Any farm that handles cattle needs to be aware of the safety issues involved with doing so. And part of ensuring both human and animal welfare comes from understanding how livestock handling equipment works and should be maintained.

 

 

Help to guarantee safety and efficiency

Reduce the risk of injuries to workers and visitors

 

 

Correct and fully functioning handling facilities are provided.

And that a race and a crush that is designed for the intended livestock is installed.

All staff are fully trained and capable.

Culling procedures are in place and understood in case of emergencies.

 

Being aware of potential risks saves lives. So what poses the greatest threats when handling livestock and using handling equipment?

There are always risks involved with the handling of livestock. The most common injuries resulting from crushing, kicking, butting and goring. Greater risks are posed if animals are unaccustomed to regular handling.

 

 

The race should be designed so that livestock can easily enter it. The end area should be funnel-shaped and ample room must be provided in the collecting pen in order that livestock can be steered into the funnel with ease. The circular design of most collecting pens enables handlers to maintain safe positions behind the forcing gate as they encourage animals through into the race. It helps greatly if animals have a direct view of the crush and beyond it. This persuades them to be readily herded through the race. While a race can be of a curved design tight turns should be avoided. Because of the way animals perceive things visually they move more readily in the direction of light areas than they do dark ones.

 

Handling animals using equipment is as much about containment as ease of movement. The race walls should be high enough to avoid animals escaping over them. In addition they must be well secured to the ground for maximum stability. Attaching sheeting to the side panels of the race prevents animals being visually distracted by external factors. The leading animal should always be held in the race area while it awaits its turn to head into the crush.

 

Various door types are appropriate, hinged or sliding varieties being suitable, but measures must be put in place that ensure they are operable from the from functional side of the race so that the operator is not obliged to cross any danger areas in order to close them.