Safe and Unsafe Cow/cattle handling practices

1. Safe and Unsafe Cow/cattle handling practices or The Top Ten countdown of Safe and Unsafe Practices when working around Dairy and Beef cattle

2. Introduction

3. General safety around cattle • Show confidence when working with cattle but be gentle at the same time • Don’t push, shove or strike a cow • Don’t prod if they have no place to go • Move slowly but deliberately, never run • Don’t approach directly from behind • Use your voice to let cattle know where you are • Don’t stand too close, keep a safe distance

4. #10: Awareness of Surroundings • Objects impeding your movement or trapping you • Gates set up before moving cattle • An open path to move cattle form point a to point b • Don’t stand between a cow and a heavy solid object • The space around you, including where you want to move a cow or cattle • Opening and close gates from outside the pen • Give the cow somewhere to go: a cornered cow has nowhere to run and nothing to

5. #9: Have an escape route • If a cow starts coming towards you don’t put your hands up in front of you in a "push away" stance • This makes the average person look thin and the cattle don't see any width to the barrier • Instead put your hands out to side with open palms and make the barrier as wide and visible as possible • Regardless, think beforehand of an escape route for yourself • Prevent getting crushed against a solid object or get cornered.

6. #8: Appropriate Interactions • The need to keep calm and relaxed when dealing with cattle: • Cattle are going to pick if you are nervous, on edge. • Don't make loud noises or sudden gestures. • Be flexible: if something isn't working, what you can do to improve it.

7. #7: Appropriate Mother and calf interactions • Extremely protective of the calves • Don't get near a calf and mother especially when in the same pen • You need experience

8. Bucket o' Facts • Awareness of Surroundings means being aware of: • Objects impeding movement • Ways of getting trapped • The area around you for moving cattle • All of the above

9. Bucket o' Facts • Name some examples: • Demonstrating awareness of surrounding safe practices; • Examples for around gates, • Where to not stand, • Setting up paths for you, a cow or cattle ?

10. Bucket o' Facts • Which of the following statements is not true ? • Stay calm and relaxed with cattle • Don't make loud noises or sudden gestures. • If your handling technique isn't working, don’t let the response dictate your actions • Cattle will know if you are nervous

11. #6: How to work around a cow • Communicate and work together to avoid getting injured • Don’t sneak up on a cow, no surprises • Approach from the side • Cows have poor vision at the front and rear • Move slowly and in an unthreatening manner

12. How to work around cattle • Cattle have a flight zone which can be used to move them • Cattle move from dark to light more easily • Use of electric prods, canes, or blunt objects must be used sparingly

13. Moving Cattle • The animal’s “point of balance” is at it’s shoulder. Cattle will move forward if the handler stands behind the point of balance. They will back up if the handler stands in front of the point of balance • The “flight zone” is the animal's personal space, and the size of the flight zone is determined by the animal’s wildness or tameness

14. Working around bulls • Being extra cautious around bulls is obvious • Never trust any bull • Be especially wary of bulls kept in isolation • Always plan an escape route • If a bull starts to act aggressively advise your supervisor immediately • Broadside threat display

15. #5: Self-Awareness • Awareness of your foot position • Awareness of cattle and cow reaction time

16. #4: Avoiding getting kicked • Don’t sit down next to a cow • Come up alongside the cow instead of towards the back • Cows kick a bit to the side, but not at a right angle • Angle your body sideways to the cow • Present a smaller target to the cow.

17. Bucket o' Facts One of these is just not true: • Communicate and work together to avoid getting injured • Don’t sneak up on a cow, no surprises • Approach from the side, because cows have poor vision on the side • Move quickly around a cow to avoid getting kicked

18. Bucket o' Facts • True or False: Cows always move slowly ? • Proper foot wear is important around cattle, what else is important regarding your feet around cattle ?

