Animal handling

Handling animals such as cattle, sheep, horses, poultry and dogs is part of everyday life on many farms and will always involve some level of risk. Health and safety on farms involves managing that risk for workers, family and visitors.

All animals behave differently and can be unpredictable, especially during mating season. Cattle, pigs, horses and sheep should be treated with caution at all times. Keep the animals as calm as possible, and a fence or barrier between you and the animals and never turn your back.

Falling off horses can cause serious injuries, so riders should always wear a helmet. Ensure that all workers are appropriately trained in animal handling and that visitors are aware of the animal handling safety practices on your farm. Children should always be supervised around farm animals.

Effective maintenance and design of yards and fences is important to reduce risk of injury when handling livestock. This can include the use of appropriate animal-handling equipment and aids such as cradles and crushes which reduce injury risk from lifting or pushing animals.

Animals can carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans (this includes dogs and cats) so vaccinate for diseases such as Q Fever where appropriate and always wear suitable protective clothing to reduce your risk when handling potentially infected material such as faeces or afterbirth. Plan for tasks involving animals and get help if you need it.

Find out more about this topic on Better Health Channel.

Fast facts:

Handling animals like cattle, sheep, horses, poultry and dogs will always involve some level of risk. Animals are unpredictable and should be treated with caution at all times. Keeping animals calm and reducing stress will help reduce risk of unpredictable behaviour.
Wherever possible, create a barrier between yourself and the animals.
Always wear a helmet when riding a horse to avoid a serious injury if a fall occurs.
Ensure all farm workers and visitors are aware of the animal handling safety practices.