Agricultural Science students Aleisha Guest and Bree O’Reilly share their experience with cattle handling placement at the Murdoch University campus farm.

As part of the Livestock Production Systems Career Skills unit this semester, we’ve both had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with cattle at the on-campus farm. These weekly sessions have allowed us to strengthen our animal handling skills and build confidence working with a large cattle herd in a day-to-day setting.  

Over the semester, we participated in a range of essential tasks, including mustering, head bailing, weighing, ear tagging, and general health checks. We also spent time observing and analysing cattle behaviour, which was very valuable for learning how to implement low-stress stock handling techniques.

The on-campus farm allowed us to develop skills relevant to cattle farming in a safe, supervised, urban setting. Having a gradual progression of activities allowed us to begin with foundational tasks like moving cattle through races and crushes, then moving onto more involved skills such as haltering and applying temporary restraints.

Each session was hands-on, and we were encouraged to take an active role in the process.

Animal welfare was a key emphasis during the sessions. From feeding treats to reinforce positive behaviour, to simply taking the time to be patient with nervous animals, we saw how small, considerate actions made a big difference in how the cattle responded.

This placement is suitable for students looking to gain experience and knowledge working with cattle in an environment designed for novice handlers. It offers the chance to learn core livestock production skills and build confidence with animals, which are all foundational for future roles in animal science, agriculture, or veterinary medicine.

Alongside the practical skills we gained, one of the most rewarding parts of the experience was forming new friendships with classmates who shared similar interests and goals in the animal industries.

We took the time to ask the class demonstrator Mikayla Mauger some questions, and two fellow classmates.

Mikayla Mauger - Agricultural Science graduate and lead demonstrator

How did you get into working with cattle?

Mikayla: My first real experience with cows was on a dairy farm for my extramural farm experience placements, which I absolutely loved and fell in love with cows! From there I did my honours in dairy calves and began working with the ANS101 (first year unit) practicals. A few years down the track and now I'm the lead cattle demonstrator for ANS101 and cattle experience!

What’s your goal for students to achieve during these sessions?

Mikayla: To give students a hands-on experience with the cows, allowing them to gain confidence and have a variety of experiences. It's quite gratifying to see how everyone grows throughout the sessions, both the students and the cows themselves. Also, who doesn't enjoy a good snack and pat session?

Olivia Hawkins - Agricultural Science student

What did you gain from taking the class?

Olivia: Overall general knowledge about cattle and how to work with them safely.

Who would you recommend the class for?

Olivia: I would recommend the class to first year students that have limited to no hands-on experience. It is a good opportunity to get insight into cattle before commencing harder classes.

Tanya Kanjrak - Agricultural Science student

What did you gain from taking the class?

Tanya:  I gained practical hands-on experience working with cattle. I learned basic handling techniques and knots. I took part in routine health assessments, such as dental checks and monitoring cows’ weight and demeanour. I also gained experience in tagging and drafting cattle. This helped me build confidence in safely managing livestock and understanding their behaviour in a production setting.

Who would you recommend the class for?

Tanya: I would recommend the placement for veterinary, animal, and agricultural science MU students who want to gain hands-on experience with livestock and have an easy commute.