19. Bucket o' Facts Which is the True statement ? • Angle your body sideways to the cow to present a smaller target • Come up from in front of the cow instead of the side • If 2 feet away, you can sit down next to a cow • Cows kick at a right angle

20. #3: Proper milking techniques • Dangers of milking a cow include: kicking, tail swish to eyes, getting stepped on • General principles: • Having a rail so the cow cannot move sideways • Tied up short or in a head lock, so the worst she can do is move sideways • Leg ropes and hip clamps only be used by experienced people, can be dangerous if the cows kicks • Have an exit strategy

21. #3: Proper milking techniques (cont.) • The Safest position depends on how the cow is restrained • You can sit on a stool or kneel when milking • Be aware of the cow’s behavior so you can move out of the way • Let the cow know you’re there before milking, place your hand on her side and slide down to her udder • Never underestimate a cow’s behavior. • Milking can be a source of Repetitive Motion injuries

22. Cow in a squeeze unit • If you are around a cow’s head, they can injure you by swinging or tossing their heads. • Getting a hand between the cows head a bar on the squeeze also present

23. #2 Moving Cattle properly • Cows do not understand you • Use appropriate methods to convince cattle to go where you want them to go. • Be aware of any objects in the path that might scare • Plan it out, set up your gates before trying to move the cattle • Close the gates behind you as you go. • Don't try to improvise.

24. # 1 How to safely get cattle to move • Point-of-balance/flight zone model for moving animals • Point of balance • Flight zone. • Point of balance : Is at the cows shoulder, • Flight zone: The cow's personal-space bubble: get inside it, and the cow will move. • Learn to read a cow's mood

25. Leading with a halter • When haltering a cow, approach her from behind and slip the halter over her nose and then over her ears • When leading a cow, always lead on the cow’s left side and keep the rope short with your right hand close to her head • Keep any extra/loose rope in your left hand: DO NOT wrap loose rope around your hand. If the cow startles and takes off, you could be dragged or lose fingers • Make sure that no excess rope is hanging or trailing from your left hand. This could spook the cow, get stuck on things, or the cow could step on it • Walk with the cow beside you. The cow should not be allowed to move ahead of you or lag behind you

26. Bucket o' Facts Which is the false statement regarding safe milking practices ? • Have an exit strategy • Tie up the cow’s head on a short halter or in a head lock • Having a rail so the cow cannot move backwards • Leg ropes and hip clamps can be used but only by experienced personnel

27. Bucket o' Facts Which of the following safe milking procedure statements are true ? • The Safest position to be in depends on how the cow is restrained • You can sit on the floor when milking, but be aware of the cow’s behavior so you can move out of the way • Let the cow know you’re there before milking, place your hand on her side and slide down to her udder

28. Bucket o' Facts • Where is the Point of Balance with a cow ? • Describe the Flight Zone ?

29. Bucket o' Facts When leading a cow the correct answers are ? • Always lead on the cow’s left side • Keep the rope short with your right hand close to her head • Keep any extra/loose rope in your right hand • Wrap loose rope around your hand • Make sure that no excess rope is hanging or trailing from your left hand • Walk with the cow beside you

30. Final Safe Practice Notes • Given all precautions and planning a cows behavior may still surprise you and do something unexpected • Expect the unexpected and either take control of the situation or exit the area, be on your guard • When working with cattle, don't force it. If something isn't working, it isn't working.

31. Final Safe Practice Notes • Take a break and let the cow calm down than to try to force an angry cow • Cows are easier to move in groups, cattle don't like being isolated. • Take cows from the main herd in pairs or small groups and separate them out in a smaller area to prevent isolated cows from becoming anxious and aggressive.

32. Getting injured around cattle True Stories: http://www.aliveandwell.net.au/True-Stories/Working-with-livestock

33. Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following for their contributions to this safety training: • Dan Allenbaugh • John Angelos • MunasheChigerwe • Doug Gisi • Russell Hovey • Jerry Johnson • Victor Lukas • James Moller • Sophia Najera • MarikaPappagianis • Dan Sehnert • Joel Van Eenennaam • Anita Vargas