04/10/2026
⚠️Calving season is here, and while it’s one of the most exciting times of year, it also comes with some added risks..
Here are a few precautions that can help keep you safe!
How common is it for farmers to be injured? Much more common than any of us would like...
The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health reports that a livestock farmer will experience a major injury once every 14 years. This is only accounting for injuries that get reported - farmer's aren't known for reporting often.
A 2017 report on Ag-related injury in the U.S. observed a 2.9x higher injury rate in children compared to adults.
With calving season recognized as higher risk of injury for those that handle cattle, it's a good time to remind yourself to slow down and stay safe 💚
An article in the most recent newsletter outlined a few practices to prioritize safety:
1️⃣Understand cattle and handle appropriately. Use stockmanship skills and knowledge of cattle behavior at all times. Update facilities, identify escape routes, and recognize aggressive animals, such as bulls, or cows that recently calved.
2️⃣Manage the environment. The most commonly injured body parts reported are the leg, knee and hip. Maintain good walking conditions, especially with mud, ice and manure.
3️⃣Protect from zoonotic diseases. Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, Q Fever... these are a few culprits for illnesses "caught" in calving season. Cleanliness is key to prevention, but also understand symptoms and risks so that swift intervention can be taken when warranted.
4️⃣ Handle needles with care. Needlestick injury is very common. Proper animal restraint and handling equipment correctly are crucial in prevention. Always know what risks are with the product you are administering.
5️⃣ Maintain equipment. Proper maintenance and utilization of safety features in ag equipment are important for injury prevention. Tractor, ATV/UTV and skid steers account for a significant portion of ag related fatalities.
6️⃣Use technology. Technologies exist that can improve safety during calving season. Cameras to monitor cattle without disturbing them, GPS systems on the phone to locate a farmer working alone, etc.
For the sake of yourself, your employees, and your family, keep safety a priority on the farm.
Link to the article in the comments ⬇
