Tom J. Baas, Charles
V. Schwab, Laura
Miller
Iowa State University Extension
Farm
operators know the dangers of working with machinery, the
leading cause of death and injury in the nation's most hazardous
occupation. However, many fail to perceive the dangers of
working with farm animals.
About
one out of every four injuries on the farm involves animals,
more than 500 injuries reported every year to the Iowa Department
of Public Health. In 1995, animals were the leading cause
of farm injuries in Iowa.
Injuries
identified with animals include bites, kicks, or situations
in which the worker gets pinned between the animal and a farm
building, implement, or other fixed object. The best way to
avoid livestock injuries is to understand animal behavior.
Only by knowing their animals, and what to expect in certain
situations, can farm workers protect themselves and others
from injury.
Animals
without proper care pose more danger to humans than ones that
are fed and sheltered. This publication, however, deals with
animal behavior related to habits, social relationships, maternal
instincts, and territorial behavior.
Domesticated
animals living under fairly uniform conditions often do the
same thing each day at a specific time. Part of this is caused
by habit formation, such as when cows gather around the barn
just before milking time. Habits also are caused by regular
changes in environmental conditions, such as the temperature
or humidity fluctuations when daylight turns to darkness Animals
are most active at the time of greatest change, such as at dawn
or dusk. They will be least active either in the middle of the
day or the middle of the night.
Learned
behavior patterns enable animals to adjust to changes in their
environment. Most animals have a variety of established behavior
patterns that can be expressed when their environment changes.
Animals learn to apply one behavior over another according
to which one produces the most comfortable situation.
For example,
a cow placed in a milking stanchion can react in several ways.
The animal could try to break loose or stand quietly until
released. Since only the latter behavior produces comfort,
most animals will adopt that behavior pattern.
Any animal
that normally lives in a flock or herd can become lonely, depressed,
frightened, or agitated if separated from other animals. An
animal that normally would not become frightened when the caretaker
enters would become upset easily when left in isolation.
This
poses a special problem for people who work with dairy cattle
or horses. Cows left by themselves during the milking procedure
can overreact to sudden movements or situations that normally
would not frighten them. Likewise, an individual who rides
a horse used to being with other horses may notice the animal
becoming excited or frightened as time away from other animals
increases.
Animals
form social relationships with caretakers, too. Caretakers
normally form a care-dependency relationship with animals
under their charge. To feed and provide shelter for livestock,
a caretaker must have the dominant role.
In caring
for a dog, an individual may form a leader-follower relationship
in which the human's actions are repeated by the animal. This
is sometimes difficult to accomplish in other species, such
as cattle or pigs, because of the innate behavior pattern
of that species.
All domesticated
animals have strong maternal instincts. Most animals show few,
if any, maternal instincts during the initial part of the pregnancy,
but change abruptly after giving birth.
For example,
sows may appear docile during pregnancy. Their reduction of
physical activity is influenced by the animal's increased
body weight. But when nesting begins, or after giving birth,
sows will exhibit maternal tendencies. This is shown by signs
of excitement, and biting walls, fences, or people to seek
an outlet. The sow's voice is lower, and when startled or
crowded into a small area, the sow becomes aggressive.
Experienced
farm workers may recognize these aggressive behaviors as maternal
tendencies, even before nest-building begins. However, persons
new to a livestock operation may not be able to identify and
anticipate the animal's aggressive behavior.
Domesticated
animals try to protect territories as do animals in the wild.
Caretakers may see this by an animal's aggressive behavior during
feeding.
However,
studies have shown that feed distributed in large, unpredictable
patches will not result in territorial behavior among livestock.
Feed distributed uniformly or in predictable patterns often
results in territorial behavior, that is, the animal decides
the area may be worth defending to secure access to the feed
and exclude others.
To keep
livestock from fighting at the feed trough, distribute feed
in large, unpredictable patches. Avoid uniform distribution,
or placing specified amounts in areas for certain animals.
Animals
can adapt to farm environments but there are many factors
that influence behavior. Study livestock and take note of
individual tendencies. Understand which factors influence
animal behavior and know what to expect. Only then can farm
workers reduce the risk of injuries associated with farm animals.
Test
your skill with this quick quiz.
- Which
action is involved in more agricultural injuries?
- applying
pesticides
- handling
livestock
- using
farm shop tools
- Animals
are more content when isolated from the rest of the flock
or herd. True or false?
- Sows
are likely to be aggressive after the birth of piglets. True
or false?
- Livestock
exhibit more territorial behavior when feed is distributed
in large, unpredictable patches than in smaller, predictable
locations in the trough. True or false?
[Answers
to quiz: 1-(#2); 2-False; 3-True; 4-False]
Handling
livestock can be dangerous. Animals can be unpredictable. Practice
these guidelines when you work with livestock.
- Avoid
dramatic changes of an animal's habits.
- Be
alert when handling animals during their most active time
at dawn and dusk.
- Keep
groups of animals together for better control.
- Maintain
a dominant role with farm animals.
- Place
food in irregular patches and volumes to avoid fighting.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
Prepared
by Tom J. Baas, extension swine specialist; Charles
V. Schwab, extension safety specialist; and Laura
Miller, extension communications.
|