The design and layout of a livestock holding facility is very intricate. Many factors, including safety, are considered when choosing a design. The better the layout, the easier it is on workers to get livestock where they need to go, whether they need to be transported or fed. Many animals are very aware of their surroundings and a wrong angle of a narrow pen can throw off the whole process. Also, one slip can cause panic throughout the whole herd.
Tips for safe livestock handling:
- Move small groups of animals
- Do not overcrowd pen, fill it only ½ full
- Handlers should understand the basic concept of flight zone and point balance
- Keep animals calm; calm and quiet animals can be moved more easily
- Ranches and facilities must have non-slip flooring
Non-slip flooring is designed for use in stockyards, veterinary facilities, truck loading pens, ranch corrals, feedlot cattle handling systems and slaughter plants. Flooring is designed to provide safety during animal handling. Non-slip metal floor grating can be used in high traffic areas for beef cattle. It is also recommended for cattle scales, stunning boxes, crowd pens and the area in front of a squeeze chute. Long, narrow pens are another area that should be slip resistant; animals enter through one end and leave through the other.
SLIPNOT manufactures non-slip metal flooring products that can be used in any slippery situation within livestock holding facilities. Non-slip metal products can be fabricated to specifications and installed easily or current flooring can be coated and re installed at the facility. Anti slip flooring keeps animals and workers safe.
Grandin, Temple “Applied Animal Behavior Science” CAB International.
Grandin, Temple. “Non Slip Flooring for Livestock Handling”. Colorado State University
