Livestock Handling Guidelines
Farm workers, ranchers, family members and visitors are injured every year by livestock. Many of these injuries occur when handling livestock.
• Label livestock handling areas to warn away visitors.
• Design livestock pens and handling facilities using recommended plans.
• All facilities should be designed to allow workers easy access to and exit from animals.
• Make sure to consistently and properly use restraining equipment.
• Equip pens with emergency exits.
• Keep children and bystanders out of livestock handling areas.
• Animals can be unpredictable. Be sure you understand some of the common instincts of animals.
— A strong territorial instinct is common.
— Changes in lighting or shadows can excite or spook them.
— Separation from other animals can cause unpredictable behavior.
— Sudden or loud noises can frighten animals.
— Some types of livestock - such as beef cattle, swine and dairy cattle - are color-blind and have poor depth perception. This causes them to be sensitive to contrasts in light, movement, and noises.
— Cattle and horses can see everything around them except directly behind their hindquarters.
• Are gates, fences or pens in good repair?
• Do aisles have any sharp projections?
• Is restraining equipment useable?
• Is an escape gate or path available?
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