Cattle Prod - Regular Prods

Regular Prods

Regular cattle prods can actually be anything from a stick (goad) or piece of pipe, to a manufactured fiberglass rod with a rubber handle. Most prods also have a rubber tip, though some have metal tips with dull barbs (in a similar design to a fire poker) for herding stubborn animals. A Wiffleball bat is also often used as an effective prod because the hollow plastic bat makes a sharp ringing sound when slapped against the skin.

Unlike hotshots, regular prods are simply used to tap, strike, or poke an animal (usually on the flanks), depending on how stubborn the animal is. Sometimes, a prod can be used as a sort of "extended fence", allowing one to simply intimidate skittish animals away from open gates or downed fences without having to touch them.