Safe Family Farms: focus on mart safety

Every year we hear of injuries in marts right across the country. While some of these may be simple trips and falls, we cannot ignore the fact that anywhere cattle are, danger lurks. This year has seen a number of marts impose strict new safety protocols with a view to taking many unnecessary risks out of the equation. The major risk factor for farmers getting injured by cattle is in the yard and pens. In particular the greatest risk occurs before, during and after sales when farmers are moving through the yard while cattle are moved. At this stage the risk is magnified.

This year saw a number of marts, particularly in the west of Ireland, take the initiative of restricting access of farmers to the yards where cattle are penned while livestock are being sold.

Where restrictions have been introduced, prospective buyers have still been allowed to view stock for a period before the sales when no cattle are moving from the intake chutes or to or from the sales rings. Reports suggest this period of 15-30 minutes of viewing time has been working well where it has been introduced. There has been reluctance on the part of some marts in implementing such restrictions during sales in the interest of safety as management at some marts feel that this would negatively impact on the sale, turning some prospective buyers off purchasing stock.

However, some more industry buy-in of this kind would help to make marts a safer place.

The mart can be a very dangerous place for children. For that reason, the Health and Safety Authority advises that children should not go into the yard or loading area of a mart or lairage. Children should be under the direct supervision of adults at all times while in a mart. Where children or minors are present in marts, the Health and Safety Authority has said they should not be involved in any work activity with cattle. It is vital that children be kept away from cattle in the lairage, and to stand clear of cattle moving from penning to or from the sales ring.

Many livestock marts have invested heavily in providing skywalks over the cattle lairage and penning. Where they are in place, farmers are advised to use these where possible when viewing the stock on offer. Where children are in your supervision, using the skywalks available is essential in minimising the risk cattle pose to children.

Where farmers need to walk through the lairage or penning area, extreme caution should be taken. It is advised not to enter pens at any time when cattle are present. In addition, where cattle are being moved to or from the mart ring, or to the loading bays, farmers should stand clear and out of the path of the cattle in order to avoid the risk of injury.

While most marts have invested in some shape or form in improving safety in recent years, Aurivo Livestock Marts is one group that has spearheaded improved safety regimes at its marts since spring after a farmer became injured by a bull at one of its facilities, an incident that could happen in any mart at any time. In the interest of safety, the group moved to restrict the access of farmers to the cattle lairage completely during sales. More recently, the group has invested heavily across all mart centres, putting in new intake chutes and walkways into the centres in order to increase viewing areas to farmers buying and selling stock.

We are now approaching the peak of weanling sales around the country. At this stage of the year farmers are starting to wean calves from cows. While calving may be a high-risk period for cow aggression, weaning can also be a more risky period on farms often due to farmers letting their guard down. Immediate weaning can lead to more aggression by both the calf and the cow as they look for each other. Where possible, a more staggered weaning process can be most beneficial to keep animals as settled as possible. Meal feeding cannot be overestimated. Along with benefits of maintaining high animal liveweight gains at weaning, it also gets calves into the habit of being handled by the farmer and moved. Staggered weaning will help to reduce the stress on the cow and calf and keep them more settled. Where possible, on-off suckling before weaning, or separating calves from cows during the day will also help to reduce the stress on animals at weaning and keep them more settled and safer for handling.

Where weanling bulls are left entire and are between eight and 10 months old around weaning and sale, extra care should be taken when moving or handling. Bulls can pose a serious risk to farmers, especially if they are not used to being moved or handled. Where you are considering loading bulls for the mart ring, ensure that the pen or handling facilities are secure. High sides will stop cattle from trying to jump over the sides or gates within the pen. When the trailer is backed in, the loading door should securely close off the front of the pen so cattle cannot escape.

Never handle cattle on your own

Where possible, always have help at hand when moving or loading livestock or weanlings on to the trailer. Ensure that you have a stick and pay particular attention when loading weanling bulls. The stick should be about 1m to 1.2m in length so that cattle can be driven without coming into kicking distance of the animal. When cattle are moving within a pen, avoid standing in the centre and never turn your back on any of the cattle or bulls. Cattle pens should be designed in such a fashion as to allow the farmer to step out of the pen quickly if there is danger.