How To Ensure Livestock Safety

Effective livestock care includes taking steps to ensure the animals' safety. While you can't prevent every possible accident, there are strategies to reduce the risks. We've gathered up key livestock care tips below. If you have any questions or want to shop farm equipment for sale, contact Flieg's Equipment. Our dealership is located in Ste. Genevieve and Leadington, Missouri, and proudly serve those in Farmington and Park Hills as well.

Know Livestock Behavior

In order to best care for your livestock, you will need to understand aspects of animal behavior.

They're Social Creatures

It's best to keep your animals together whenever possible. When livestock get separated from each other, it can create intense agitation and increase the chances of a safety situation. If you need to relocate the herd, move the leader and the rest should follow.

They're Prey Animals

Horses and cattle are prey animals and have some ingrained behaviors accordingly. For example, they have a flight zone. Actions inside their flight zone can trigger a fight, flight, or freeze response, which can cause a safety situation.

As much as possible, avoid entering their flight zone. When you must, go slowly and deliberately. Make sure they see you and won't be spooked when you come close.

It's also best to avoid walking behind livestock or operating farm equipment behind them. They won't be able to see you and could misinterpret rustling sounds as a predator, which could also trigger the fight, flight, or freeze response.

Create The Environment With Livestock Care In Mind

There are simple tweaks to the environment that can help you better care for your livestock.

First, optimize surfaces for traction to help reduce slips and injury. Seek out concrete flooring with a rough finish, grooved walkways, and quality drainage to prevent moisture buildup.

Second, prevent shadows, which can easily spook livestock. Set up proper lighting in areas that livestock walk through.

Third, regularly inspect areas for protruding and sharp materials, which could cause injury.

Use Proper Livestock Care Strategies

Finally, there are a few key livestock care strategies that all workers should use.

First, limit loud noises, which can spook livestock. Keep your farm equipment maintained to prevent issue-related noises. Try to purchase quietly-running farm equipment whenever possible. You can even get aftermarket accessories that help reduce the noise of farm equipment operation.

Second, enter livestock spaces with an escape plan. It can be as simple as a fence or a small gap that people (but not livestock) can fit through.

For more livestock care tips or to shop farm equipment for sale, reach out to the experts at Flieg's Equipment. We are a family-owned and family-operated dealership dedicated to excellent customer service. We run dealerships in Ste. Genevieve and Leadington, Missouri, and also serve those in Park Hills and Farmington.