Ag United News

Renowned Livestock Handling Expert to Speak in South Dakota

June 1, 2009 -- SIOUX FALLS, SD – South Dakotans have a unique opportunity to hear from one of the world’s foremost experts on livestock handling.  Dr. Temple Grandin, professor of animal science at Colorado State University and best-selling author, will give a presentation on livestock handling at 10:00 am on Thursday, June 11, at South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Bill Even’s farm near Humboldt. 

 

The free event is open to the public and presented by Agriculture United for South Dakota, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, and South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service.  Lunch will be provided by Ag United for South Dakota, Rural Manufacturing and Montrose Vet Clinic.  The farm’s address is 26243 456th Avenue, Humboldt.  The farm is located 4.5 mile south of Humboldt on South Dakota Highway 19 or 2.5 miles north of the highways 19 and 42 intersection.

 

Dr. Grandin teaches courses on livestock behavior and facility design at Colorado State University and consults with the livestock industry on facility design, livestock handling, and animal welfare.  She has designed livestock handling facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. In North America, almost half of all slaughter cattle are handled in a center track restrainer system that she designed for meat plants.  She has also developed an objective scoring system for assessing handling of cattle and pigs at meat plants.

 

Dr. Grandin has also authored more than 300 articles in both scientific journals and livestock periodicals on animal handling, welfare, and facility design. She is the author of "Thinking in Pictures," "Livestock Handling and Transport," "Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals," and "Humane Livestock Handling."  Her books "Animals in Translation" and "Animals Make Us Human" were both on the New York Times best seller list.  "Animals Make Us Human" was also on the Canadian best seller list.

 

She has appeared on television shows such as 20/20, 48 Hours, CNN Larry King Live, PrimeTime Live, the Today Show, and many shows in other countries.  She has been featured in People, the New York Times, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, Time and Discover magazine.  Interviews with Dr. Grandin have been broadcast on National Public Radio.

 

More information on Dr. Grandin and her research can be found at www.templegrandin.com.

 

Ag United was developed through a collaboration of farm organizations that support livestock production and development and includes the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, South Dakota Farm Bureau, South Dakota Pork Producers Council and the South Dakota Soybean Association. The President of the organization is Volga farmer, Scott VanderWal; the Secretary is Astoria farmer, Dave Iverson.