National Farm Safety and Health Week was September 16-22. Agriculture continues to rank as one of the most dangerous occupations in North America. According to the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), there were 596 deaths and 70,000 disabling injuries attributed to agriculture in 2010. Unfortunately we all know too much about injuries, big and small, that happen on the farm. Continuing safety education is a step to reducing these numbers.
According to Craig Payne, DVM, director of Veterinary extension and continuing education and assistant extension professor for the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine; “Understanding cattle behavior is the most important factor for moving cattle effectively and safely. Second, is making sure working facilities, loading chutes, trailers and other cattle handling equipment are in good condition before using them.”
Cattle handling needs to be low-stress, which means the facilities need to be designed properly so cattle will flow; and the handlers need to move them quietly and calmly, Payne added.
Shane Gadberry, associate professor at the University of Arkansas’ Department of Animal Science and Cooperative Extension Service, recommends that when working cattle, preparing them for transport or transferring to a new environment, producers use the following considerations to keep cattle and people safe.
• Avoid over-crowding. Too often the lane between the sweep tub and chute are too wide for calves, so cattle producers end up with calves turning in the opposite direction of the intended flow. There have been some instances where overcrowding and calf turning has resulting in calves getting flipped upside down. Constructing or purchasing lanes that adjust for different sizes of cattle will help.
• Cows and calves should be separated before working to avoid injury in holding pens and working areas.
• Trailer loading and hauling. Overcrowding trailers or using trailers that are not well maintained can result in injury to both cattle and personnel.
Producers need to maintain equipment that allows for quick release of the animal upon completion of working procedures. According to Jeremy Powell, DVM, associate professor and veterinarian at the University of Arkansas’ Department of Animal Science, handling facilities – such as corrals, chutes, working pens, fences, etc. – should provide efficient movement and reduce stress when working cattle. Sharp objects and protrusions can result in bruise damage and should be avoided whenever possible.
“In general, avoid slippery surfaces, especially where cattle enter a single file alley leading to a chute or where they exit the chute,” Powell said. “Grooved concrete or rubber mats can be used to minimize slipping and falling.”
Weather conditions also play a factor in cattle handling safety. “Heat can be detrimental to cattle and handlers so try to minimize animal handling during midday high temperatures in the summer,” Powell said. “Shade should be provided if possible for cattle being penned for long periods during high temperatures. Also, mud can be a problem in the winter with low evaporation rate or improper drainage conditions. Accumulation of mud should be monitored to minimize hindrances to cattle movement and slippage.”
Producers need to remember that even gentle animals can be a safety risk. “Too often, cattle producers let their guard down, so to speak, with those bulls or cows that may have been raised and pampered on the farm,” Gadberry said. “Cattle react differently in pasture verses confinement and when they are nurturing offspring. Always be mindful of where you position yourself with any cattle.”
Facility design publications are available through county extension offices. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association provides materials that can be utilized to train producers entitled “The Cattle Industry’s Guidelines for the Care and Handling of Cattle” that is provided through the National Beef Checkoff program. This information is available by visiting Ozarks Farm & Neighbor website. This website features videos that pertain to cattle handling. In addition, state-level Beef Quality Assurance programs often provide information about cattle handling and transportation guidelines. Producers are also encouraged to attend any low-stress cattle handling demonstrations that may occur in their area.
