Guidance on the Safe Handling of Livestock at Marts and Lairages

Guidance onthe Safe Handling of Livestockat Marts and Lairages

Our vision:A national culturewhere all commit tosafe and healthyworkplaces and thesafe and sustainablemanagement ofchemicals.

Published in 2010 by the Health and Safety Authority, The Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1.©All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in anyform or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission ofthe Health and Safety Authority.

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.1 Why Safe Systems of Work? . . . . . . . . 21.2 What is Unique about Marts

and Lairages? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.3 Protecting the Animals Welfare . . . . . 31.4 Animal Welfare Rights vs Health

and Safety Requirements . . . . . . . . . . 31.5 Understanding the Process of

Managing Health and Safety ina Mart or Lairage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 A Safe Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.1 Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.2 Layout of the Sale Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.3 Surfaces – Slips, Trips and Falls . . . . . .62.4 Height of Railings / Gate Fittings /

Strength of Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.5 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.6 Unloading / Loading Bays . . . . . . . . . . 72.7 Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.8 Noise Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.9 Control of Vehicles - Parking . . . . . . . 82.10 Entry / Exit Points to the Public Road . . 82.11 Site Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82.12 Children / Minors in Marts

and Lairages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82.13 Access by Farmers and Agents . . . . . . 9

3 Effective and Safe Handling of Cattle 103.1 Good Stockmanship – What is it? . . . 103.2 Understanding Cattle Behaviours . . 103.3 Different Cattle - Different Dangers 113.4 Farming Type Effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113.5 Breed Effects of Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . 123.6 Age Effects of Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123.7 Sex Effects of Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123.8 Biohazards from Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . 133.9 Biohazards from Slurry, Cattle Excreta

and Mouldy Feeds and Bedding . . . . 143.10 Recognising Cattle Behaviours . . . . . 153.11 Handling Horned Cattle . . . . . . . . . . 16

4 Defining ‘Safe Systems of Work’for Marts and Lairages . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4.1 Management Control of Safetyin Marts and Lairages . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4.2 Ready Identification of Martor Lairage Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4.3 Use of Sticks / Electric Prodders inMarts and Lairages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4.4 Dogs in Marts and Lairages . . . . . . . 184.5 Safe Unloading / Loading of Cattle . 184.6 Safe Work During Inspection

and Identification of Cattle . . . . . . . 194.7 Separating Cattle into Sale

or Slaughter Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204.8 Moving Cattle into the

Stunning Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214.9 Handling Cattle in the Sale Ring . . . 224.10 Handling Fractious or Horned Cattle . 234.11 Handling Mature Bulls . . . . . . . . . . . 244.12 Emergency Situations

– Escaped Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254.13 Cleaning in a Mart or Lairage . . . . . 254.14 Availability of First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Appendix 1 ‘Safe Systems of Work’Checklists for Marts and Lairages . . . . . . . 26a) Unloading and Loading of Cattle

from Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26b) Inspection and Identification of

Cattle in Marts and Lairages . . . . . . . . 27c) Separation of Cattle to Sale

or Slaughter Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28d) Competency of Mart or Lairage

Staff Working with Cattle . . . . . . . . . . 29e) Handling of livestock at the Sale

Ring in Marts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30f) Moving Cattle into the Stunning Box

in Lairages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31g) Maintenance of the Pens, Buildings

and Parking Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32h) Control of Farmers / Buyers /

Visitors / Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33i) Cleaning of the Mart or Lairage

After Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34j) Security and Access / Egress to the Site . 35k) Dealing with Horned, Fractious

or Escaped Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Contents

1 Introduction

Livestock Marts and the Lairages of Abattoirspresent a unique set of health and safety risksas there are large numbers of animals presentin unfamiliar surroundings. It is therefore notsurprising that there are many accidents andvery large numbers of ‘safety incidents’ usuallyinvolving the staff whose job it is to handlethe animals. As a general principle membersof the public should not be at risk at Marts orLairages. Occasionally there have been seriousand fatal accidents in Marts and Lairages. Therisks can be greatly reduced with acombination of excellent facilities, welltrained and competent handlers and welldefined safe systems of work. This guidance isfocused on eliminating the risk of fatalaccidents and on minimising the overallaccident risks amongst those working in andaround Marts and Lairages in Ireland.

Most animals in the Marts are cattle. Few pigsare traded in the Marts. While there can besignificant numbers of sheep traded they areacknowledged to represent less risk to staff.Hence the focus of this Guidance Document ison safety in handling cattle.

The purpose of this Guidance is thus to focuson Safe Systems of Work where large numbersof cattle are handled in places that areunfamiliar to them.

This document was prepared in support ofGoal 5 of the ‘Farm Safety Partnership ActionPlan 2009 – 2012’ – ‘To achieve a reduction inthe incidence of accidents involving livestock’.

