Submitted by: agcomm,  Thu Dec 11 09:42:28 1997


                        December 11, 1997
 
Many Livestock-Related Injuries Preventable
 
     Many on-farm injuries in North Dakota result from run-ins
with large-animal livestock. In 1994, there were 277
livestock-related injuries, including broken bones and crushed
limbs-- and one fatality. Horses were involved in 98 of these
injuries while beef cattle were responsible 153.
     "Many of these injuries could have been prevented if those
involved would have used safer handling and working procedures,"
says George Maher, ag safety specialist with the NDSU Extension
Service. "In most cases the seriousness of injury certainly would
have been reduced."
     One major factor leading to injuries is the lack of
familiarity with livestock. Another is simple carelessness around
animals, notes Maher. Farm workers need to know livestock and the
animals' responses to various situations to work safely with
them. Another important personal quality needed for handling
cattle and horses is patience.  
     Often, handlers would like the animals to respond to their
commands and conditions faster. Frequently, excited animals
respond in unexpected ways, which can cause problems when a
handler's patience is short.
     "Livestock handlers need to understand two important
concepts or characteristics when working with livestock. They are
the point of balance and the flight zone," says Maher. 
     The point of balance is how an animal responds to a human
advance. The animal will back away when a person approaches from
anywhere in front of the animal's shoulder. When someone
approaches from anywhere behind the shoulder, the animal will
move forward. 
     The flight zone is based on how close a person can approach
an animal from any direction before it will move away. Maher says
this zone varies in size depending on several factors, which work
individually or in combination. Those factors include how quickly
you move toward the animal; the direction from which you came;
how well the animal knows you; how noisy you are in your
approach; how quickly the animals notices your approach; and
recent experiences the animal has had with you. 
     Maher offers the following safety suggestions for those who
work with livestock:           
  * Use a restraining device such as a cattle squeeze chute.
     This protects you and the animal during treatment.
  * Set up loading chutes and alleyways so light conditions
     don't create shadows that will spook the animals. Changes in
     color or brightness can confuse cattle, causing them to stop
     or back up.
  * Large animals usually have good hearing. They will move away
     from loud, unfamiliar sounds. Studies have shown that cattle
     will respond positively to familiar sounds and soft music.
  * Animals remember the past and react accordingly to current
     conditions. Those that have been mishandled or treated
     roughly will have developed a fear of humans.           
  * Cattle and horses can sense confusion and frustration in
     humans and can sense when things have not been planned and
     are not going well.           
  * Bulls and stallions have a different temperament. Never
     trust them or turn your back on them. Always keep them in
     your view and have an escape route planned.      
  "Working safely with large-animal livestock isn't easy,"
Maher concludes. "There are many farmers and ranchers who've
learned through firsthand experience that it can be dangerous
work. Be patient, pay attention to the animal's responses, know
its characteristics, and be ready to react accordingly."
                              ###
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629