Restraining animals

Occasionally, livestock must be restrained for examination and treatment.

Restrain animals with care to ensure safety and a minimum of stress.

Cattle and water buffalo

Grasping the nostrils with thumb and fingers

This is used for thoroughly domesticated cattle and water buffaloes.

Upper jaw held up by a rope

Procedure

1. Double an eight-foot long light rope or sash cord in the middle.

2. Thread the two ends through the resulting loop to form another loop.
3. Slip it slowly over the animal's upper jaw towards the back of the mouth and pull it tight.
4. Tie the other ends of the rope to a post. Be sure that the head is slightly elevated.

Grasping the tail

Procedure

Hold firmly the base of ithe tail and raise it straight over the back of the animal. This is done to restrain the hindquarter section of cattle and water buffaloes.

"Figure 8" method

Wind a rope to create a "Figure 8" around the hocks (just above the main joint). This is used to restrain animals with mastitis (inflamed mammary gland).

Procedure

1. With the use of a light rope, place a "Figure 8" around the hocks. Do not tie the rope. It could cause lameness to the animal.

2. A second person should keep tension on the rope to prevent the animal from walking.

Chute

Figure

Bamboo poles can be used to make a chute. This will Evict the animal's movement and prevent it from kicking.

Procedure

1. Put up four bamboo posts near a tree. They should be strong and wide enough to enclose either cattle or water buffaloes.

2. Guide the animal inside the structure and tie the nose lead closely to a tree or post.

3. Close the chute at the rear end by tying two short poles, one below the anal region and the other at the level of the shanks.

Double-loop method

This method has the advantage of reducing the possibility of injury to either the penis or mammary organ of the animal.

Procedure

1. Tie the animal to a post or tree with the use of a rope.

2. Double a long rope. Put the middle of the long rope over the neck of the animal.
3. Pass one end below the elbow, pass over the back and down the groin at the other side.
4. Do the same with the other end of the long rope on the other side of the animal.
5. Pull the two ends of the rope.

Tying legs to a post or tree trunk

Procedure

1. Tie both forelegs to a post or tree trunk.

2. Then, tie the hindlegs to another post or tree trunk.

Tying all legs together

Procedure

1. First, tie the forelegs together.

2. Then, tie the hindlegs together.

3. Lastly, tie the fore and hindlegs together.

Restraining a calf

Procedure

1. Position yourself at side of the calf.

2. Bend over the animal.

3. Reach over the animal and grasp the fore and hind legs farthest from you.

4. Set the animal down on its side.

Goat

Since goats are smaller than cattle and water buffaloes, they are easier to restrain.

Cradling a kid.

Holding a goat between your knees.

Pinning goat to a solid wall with knees.

"Figure 8" around the hocks

Stanchion

A stanchion is a restraining device that loosely clamps a goat's neck limiting its forward and backward motion while permitting some lateral motion. Stanchions can be made of bamboo or wood.

They can also be built to restrain large ruminants.

It can be used in:

- milking;
- dehorning;
- castration;
- hoof trimming; and,
- clipping of hair.

Pigs

Slipping a rope around the snout

Procedure

1. Double a rope and slip the loop around the pig's snout, behind the pair of long teeth.

2. Fasten it to a tree or to a sturdy post.

Restraining smaller pigs

- Hold the animal's hindlegs firmly.

- Press the body between your knees.

Restraining very large pigs

- Lay the animal on its side.

-Tie the snout and hind legs to posts.

-Tie the animal's snout, then its hindlegs to a post.

Poultry

To restrain poultry, hold the bird by the legs and turn it upside down.