Temple Grandin's Guide to Working with Farm Animals

About the Book

Revered animal behavior expert Temple Grandin offers small-scale farmers of all levels her unique insights into cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, along with practical guidance on how to safely and humanely move, handle, and restrain livestock.

Book Synopsis

Award-winning author Temple Grandin is famous for her groundbreaking approach to decoding animal behavior. Now she extends her expert guidance to small-scale farming operations. Grandin's fascinating explanations of how herd animals think -- describing their senses, fears, instincts, and memories -- and how to analyze their behavior, will help you handle your livestock more safely and effectively. You'll learn to become a skilled observer of animal movement and behavior, and detailed illustrations will help you set up simple and efficient facilities for managing a small herd of 3 to 25 cattle or pigs, or 5 to 100 goats or sheep.

From the Back Cover

Expert Knowledge for Small Farms

Keep your animals calm and safe with Temple Grandin's groundbreaking insights and methods, now tailored specifically for small farms. Understand the behavior, fears, and instincts of cattle, goats, pigs, and sheep, and set up the most humane, healthy, and productive systems and facilities on your farm.

Farm Smarter with Dr. Grandin's Principles:
- Gather and drive your herd by working with grazing animals' instincts for avoiding predators.
- Move your herd at the pace of its slowest member.
- The leader of the herd or flock is usually not the dominant animal.
- Moving sheep through a gate is like siphoning water; never break the flow of their follow-the-leader instinct.
- Prevent many serious behavior problems by raising young animals in social groups with other animals.

Review Quotes

"Grandin gets to the finest points of animal husbandry, providing perceptive insights into animals' physical strengths, weaknesses, and emotional capabilities. Augmented by finely wrought illustrations that delineate pastures, pens, chutes, and handling facilities, Grandin's guidebook is an essential resource for anyone involved with livestock management on any scale." -- Booklist

"Written for ranchers who manage herds of 100 or less, Temple Grandin's Guide to Working with Farm Animals details key tenets of responsible livestock farming such as designing more humane corrals and chutes." -- Modern Farmer

"Dr. Grandin has a unique ability to see things through the eyes of animals, and reading this book helps us to learn how to be compassionate toward them. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand farm animals." -- Adele Douglas, executive director of Humane Farm Animal

"In 45 years of working with animals, I've met no one who even comes close to Dr. Grandin's empathetic understanding of animals' minds and behavior. Here she anticipates the questions someone new to livestock might have and in a highly readable and thoughtful manner explains how to create a good life for these animals." -- Bernard E. Rollin, professor of philosophy and animal sciences at Colorado State University

"Temple Grandin walks in two worlds -- human and animal. As she gazes into the animal world, she sees, understands, and knows, then interprets for us. With her help, we, too, can begin to understand." -- Dr. Nancy A. Irlbeck, comparative animal nutritionist and shepherdess

"It would be hard to overstate the impact Temple Grandin has had on slaughterhouses: it has been nothing short of revolutionary. Turning her attention to what's happening on farms is excellent news for people and farm animals alike." -- Bill Niman, rancher and founder of BN Ranch and Niman Ranch

"A brilliantly written book that should be required reading for anyone working with livestock. Temple Grandin perfectly verbalizes the common sense and observational skills needed to build healthy, safe, and less stressful working relationships between humans and the animals they keep." -- Jeannette Beranger, senior programs manager at The Livestock Conservancy