Heavy rainfall throughout the country during the peak period for harvesting cereal crops and silage has led to a sharp increase in the risk of mould developing.

One of the most serious of these is fungal contamination, some strains of which are toxigenic and capable of producing dangerous mycotoxins.

These toxins can pose a serious threat to human and animal health and great care should be taken to reduce the risk of contamination occurring.

Characteristic signs in livestock include reduced feed intake and lower performance, higher disease occurrence from a depressed immune system response and abortion.

There are a number of potential routes of entry with the most obvious for animals being ingestion of affected feedstuff. Spores can also, however, pose a serious air-borne risk and gain entry through the mouth, nose and eyes.

Even where mycotoxins are not present, there are serious dangers to take note of when handling feeds that have mould present.

For humans, the ailment commonly known as farmer’s lung is an allergy caused by regular contact with dust containing mould spores. The associated symptoms are all flu-like, which regularly leads to farmers not getting the correct treatment. Where symptoms are ignored there can be long-term lung damage.

Bedding animals with straw that has been baled damp or become wet during storage is a potential source of a very high level of dust spores being spread.

There are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk to human and animal health.

While not always practical, opening bales posing a risk outdoors can help to reduce the presence of spores in the environment.

For example, rolling out a straw bale outside the shed on a fine day can help to reduce the spread of spores through dust where straw is matted together.

Opening shed doors and improving ventilation is also advisable and if there is a known risk a respirator mask should be worn. For full protection, a full face mask should be worn or a mouth and nose mask combined with safety goggles. The mask should be fitted with the appropriate filters suitable for trapping dust spores while gloves should also be worn where handling such material.

Take note that while straw choppers do a great job of taking the hassle out of spreading straw, they also spread a high volume of dust into the environment and, as such, precautions should be taken to minimise the risk to human and animal health. In animals, listeriosis is a big concern where soil has been ensiled during harvesting.

There are numerous areas where putting some thinking and advance preparation into will yield benefits in terms of an easier, safer and less stressful life over the winter.

1 Safe handling of livestock: accidents with livestock are one of the most common causes of injury reported. Have you ways of bedding the bull pen without having to enter the pen? A head locking barrier or crush restraining gate in a pen is an essential item where bulls are housed in a pen that needs regular cleaning or bedding. The same goes for calving pens with a safe exit route or safe area something that should be considered before next season’s calving commences.

Calving is becoming more intense and confined to a shorter period of time in expanding dairy herds. Facilities should be reviewed over the winter and where required changes made.

2 Loading and transporting livestock: loading cattle is a stressful and high-risk job at the best of times but this can be heightened during the winter where animals are being released from sheds into yards for loading. Having the means to secure animals into a tighter area for loading where you do not have to enter the loading area or can exit quickly will pay dividends. It is also worth carrying out a yearly service on the trailer to ensure that all lights and brakes are working correctly and also checking that you have the correct licence and vehicle to tow the weight.

3 Lights and wiring: with restricted daylight hours, adequate lighting around yards and in sheds is essential. Think back to last year’s calving or lambing and ask yourself the question if light was sufficient and if there was adequate electrical connection points available. There is a TAMS grant available for wiring and rewiring existing sheds which should be considered, if required.

4 Insurance cover: the recent storms will have made farmers cast a closer look on insurance cover for many farmers. It is worth reviewing the farm’s policy to see that it is sufficient to provide cover for all the areas required. For sheep farmers, the next few months are high-risk and it is worth checking that your policy provides cover for dog attacks. While on the subject, all dogs must be microchipped as per legislation introduced on 1 March 2016 while pups must be microchipped before they reach 12 months of age.

5 Handbrake and crush zones: getting trapped by machinery is one of the greatest contributors to farm accidents. With yard machinery work in full swing during the winter, it is important that your handbrake is in working order and remember never to dismount a tractor that is in an area where it could roll.

6 Health check: A lot of work and effort goes into caring for livestock with our own health frequently falling down the pecking order. It is important to carry out a health check at least once a year with your doctor.

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