2 Flight zone. Cattle are herd animals and are classified as a prey species. They have natural defenses against predators, such as escape or flight behaviors. The flight or escape zone is generally referred to as the area around them that, when invaded by the unwelcome, will cause them to move away. As cattle interact more with their handlers and regular surroundings, the flight zone can become smaller and they can be approached more readily.
3 Stimulus area. This is the buffer area outside the flight zone in which controlled stimulus, when applied efficiently, will cause the cow to move as intended by the handler. “Stimulus” here refers to human presence and action only, not prods, whips or any other physical tools. It is also more successful when only one person applies stimulus at a time.
4 Depth perception. Cows have limited close-up depth perception, making stepping over a curb, onto a shadow, or walking off the edge of a bedded pack potentially new to them. If those conditions are present in their environment, they will need to be handled repeatedly in order for them to learn not to over-react.
5 Hearing. Cattle have a broader hearing range than humans in frequency of kilohertz and will respond to quieter noises and higher pitches that humans cannot hear. Reducing or eliminating loud noises, including shouting, whistling and clanging gates, will help reduce stress and adrenaline production.
6 Stage of life. Regular, calm interaction with humans should begin with newborn calves. Young animals of all species (including humans) have “brain plasticity,” which means they have a tremendous ability to absorb and retain knowledge when they are very young. The transition period between hutches and group housing is a critical time to practice stockmanship to help them interact more calmly with humans, find out where their feed and water are, and become acclimated to having pen mates. Calving time is another period that requires careful stockmanship, because maternal instincts can cause cows to become more aggressive and more easily startled. As a stockman, always leave yourself an escape route when handling close-up animals.
7 Flow of movement. Once a cow is moving in the intended direction, it is ideal to keep her moving and not interrupt that positive flow. Facility design plays an important role here. Placing cows in holding areas before they enter the parlor is not ideal, and crowd gates and “cow pushers” can cause severe stress. An example of constant, positive flow is the rotary parlor, which promotes positive flow and provides a very calming, regular routine to the cow.