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Scottish Handling Facilities
The results of this survey illustrate that there is considerable scope in Scotland for adopting handling approaches which make use of cattle behaviour to aid calm movement and reduce the risk of injuries to both handlers and cattle.
Routine use of handling pens on Scottish beef farms
Yes No Total Number of responses % Number of responses % Permanent pens in steading 108 93.1 8 6.9 116 Permanent pens in field 17 14.7 99 85.3 116 Portable pens 44 37.9 72 62.1 116
Design of forcing pens
Yes No Total Number of responses % Number of responses % Curved 5 4.6 104 95.4 109 Funnel Present 61 59.8 41 40.2 102
Design of races
Yes No Total Number of responses % Number of responses % Curved 10 9.9 91 90.1 101 Backstops present 55 52.9 49 47.1 104 Catwalk present 11 10.9 90 89.1 101
Design of crushes currently used in Scotland
The average age of crushes in this survey was 11 years with a range of 0-50 years.
Yes No Total Number of responses % Number of responses % Self-locking head gate? 77 68.8 35 31.2 112 Back gate present 87 78.4 24 21.6 111 Rump bar present 74 67.9 35 32.1 109
Weighing facility present
42
37.5
70
62.5
112
Shedding facility present
33
29.5
79
70.5
112