Special Feature » Animal Handling & Planning Getting stock from here to there Friday, 14 August 2009 Because getting stock through a gate is usually easy due to their “mobbing” instinct, you can almost guarantee that the day you want them to move quickly, there will be a problem. Animals that are slow or reluctant to move will do so if you walk up to them with a firm determined action to let them know YOU are the dominant animal, but never underestimate animals with young.  They see your presence as a threat and will be wary of dogs for the same reason.  When working with calves in a paddock, say for ear tagging, always let the cow see its calf, and if possible keep one hand around the calf’s jaw to stop it bellowing.  Never turn your back on the cow and try to avoid being in a situation where you are backed into a corner or against a fence – if it comes to a battle of wills the cow is likely to win, hooves down. Literally.  If you need to draft a few animals out of a mob try to get a couple of helpers. Hold the stock in the corner and draft off the ones you do NOT want, letting them back behind you into the paddock.  Don’t be surprised if the ones you have drafted off want to come back to join the mob you are working with.  Once you have the selected ones held in the corner, open the gate and let them through watching that the ones left in the paddock don’t charge to join them when they see the gate open.  If you have managed to find some helpers, one person can drive the mob slowly up to the gate with the second person using a drafting stick to cut off the beasts to be drafted.  The third person stays on the gate to cut off the selected animals.  If something goes wrong and you encounter a situation that presents a risk to you  or to your animals – STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND LEAVE IT ALONE.  Come back later and move your stock to a safe yard for handling.