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Livestock can be so much fun! They are a big part of many farm families and 4-H livestock projects. People love to pet them and see them up close at fairs and petting zoos. But it is very important to remember that these animals are not toys. They need to be treated with respect and handled safely. Here are some tips for keeping yourself, your family, and the livestock safe and happy.
Importance of Livestock Safety
Real-life introductions to livestock (farm) animals can include everything from helping manage the family herd, caring for a 4-H or FFA animal science project, a farm field day, visiting the county or state fair, or any other school or family field trips to an agri-tourism event or settings zoo.
Studies show that livestock handling activities are the second or third leading cause of injuries on the farm, causing from 12% to 24% of farm injuries.
Safety around animals and, especially livestock is an important lesson to learn for every family. Many families have become removed from direct contact with animals and do not fully realize the dangers or precautions one must take while being in the presence of large (and small!) animals. Livestock behavior and handling is also a vital reminder for those that do have daily contact with livestock to aid in the reduction of handling stress for the animals and create a safe environment for themselves as the handler. Most accidents happen when the handler is in a hurry or impatient or takes shortcuts when handling livestock.
Livestock animals include goats, sheep, alpacas, llamas, pigs, cows, and horses. A goat or sheep ready for market can weigh between 90-150 pounds and a mature cow or horse can weigh upwards of 1200-1400 pounds. If an animal feels threatened or scared, the animal’s instincts often tell it to run at you. That’s a lot of mass to be dealing with if you are in the wrong place, at the wrong time!
Learning how to safely interact with cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other livestock animals is very important for us to teach our kids and youth. (Or in the case of one agri-tourism farm near us that includes ostriches, water buffalo, zebras, and more!) Finding hands-on animal science activities that don’t involve the direct handling of large animals can be difficult. Lack of time, funds, and other logistical considerations make teaching livestock handling lessons more challenging unless you have livestock at your disposal. Yet teaching youth about safe livestock handling practices is one of the most important lessons they can learn BEFORE being introduced to farm animals.
How can you teach your kids or youth group about safe livestock handling and behavior? Read on to learn about more resources you can use to ensure a safe visit or successful event.
General Livestock and Animal Safety Guidelines
For the family or youth group with low levels of experience interacting with livestock and other animals, a lesson in general safety guidelines is super important. No matter if you live on a farm, country, town, or city, knowing how animals behave is essential life knowledge! You never know what situations you may encounter in your life. Animals are found everywhere and we must teach our children how to behave and conduct themselves around animals of all species.
In my former career, I used to help plan and host an agriculture field day for 3rd graders as a school field trip. In our introductions and orientation, we always went over a few general safety principles and guidelines as they traveled to each animal station.
Livestock Safety Tips
- Be quiet as you approach the animal(s). Loud noises startle and frighten the animals, who all have exceptional hearing. A group of loud, noisy kids can be a huge threat to an animal. Many farm animals would be considered prey animals and you the predator.
- No climbing on the fences or other equipment. Again, predator/prey relationships and all kinds of accidents can happen. (falls, cuts, breaks, etc)
- Do not pet the animal or place hands, arms, or any body parts in any cages, pens, fences or fields EVER without permission and the strictest care. Animals will and can bite, buck, kick and put you in an uncomfortable situation real fast. Momma animals who think you will harm their babies are frightful and extremely dangerous.
- Never pass directly behind an animal or pat their hindquarters (butts!). They cannot see you and the impact of a hind leg kick is powerful.
- When visiting a farm, fair or other animal facility or event, always wear closed-toe shoes! I don’t know how many times I see adults and kids wearing sandals around animals and cringe.
- Always wash your hands after handling an animal. Self-explanatory!
- Pick up after yourself. We want to leave everything as beautiful as when we came. Trash or other human food items can make animals sick if eaten, scare them if blowing around or cause other accidents and injuries.
- If you have been given (with permission!) the opportunity to feed an animal a small treat (with adult supervision!), always present the treat on an open, flat palm. This will reduce the risk of the animal grabbing your fingers instead of the treat.
- Never feed animals without permission and always with animal-safe food and treats.
Dr. Temple Grandin, Behavior Principles of Livestock Handling
When referencing livestock safe handling and animal behaviors, you have to begin your lessons by talking and researching the life of Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Temple Grandin is the premier researcher and expert on livestock behavior and handling principles. She has an amazing story that every youth should know and learn about.
Raised in the 1950s, Dr. Grandin grew up with and overcame the many challenges associated with what is now known as Autism. Her story describes how she met these challenges with the help of caring adults and educators and the flip side of the teasing and bullying she endured as a child and teen. Later in life because of Dr. Grandin’s Autism and her profound insight into animal behavior and animal instincts, she has become the leading expert in animal husbandry and livestock handler safety.
One valuable resource for teaching animal behavior is Dr. Grandin’s research paper, Behavioral Principles of Livestock Handling (Professional Animal Scientist, December 1989 pages 1-11), which details the basic principles of why livestock behave the way they do through physical characteristics and instinctive behaviors.
A few resources detailing the life story of Dr. Temple Grandin, that I highly recommend for kids, families, and adults to watch and read are the following:
Family Movie: Temple Grandin (TV-PG)
2010 film about the life of Dr. Temple Grandin, starring Clarie Daines.
The 1 hr 47 minute film is based on the writings of Dr. Temple Grandin in her self-written books, Emergence and Thinking In Pictures.
Book: Who is Temple Grandin? by Patricia Brennan Demuth
Grade Level 3-7
From my favorite “Who is?” series of books for kids. I gifted this book to my son for Christmas this year.
The author chronicles the life of Dr. Temple Grandin from childhood to adulthood in an easy-to-read format.
An excellent book to read for all ages really!
Book: The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca
Grade Level: K-2
This incredible book series introduces young children to remarkable people in science.
Short, cute basic introductions to amazing women for the younger audience.
Livestock Handling Lesson: Livestock Behavior and Handling STEM Challenge
After studying the life of Dr. Temple Grandin and her livestock behavior principles, you can put your child(ren) or youth group participants’ knowledge to the test by implementing the Livestock Behavior and Handling STEM Challenge. This hands-on animal science lesson requires the youth to use the Engineering Design Process (two lessons in one!) to help Farmer Ben design a livestock handling chute system to safely move his “Livestock Bot” (aka Hexbug) from the pasture to the barn. Youth will need to consider all the information that they have learned about livestock behavior and handling to design their chute system.
This activity can be done with materials found at home or in the classroom from the list provided in the lesson plan. (Materials include such things as craft sticks, drinking straws, toothpicks, masking tape, card stock, paper cups, etc) Printables, presentation slides, and summary questions are also provided for prompting discussion and demonstration of knowledge.
The lesson plan and accompanying printable materials can be found here.
STEM Challenge Materials include:
Full Lesson Plan
Presentation Slides
Livestock Handling and Behavior STEM Challenge Mat PDF
Livestock behavior is an interesting and fun topic to learn about. By understanding the basics of livestock behavior, we can all be better stewards of our animals and keep them and our kids safe. I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you will consider purchasing a copy of my our lesson plan, Livestock Behavior and Handling STEM Challenge. This lesson is packed with information on livestock behavior, as well as ideas for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) challenges for your family or students. Thank you for reading!