson

Stress in livestock can affect many parts of the production cycle, including growth, reproduction, and overall health. Handling animals is necessary on every farm, but it can also be a major cause of stress when not done correctly.

Understanding basic animal behavior helps farmers create calmer environments and reduce problems linked to stress.

Livestock experience the world through their senses, and these senses differ from humans. Much of the research on animal behavior comes from Dr. Temple Grandin, whose work explains how sound, sight, smell, touch, and taste influence animal reactions.

Hearing is especially important for grazing animals like cattle, sheep, and goats. They have sensitive hearing and can easily distinguish between different sounds. Loud noises, such as shouting or slamming gates, can raise their stress levels.

Research shows that animals exposed to these noises have higher heart rates and move more unpredictably. Keeping noise low during handling helps animals stay calm and reduces risk for workers.

Smell plays a smaller role but still matters. Animals can react to pheromones found in urine, especially those released by stressed animals. If one animal becomes stressed in a chute, others may hesitate because they sense those stress signals. A low-stress handling area helps reduce these negative smells.

Touch and taste also influence behavior. Harsh physical handling—such as smacking or hitting—creates negative memories and makes animals harder to move in the future.

Gentle touch, similar to how a mother licks her young, encourages calm behavior. Animals also form taste preferences; for example, molasses is often added to feed because livestock enjoy sweet flavors.

Sight is the most important sense for grazing animals. They have nearly 360-degree vision and constantly scan for danger. Because they are prey animals, sudden movements or blocked views can cause fear. Understanding their field of vision helps handlers move around them safely and guide them more effectively.

By learning how animals use their senses, farmers can understand the reasons behind certain behaviors. Many improvements—such as reducing noise, using calm touch, and designing stress-free handling areas—cost little or nothing.

Lowering handling stress benefits both animals and producers by improving safety, health, and productivity.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar