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Precautionary Measures
The following are precautionary measures that are recommended to
anyone when working with livestock.
Be alert. It is impossible to fully know or predict an animals actions. Always
be aware of what is happening around you. This is particularly important
when handling livestock at sunrise and sunset when livestock are most
active.
Keep animals together. Livestock will be more calm and cooperative
when in groups. When alone, they quickly become agitated and frightened
making them dangerous and difficult to handle.
Carefully approach animals. Because of the placement of their eyes,
cattle have approximately a 270 degree range of vision. Despite their
range of vision, cattle have poor depth perception, and are unable to see
behind them. To reduce risk, always announce yourself when approaching
an animal.
Leave yourself an out. Never enter small enclosed areas with livestock.
If unavoidable, always be sure there is always a fast and easy method of
escape.
Avoid quick movements and loud noises. Livestock can startle and
frighten easily. Move slowly and deliberately around livestock. Be careful
not to create excess noise.
Be patient. When working with livestock in a crowding pen, chute, or
squeeze, prodding an animal when it has no place to go is dangerous.
Animals can react quickly and violently.
Respect livestock. Do not fear them. Underestimating an animal's size,
strength, and speed can result in serious injury. Always consider mature
males to be dangerous. Be aware of animals who are sick, injured, or
otherwise frightened.
Livestock Safety
3
One of the most important issues for consideration when handling
livestock is safety. Although considered domesticated animals, working
with livestock carries with it an inherent risk of danger. It is important
to understand that livestock have both instincts and habits, known as
behavior patterns, that are based on actions that make them the most
comfortable. These instincts and habits allow them to react to changes in
their environment.
Many instincts and habits are strong and potentially dangerous. Using
common sense, practicing caution, and understanding livestock behavior
can greatly reduce a handlers risk and enable him or her to work safely
with livestock. The following information details some important livestock
behaviors as well as cautionary tips to practice when handling livestock.
Safety Labels
Your implement comes equipped with all safety labels in place. They were
designed to help you safely operate your Roping Chute.
1. Read and follow their directions.
2. Keep all safety labels clean and legible.
3. Replace all damaged or missing labels. To order new labels go to your
nearest Priefert Dealer.
4. Some new equipment installed during repair requires safety labels to
be affixed to the replaced component as specified by Priefert. When
ordering new components make sure the correct safety labels are
included in the request.
5. Refer to this section for proper label placement.
iv
2
NOTICE
BEFORE OPERATION
LUBRICATE ALL MOVING
PARTS WITH WD-40
Livestock Behaviors
3
• Animals who are used to being around other livestock can become
frightened and agitated when separated, becoming dangerous and
difficult to handle.
• The maternal instinct is also very powerful. Many times these instincts
are not evident in an animal's behavior until shortly after giving birth. It
is important to recognize these behavior patterns and use appropriate
caution.
• Another behavior pattern that livestock may exhibit is a territorial instinct.
Feed time is when this instinct is most readily observable.
• A valuable behavior is the instinct to follow the leader. Often times, all
that is required is to begin one animal moving and the rest will follow.
• Livestock exhibit the most activity at sunrise and sunset. In contrast,
livestock are the most inactive during night and at midday.
• The flight zone is one of the most important principles regarding
livestock behavior and safe handling. It is an animal's personal space.
Livestock will react in a variety of ways according to a handlers activities
relative to their flight zone. For example, livestock will face a handler
and maintain a safe distance, when the handler is outside their flight
zone. In contrast, livestock will turn away from a handler who enters
their flight zone. Individual animals will have flight zones of varying size.
Working from the edge of the flight zone will generally keep livestock
calm and manageable.
• The point of balance is another important behavioral principle to
understand. An animal's point of balance is located at their shoulders.
An animal will move depending on a handlers position relative to
their point of balance. This principle can be used to calmly and easily
encourage livestock through crowding pens, chutes, and squeezes. For
example, when a handler stands behind the animal's point of balance,
the animal will move forward. When the handler stands in front of an
animals point of balance, the animal will stop or back up. To encourage
an animal forward, simply walk towards the animal, crossing the point of
balance, and it will move forward.
Remember that livestock draw upon past experiences and treatment
when reacting to a situation.
Additional information is provided in the Appendix at the
end of this manual.
Applying new labels:
1. Clean the area the label is to be placed.
2. Wipe the surface dry.
3. Peel backing from label.
4. Press firmly onto the surface.
Use a small straight edge plastic (credit card) to squeeze out air bubbles
working from the center out towards the sides.
D964
OPMAN-RC98AI_v2-0720
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