Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a highly engaging and informative livestock handling workshop organised by Teagasc and facilitated by internationally renowned animal welfare expert, Miriam Parker.

The day-long event was split between a morning session at the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny and a practical, on-farm session at James McKean’s farm in Lifford and it proved to be a very enjoyable and worthwhile day.

Miriam Parker brings decades of experience in livestock handling, animal behaviour, and facility design.

Having studied in Edinburgh, she went on to work in livestock production and education before taking on the role of Technical Director at the Humane Slaughter Association in 1987.

In 2000, she founded her consultancy, Livestock-wise, providing expert guidance on animal handling and welfare across farms, processing plants, and research institutions around the world.

Her outstanding contributions to animal welfare earned her an MBE in 2006.

Despite her scientific background, what stands out most is her down-to-earth, practical approach and deep respect for animals.

The workshop was grounded in a simple but powerful concept: see the world through the eyes of a cow.

We began by exploring how cattle perceive their environment through their senses, sight, smell, hearing, and touch and how understanding these can transform the way we manage and interact with them.

We discussed herd behaviour, dominance, hierarchy, and leadership – what it really means for animals to live in groups and how they respond to social dynamics.

Miriam explained how a cow learns and how genetic traits and temperament influence their responses to people, surroundings, and stress.

A key part of the session focused on fear and anxiety – what causes it in cattle and how we can reduce it through better design, planning, and stockmanship.

Concepts like flight zones and pressure-and-release handling were clearly explained and demonstrated later in the day on the farm.

Despite her scientific background, what stands out most is her down-to-earth, practical approach and deep respect for animals

The second half of the day gave us a practical look at handling systems.

Miriam highlighted what makes a unit truly fit for purpose: one that works with animal instincts rather than against them.

Design principles, layout, and animal flow were discussed with clarity and insight.

The difference these adjustments can make - for both animal welfare and handler safety – was made immediately obvious. Overall, I found the day really useful.

It wasn’t just full of good information, it also gave me a lot to think about.

Miriam has loads of experience and explains things in a way that’s easy to understand.

I came away with practical tips, a better understanding of how animals think and behave, and a new way of looking at how to handle cattle safely and calmly.