Electric prods are commonly used to move cattle but cause pain and fear. Best practice guidance and welfare standards restrict their use to reduce welfare compromise.
Electric prods cause clear pain responses and fear in cattle, and habitual use creates chronically fearful animals that are harder and more dangerous to handle. The irony is that farms relying heavily on prods have worse cattle handling outcomes than those using low-stress techniques. Training in Temple Grandin-based low-stress stockmanship, using flags and minimal pressure on flight zone boundaries, moves cattle effectively without pain. Reducing electric prod use is both a welfare improvement and a practical production advantage.