Working with Livestock
Working with Livestock and safety
Recent dairy farm fatalities involving cattle highlight the risks associated with working with large and sometimes unpredictable animals.
Many dairy workers experience some sort of injury each year as a result of being kicked, stood on or crushed. More serious injuries such as broken bones also occur and some can be fatal.
The risk of injury increases: when working with bulls; or using poorly designed and constructed facilities; or if workers lack experience and knowledge of animal behaviour. Injuries can lead to more serious or fatal outcomes when working alone.
If they do fall, older people are more likely to suffer a fracture.
Milking alone: like working remotely, working with livestock is more risky if you are alone. Always have a phone or other method of communication if there is only one person milking.
In addition to physical injuries, cattle can also transfer certain diseases to people with sometimes long-term and debilitating effects.
As an employer or person conducting a business on the farm you have a legal responsibility to manage risk to health and safety associated with all aspects of working with livestock
By law, you are responsible for the safety of all the people on your farm, including farm staff, relief milkers, visitors and contractors such as AI technicians, vets and livestock carriers.
A good place to start is Step by step – setting up safety for working with livestock on your farm
Use the resources below to ensure that you comply with this requirement.
| Farm Safety Manual resources | |
| Working with Livestock: Quick safety scan | |
| WWL: Step by step – setting up safety for working with livestock on your farm |
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| WWL: Safety self assessment | |
| WWL: Farm policy on safe animal handling | Word |
| Further information | |
| Understanding Flight Zone and Point of Balance and Behavioural Principles of Livestock Handling for low stress handling (Temple Grandin) |
Website |
| Guides to cattle handling: FarmSafe / WorkSafe Victoria | Websites |
| Low Stress Dairy e-learning seminars | Website |
| Bull behaviour (Temple Grandin) | Website |
| Management of bulls (Dairy Australia) | Website |
| Guidelines on designing and improving loading ramps | Website |
| Overview of zoonotic diseases (inc. Q Fever – Dairy Australia) | Website |
| Q Fever (National Farmers Federation) | Website |
| Zoonoses – Animal diseases that may also affect humans (Ag Victoria) | Website |
| Cattle behaviour flight zones and point of balance (Teagsac | Video |
| Lameness and cattle behaviour (Dairy Australia) | Video |
