Livestock Safety

Animals are a major source of injuries to children in agricultural settings. The size difference between a large animal and a small person puts children at risk. According to a study by Fred Rivara, completed in 1997 from data collected from 1990-1993, animal related, and specifically horseback riding, injuries accounted for 8.4 percent of total farm-related injuries to children ages 0-19.

Livestock is not often viewed as a source of danger to people. Yet, animals cause numerous fatalities and injuries each year. The National Safety Council ranked beef cattle farms second and dairy operations third among all farming enterprises in injuries per hour of work. Seventeen percent of all farm injuries involved animals.

When working with livestock it is important to realize some of the differences between how animals and humans sense their surroundings. Animal's color perception is in black and white, not color. They have difficulty judging distances. Animals have extremely sensitive hearing and can detect sounds that people can't hear. Loud noises frighten animals and high-frequency sounds hurt their ears. These factors explain why animals are skittish and may balk in unfamiliar surroundings. In addition, animals with young are protective by nature and could become dangerous if they perceive harm to their young.

Chores involving livestock care and handling are often one of the first responsibilities given to children, increasing their exposure to the dangers at an early age.

When working around animals encourage your children to:

• Be calm, move slowly, and avoid loud noises
• Wear steel toed shoes
• Avoid the hind legs of the animal
• Approach large animals at the shoulder
• Children should avoid animals with newborns
• Children should avoid stallions, bulls, rams, and boars
• Always have an escape route when working with animals in close quarters
• Wear helmets when riding horses