Veterinarian Tom Noffsinger of Benkelman, Neb., will demonstrate the low-stress “Williams technique” for cattle handling at two July seminars.

Weaning is a very stressful time in a calf’s life. It can probably be compared to taking a rancher from western Nebraska to New York City. Neither will have to be in this new environment very long before the stress levels are very high and they want to go back to their familiar surroundings as soon as possible.

At weaning, we often transport the calves in a noisy, crowded truck to a feedyard where we ask them to eat a strange mixture of feed and drink from a smelly, noisy water tank. To make it worse, we ask them to continue to add weight – and by no means get sick. Then, while the stress levels are near their highest, we vaccinate them and hope that some of them respond. Admittedly, this may sound like an exaggeration, but it is not far from the truth.

Research conducted on the effects of these added stressors found that, if improperly handled from the start, calves’ performance, health and carcass grading was compromised. Several years ago, Bud Williams started conducting cattle-handling seminars in some southern states. After cattlemen started raving about the benefits of the “Bud Williams Technique,” veterinarian Tom Noffsinger of Benkelman, Neb., invited Williams to work with some Nebraska producers. The results were very eye opening, and Noffsinger started conducting the trainings himself.

For the past several years, Noffsinger has been conducting these clinics throughout the Midwest. He recommends that Williams’ low-stress handling techniques start when calves first get to the pen. “It’s important to give newly received calves a good first impression of their new surroundings,” Noffsinger says. “Often calves want to walk the pen or stand at the back of the pen. It is our goal for them to feel comfortable at the front of the pen near the water and feed. Once acclimated, they will start to eat and drink quicker, which directly affects their overall health and performance.”

The Williams technique is also used when processing the cattle. Many operations that have implemented this technique have essentially eliminated their hotshot use. The overall concept is not only beneficial to cattle but also employees. By following these techniques, their jobs are easier and less stressful. The overall goal of this handling is to make cattle perform better and more profitably.

Programs such as these fit well with Nebraska Cattlemen’s Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. With less stress on animals and workers, beef quality will improve. In addition, when fewer cattle are sick and need treatment, we have fewer chances to damage any edible beef tissue.

Often when we mention BQA, we think only about injection sites. But the Williams handling program encompasses our entire beef production system, which obviously includes proper handling and overall cattle management.

As part of NC’s goal of more educational programs for cattle producers, the association will be conducting two such trainings this summer – July 10 at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory near Whitman and July 11 in Broken Bow at the Custer County Fairgrounds. The clinics will be all-day seminars with the morning spent in classroom training and the afternoon focusing on live demonstrations. A meal will be provided.

In order for NC to plan for the meetings, please RSVP to the NC office in Alliance at (308) 762-3005 by July 1. These seminars are open to all cattle producers in the state and we encourage all to attend. With sponsorship provided by Vita-Ferm Feeds and Daniels Manufacturing, the cost to producers is only $20 for this excellent cattle-handling training. 

By Scott Reynolds, a Broken Bow veterinarian and adviser to NC’s BQA program.