Where Science Meets the Herd

What does the world look like to a cow and why do goats spook so easily? New tools are helping people experience how livestock perceive and respond to their surroundings—leading to safer, lower-stress handling for animals and the people who raise them. UC Davis researchers and veterinarians are bringing these tools to ranchers and others, showing how understanding animal behavior improves welfare in real-world settings. In this episode of Unfold, we explore where science meets the herd.

In this episode:

• Cassandra Tucker, professor with the UC Davis animal science department and co-founder of Kinder Ground
• Fauna Smith, assistant professor of livestock herd health and reproduction, UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine
• Thandi Nixon, third-year veterinary student at UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine
• Temple Grandin, professor of animal science, Colorado State University
• Jen Walker, co-founder of Kinder Ground and herd health veterinarian
• Nathan Medlar, owner, NM Ranch
• Ashlynn Kirk, program manager for the Humane Handling Institute at the University of Wisconsin—River Falls

Want to see what it looks like through the eyes of a cow?