When I was visiting neighbors' farms as a kid I was fascinated by the way cows would come into the barn and find their own stanchion (I guess that kind of dates me). If nothing was out of the ordinary they would simply plod to their own bed of straw and dig into their scoop of grain, moving much like I moved—slow and relaxed.

But if anything was out of place, look out; or worse yet, if a strange kid was standing in their alley, it was a different story. The occasional leaf blowing past or barn cat on its way to the dining room could cause a major bottleneck in the bovine flow. The young observer, when observed by the cows, could cause total gridlock—and an education in expletives sometimes followed by the cliché "excuse my French" from the attending herdsman.

These simple childhood observations point out several concerns in livestock management techniques. An understanding of a cow's natural response to various stimuli is critical. Here are some points to remember:

• Cows have poor depth perception and see only in black and white. This could cause a shadow on the floor to appear like a hole. They need time to look it over and decide if it is safe.

• Cows are creatures of habit. The more routine their handling and surroundings can be, the more comfortable and cooperative they will be.

• They usually respond to their handler in the same way as they are handled. Calmness and patience usually pay off.

• Cows have a personal space (like we do) called a "flight zone." When a person gets too close, they will try to move away.

• If you move into their flight zone ahead of their shoulder, they will move backward. If you move in from behind their shoulder they will move ahead.

• Cows don't like surprises. They can see in every direction except directly behind them, so approach them from the side, talk gently to them and put your hand on them so they know you are there.

• Cows are gregarious. That means they are happy in the company of others and don't like to be alone. If you need to move a cow to another location she will go much more easily if a few of her friends are allowed to go along as far as possible.

• Cows are more willing to move into lighter, brighter areas rather than dark areas. Use soft lighting that will not cast distinct shadows that could spook them.

• Keep curious kids—and other visitorsl—away from paths where cows will be moving.

• Even a normally calm cow can become aggressive if she feels her calf is threatened – keep visitors away from them.

Sometimes the places where cows walk can be improved to encourage smoother movement.

• Walk where your cattle walk. Look for nails sticking out, broken boards, and debris blowing in the breeze. Remove anything that could distract or startle them.

• Alleys should be wide enough for them to easily move through but not so wide that they can turn around. Solid sides will allow fewer distractions than wire or open sides.

• Keep floors free of clutter and as dry as possible. Grooving and a slight slope improve drainage.

• Minimize sharp corners that may appear to be a dead end. Gentle curves and angles will allow cows to see ahead to where they are going.

You can make a big difference in your own safety, too.

• Whenever possible use a calm but firm tone of voice and a gentle but decisive touch.

• Build in "man passes" or narrow escape routes in barns where a person can safely get away from an excited animal—and the cow can’t follow.

• Anyone working with large animals should wear proper protective equipment such as boots with good non-slip tread and safety toes. Protect your lungs with a dust mask when working with dusty bedding and use gloves to protect your hands from strong cleansers.