Live Smart: Health and Safety Activities for Youth Clubs

Bulletin 907

Living with Livestock

YOU WILL TEACH CLUB MEMBERS

To follow safety practices when working with animals.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Posterboard, markers

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Ask club members: Does anyone own a dog? Does anyone own a cat? Is anyone taking a livestock project? What types of livestock are you working with?

Ask club members: What is the difference between pets and livestock?
Answer: Livestock produce wool, milk, eggs, meat, and other animal products. Pets do not produce products for human use.

Ask club members: Is working with animals dangerous?
Answer: You bet! Each year thousands of children are injured by pets and livestock. The bottom line is, never trust any animal.

Ask club members: Has anyone ever been injured by their pet or livestock project? What happened?

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW?

Tell club members: Many injuries can be prevented by knowing the dangers of working with animals. The chart on the next page lists many of these hazards. (You may want to list these on posterboard.)

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Choose from the following activities.

1. Arrange for livestock to be a part of your lesson. Use the livestock in demonstrations to teach club members about the hazards in the chart on the next page.
2. Invite a veterinarian, livestock producer, or the county Extension agricultural agent to your meeting to talk about livestock handling.

HAZARDS

PREVENTION

Kicking Although most livestock do not kick, horses and cattle can. Cattle kick to the side and front with their hind legs. Horses strike with their front legs and kick to the side or back with their hind legs. Bruises, cuts, and broken bones can result. Stepped-On Livestock can step on your feet. Most full-grown cattle can weigh anywhere between 800 and 2,000 pounds. Horses weigh as much, and some breeds weigh even more! Although sheep and hogs weigh much less, they can still cause injury. Crushed or Pinned Livestock can crush you against barns, fences, walls, etc. Jerked Livestock are easily frightened. When leading an animal, your hand may become entangled in the animal's halter. If the animal is startled, you may be violently jerked and dragged along behind. Thrown-Off When riding a horse, you can be easily thrown off. Being thrown from a horse can result in injuries to the head and neck, broken bones, and bruises. Bitten Most livestock do not bite. In fact, cattle and sheep lack upper teeth. Horses, however, have a full set of teeth. When irritated, some horses may nip at you. Pigs have sharp teeth, too, and have been known to cause serious damage. Trampled Livestock are herd animals and like to stay in groups, especially sheep. When frightened, livestock will run to escape danger. If you are in their path, you are in danger of being trampled. Hit When angered, some livestock may charge at you. If hit, you can be knocked down or slammed into walls. Being hit can result in bruises and broken bones.

Kicking Farm animals cannot see directly behind them; their eyes are on the sides of their head. To avoid startling them, you should approach from the front or side, never from the rear. When moving around a horse, place your hand lightly on the horse's hindquarters so that the horse knows where you are at all times. Stepped-On Always wear hard-toed shoes or boots. When using a halter, lead animals from the side. Avoid stepping in their path. Crushed or Pinned Always be aware of the amount of space between you and the animal. Never work in extremely tight quarters. Jerked Never wrap the halter lead around your hand, wrist, or waist. Never hang it around your neck. Thrown-Off Stay alert at all times when riding. Never ride a horse without a riding helmet. Bicycle helmets should not be used! Be sure the helmet fits properly, sets level on your head, and the chin strap is fastened. Bitten Use caution when feeding any animal. Never hand feed. Keep a barrier between you and the animal when working around hogs. Trampled Stay alert. Never put yourself in the animal's flight zone. Hit Watch animals closely, especially male animals. Restrain aggressive animals.

Back | Forward | Table of Contents