A Carbondale-area ranch is seeking advice from one of the foremost experts on animal husbandry. Temple Grandin visited Sustainable Settings July 28th. She spoke with ranchers about animal behavior and consulted on a planned construction project. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen reports.
A big beige and white dairy cow ambles into the milking room at Sustainable Settings farm and ranch. Herdsman ZopherSabo is milking Ruby as Temple Grandin looks on.
"She’s nice and relaxed, chewing her cud," says Grandin. "She wouldn’t be doing that if she wasn’t relaxed.”
Grandin consults the livestock industry and teaches animal science at Colorado State University. She has autism and in 2010 was listed in Time Magazine as one of the most influential people in the world. Her early life has been documented in a film starring Claire Danes.
After ten minutes, or so, Ruby’s done milking. Sabo scoots her out to pasture with the other cows. He’s excited Grandin’s here.
"I hope to spend all day with her today and learn everything I can," he says.
Dressed in her signature western shirt and scarf, Grandin goes over animal behavior - how it’s good for cows not to be too sheltered so they can adapt to changes in routine. The conversation also touches on cattle temperament and how to handle cows.
"We’ve talked about cattle learning and mistakes people make trying to move cattle. One of the basic principles is, when the animal does something you want, back off. Like if you twist the tail a bit to make him move, let go! Let go! Oftentimes people fail to do that.”
Grandin’s research and her own experiences with autism have helped her understand how animals act, think and feel. At Sustainable Settings, she’s impressed with how tame the cows are.
"It’s very obvious here that their dairy stockperson is really good with the cows. We went into the milking room and pet the cow while she was getting milked. They were absolutely calm - they were chewing their cud while being milked. That’s a sign of a relaxed cow."
A relaxed cow produces more milk. Grandin’s research has shown stressed cows have lower conception rates and reduced immune function. She’s designed livestock facilities around the world aimed at improving the animal’s experience. Now, Sustainable Settings is hoping to tap into her expertise.
"We’ve got a new dairy barn that we’re designing," says Brook Le Van. He runs the 244-acre ranch.
"Even though we’re dairy and have high contact with the animals, there are still welfare issues we want to design into the new building and the new cattle handling pens and lanes. So, having her eye on it, and her sensitivity is really exciting for us."
The 2000 square foot raw milk dairy operation still needs approval from Pitkin County. Grandin’s input will inform the design, and chutes and pens the cattle move through.
Grandin’s visit to Carbondale Tuesday also included two public lectures on livestock management and autism. Both sold out.