CALF_News_October_November_2020

25 CALF News • October | November 2020 • www.calfnews.net Rawhide Processor by John McDonald 3 Sizes Available! The First Hydrauli c Corral and still the Large st! • Pull on highway at speed limit. • Fits through any gate your pickup will. • Stable on uneven terrain. • Wheels on each panel and electric over hydraulic jack eliminates lifting—saves time. • Permanent sheeted adjustable alley. • Frame gates for sorting. • Transport wheels are permanent, no sliding off the axles and rolling out of the way. Rawhide Original Standard Size Ra whide Portable Corral 900 NO RTHWASHINGTON ST., ABILENE, KS 67410 785.263.3436 ww w.rawhideportablecorral.com a volunteer basis. One or two people could work the squeeze and only a single worker was required in the back.“With the help of Dr. Tom, Bud Williams and learning stockmanship, we’ve come a long way in our handling skills,” she says. “We haven’t used a hot shot in 13 years. There just isn’t a need anymore. One person can use body language to bring the cattle into the holding pens. The rest of the crew can just show up when it’s time to process.” Arhart admits it’s never perfect and they are still learning.“If I’m having trouble with specific animals or the group, I step back and take a minute, because I realize I’m reverting to my old habits. When I’ve taken stock of what I’m doing, the cattle respond, and every- thing works better again.” The commitment and attention to stockmanship skills has changed her entire philosophy on cattle handling and facilities. With the recent challenges faced by the livestock industry, she believes learning and practicing pressure and release will be more cost effective than taking on unnecessary debt to upgrade facilities. “In my view, if we get back to basics – as long as we have safe facilities – we can use our stockmanship skills to work with them. Let’s first try to change ourselves to be better, instead of our facilities,” Arhart advises. Extending the Mindset from Start to Finish They apply the same philosophy of pressure and release to work with and tag newborn calves.“It draws the calf to you and makes the cow feel more com- fortable,” Arhart says.“As you approach her, you back up as she feels the pressure and responds to it. It’s a lot different than when we used to use four-wheelers.” They also use the same consistent tac- tics walking the pastures, pens or when handling new cattle.“Our approach begins the entire process of how the cattle view the facilities and will ulti- mately shape their response. From start to finish, we need to be consistent.” Someone once remarked how their cows were tame and trained.“I laughed,” she says.“We don’t have 500 pet cows. They’re not tame. They know they have to come in, but they also know there will be minimal waiting behind the squeeze chute, and it won’t be a horrible experience.” Arhart emphasizes stockmanship skills allow them to control the working environment and get back to a mindset of effective communication with their cattle. “It’s not just a physical control,” she explains.“We’ve also gained more control of performance and health. It’s good for the cattle and our own mental state.” Arhart’s obvious energy and passion for working with livestock in an effi- cient, productive and humane way has taken her a long distance from hobby farm beginnings to livestock handling authority. Currently, she offers seminars to help other producers benefit from her experiences. She can be reached at www. cattlehandling.com 