We see how the usage of products such as implants, ionophores, and other inputs affect animal productivity and profitability but that value of low stress handling is hard to quantify.

For some time, handling techniques of cattle have been debated and advocated, but the impact on animal performance is not frequently included in such conversations. The impact of stockmanship on behavior and animal performance has been studied in some detail, and additional study is being done in this area.
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While Managing Cattle
When working or managing cattle, good stockmanship and low-stress handling techniques include making use of the animals' natural instincts. It involves the handlers acting and moving quietly and calmly, modifying and redesigning facilities and equipment if there are trouble spots that obstruct cattle flow, and acclimating the cattle to handlers before the animals need to be moved out of their pens for normal management procedures. It also entails fostering a favorable culture for the treatment of animals. A line I always like to refer back to is, “You can tell a lot about the success of an operation by the way they treat their animals.”

Low Stress Stockmanship influences Cattle Performance
Low-stress stockmanship techniques have been shown to result in better growth rates for
cattle. 19 to 95 days after Feedlot arrival, abruptly weaned feeder cattle that were acclimated and handled using low-stress practices had an increased rate of gain of 2.92 lb/day vs 2.70
lb/day for conventionally handled cattle and had 29 lb heavier hot carcass weights.

Low Stress Practices
Cattle will become less difficult to handle over time with a nice, low-stress initial handling
Experience. Animal stress may be significantly reduced by giving new cattle regular attention
during their first few days in a new area. Consistency fosters trust, which improves the handling process.
Control animal movement and guide it in the desired direction. Don’t try to force or chase cattle where you want them.
What cattle do when we are there is influenced by the position, posture, and movement of the handler. Their movements are within our control.
Low-stress cattle handling and strong stockmanship techniques can enhance performance, lower production costs, and boost profits. Not to mention, it’s just the right thing to do. Stockmanship Clinics by Tom Curtin.