Alter Rations

Here's something to ruminate about.

Click here to see the author's backround info, and read on to see her point of view.


Male Aggression

Most of the hazards discussed previously are caused by fearful animals. Bulls are involved in many animal fatalities, and when they are agitated in squeeze chutes, it is likely that their behavior is motivated by fear. However, in some cases, aggression causes a bull to attack a person because he perceives the person as a conspecific (herdmate), and he attempts to dominate.

Dairy bulls are notorious for attacking people. Why is the dairy bull more dangerous than most beef bulls? The difference in beef and dairy bull behavior may be explained by the difference in rearing methods. Beef bull calves are reared on the mother cow, whereas most dairy bull calves are bucket fed by people. Research by Edward Price and his associates at the University of California found that Hereford bulls reared in groups were less likely to attack people than bulls bucket fed in individual pens.47 Seventy five percent of the individually reared bulls threatened handiers.47 In 1000 dam-reared bulls, only one bull attacked.47

Bulls that grow up with other cattle learn that they are bulls. Individually reared bulls may think they are people, and when they become mature, they may challenge a person to exert dominance. Bull calves reared with other cattle usually direct their challenges toward other bulls instead of people.

To reduce risk on beef cattle operations, an orphan bull calf should either be castrated or placed on a nurse cow. Castration at a young age reduces aggression toward people. Practical experience in dairies indicates that bull calves reared together in large groups are less likely to attack people. After a short period of individual rearing, 6-week-old bull calves are penned together. Orphan male calves, lamas,54 and buck deer also have been known to attack people. A basic principle is that most grazing animals reared by their own species have less of a tendency to attack people. Same-species rearing is especially important very early in life.

There is a fundamental difference between grazing animals and carnivores such as dogs. The owner of a dog may become, in effect, leader of the pack, and there is no risk involved in this transference. However, the owner of grazing animals may be perceived as a herdmate, and there is risk from a mature, intact bull.


The preceding was borrowed from:
SAFE HANDLING OF LARGE ANIMALS
(CATTLE AND HORSES)

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE: State of the Art Reviews
Vol.14, No.2, April-June 1999
Philadelphia, Hanley & Belfus, Inc.

http://www.grandin.com/references/safe.html

citations:
47 Price EO, Wallach SJR: Physical isolation of herd reared Hereford bulls increases aggressiveness towards humans. Appl Anim Behav Sci 27:263-267, 1990.
54 Tillman A: Speechless brothers: The history of care of llamas. Seattle, Eavy Winters Press, 1981.