Livestock Handling Best Practices

Take livestock handling safety by the horns this summer!

To ensure the safety of workers and family members handling livestock, make sure to prioritize proper training, use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), maintain a safe environment, and understand animal behavior.

Training and Experience:

Proper Training: Ensure all workers are adequately trained and experienced in livestock handling techniques.
Supervision: Closely supervise new and inexperienced workers.
Understanding Animal Behavior: Learn to recognize signs of agitation or nervousness in livestock and understand their flight zones and blind spots.
Calm and Slow Approach: Approach animals slowly and deliberately, avoiding sudden movements or loud noises.
Avoid Working Alone: Whenever possible, avoid working alone when handling livestock, especially when loading or unloading.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Appropriate Clothing: Wear suitable clothing, including long pants, steel-toed shoes or boots, and potentially shin guards or a hard hat, depending on the activity and type of livestock.
Gloves: Wear gloves, especially when handling sick or injured animals.
Safety Glasses: Use safety glasses to protect your eyes from dust, debris, or splashes.
Footwear: Ensure footwear provides adequate protection against hooves and slipping.

Safe Environment:

Well-Maintained Facilities: Keep livestock facilities, yards, and handling areas well-maintained and free from debris and obstructions.
Adequate Lighting: Ensure adequate lighting in all work areas, especially barns and livestock handling areas.
Escape Routes: Always have an escape route when working in close quarters with livestock.
Clear Walkways: Keep walkways and work surfaces free from debris and obstructions to prevent slips, trips, and falls.
Proper Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation in barns and other enclosed livestock facilities.
Safe Loading Ramps and Trailers: Ensure loading ramps and trailers are clean, well-lit, and in good working order.
Secure Hitches and Latches: Double-check latches, hitches, and chains on trailers before loading animals.

Zoonotic Disease Prevention:

Hygiene: Practice good hygiene and sanitation, including washing hands and face after handling animals.
Disease Control: Be aware of zoonotic diseases (diseases transmissible between humans and animals) and take precautions to prevent exposure.
Prompt Treatment: Promptly treat or dispose of infected animals and dispose of infected tissues properly.
Clean Contaminated Sites: Properly clean and disinfect contaminated sites.
Vaccinations: Keep animals appropriately vaccinated.

Other Important Considerations:

Low-Stress Handling: Practice low-stress animal handling techniques, such as moving slowly and quietly.
Avoid Startling Animals: Be aware of the animal's flight zone and avoid sudden movements or loud noises that could startle them.
Children: Keep children and bystanders away from livestock handling areas.
Know Your Animals: Understand the temperament of the animals you are working with.
First Aid Kit: Have a first aid kit readily available in the work area.