1.1 Why ‘Safe Systems of Work’?

‘Safe Systems of Work’ are a legal requirementthat apply to all places of work. It is clearlyenshrined in legislation, is extensively tested inthe courts and in short means there is a legalonus for the employer to provide:

1. A safe place of work.

2. Safe plant and equipment.

3. Safe methods of working.

4. Competent workers – usually this meansthey must have specific training orexperience.

5. Adequate welfare provision for staff,usually meaning toilets, showers, shelterand canteen facilities.

Achieving ‘Safe Systems of Work’ is nearlyalways the result of implementing a credibleHealth and Safety Management System. Theessential components of such are:

1. Policies and a commitment to‘Safe Systems of Work’.

2. Adequate risk assessments and planning.

3. Effective implementation of the outcomeof risk assessment and preventivemeasures.

4. A system to measure performance.

5. Regular review of the whole system.

Such a system sits alongside the quality man-agement system of most workplaces and is notcomplex to operate. The key is effective poli-cies and a commitment by management andstaff to implement it. It always requires clearmanagement structures and the identificationof individual responsibilities. The HSA publica-tion “Workplace Safety and HealthManagement” contains all of the requiredguidelines for these systems. It can be down-loaded free of charge from www.hsa.ie.

1.2 What is Unique about Marts andLairages?

The key factor in both is that cattle arepresented with a whole new environment:

- Different layout.

- Different people.

- Unfamiliar sounds and often loud noises.

- They are likely to be separated from theirherdmates.

- No immediate feed is available.

In short their routine and social order hasbeen broken. They may have disliked beingloaded onto and off a trailer or lorry. Theymay be on edge, to a lesser or greater extent.

Page 2 | Guidance on the Safe Handling of Livestock at Marts and Lairages

1 Introduction

It is therefore entirely understandable thatcattle will be more nervous than in the farmenvironment. Some will react with aggressivebehaviours. Normally docile cattle can becomedangerous and certainly less predictable.

The temperament of cattle varies, according totheir sex, age, breed, inherent quietness andtheir previous experiences at being handled.One fact is that cattle that cannot be safelyhandled on the farm are normally either soldor slaughtered and can be very dangerous tohandle in Marts and Lairages.While these area small percentage of the cattle received in aMart or Lairage they present an obviousdanger to those handling them.

It is with this background that thedevelopment of Safe Systems of Work inMarts and Lairages presents specialchallenges, much more so than on the farm.

1.3 Protecting the Animals Welfare

The Animal Welfare Rights are very clearlyenshrined in legislation. Essentially this meansthat any wanton mistreatment of any farmedanimal is an offence. The welfare of animals isnormally expressed in the five freedoms;

1. Freedom from hunger, malnutrition andthirst - by ready access to fresh water anda diet to maintain full health and vigour.

2. Freedom from discomfort - by providingan appropriate environment includingshelter and a comfortable resting area.

3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease - bythe prevention or rapid diagnosis andtreatment of disease and injury.

4. Freedom to express normal patterns ofbehaviour - by providing sufficient space,proper facilities and company of theanimal’s own kind.

5. Freedom from fear and distress - byensuring conditions and treatment thatavoid mental suffering.

EU animal welfare legislation specificallyprohibits the striking of animals.

Veterinarians of the Department of Agriculture,

Fisheries and Food will normally check thatthe above freedoms are complied with inMarts and Lairages and are required toinvestigate complaints about animal welfare.

The welfare of cattle in transport is strictlycontrolled and applies to those handled inMarts and Lairages. The details are covered in‘Best Practice for the Welfare of Animalsduring Transport’ published by the FarmAnimal Welfare Advisory Council(www.fawac.ie). Where cattle are transportedmore than 65km the driver is required to havea certificate of competence which is issued byTeagasc for the Department of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food.

1.4 Animal Welfare Rights vs Health andSafety Requirements

On the surface there would appear to be aconflict between the ‘welfare rights’ of theanimals against the requirements for ‘SafeSystems of Work’ and the ‘Duty of Care’ toevery person at a Mart or Lairage. Inparticular, how can the “freedoms to expressnormal patterns of behaviour and from fearand distress” be reconciled with the need for‘Safe Systems of Work’?

In a well managed and designed Mart orLairage there is usually little conflict betweenthe animals’ welfare rights and the need tomaintain a safe working environment forworkers. This is because neither of theseimposes absolute rights.

For Health and Safety the onus is on the Martor Lairage owners to do all that is “reasonablypracticable” to ensure a safe workingenvironment. This is not a requirement for an‘absolutely safe working environment’. It isrecognised that in Marts and Lairages there isinherent danger from dealing with liveanimals and the key is in having amanagement system that ensures thatpredictable risks to safety are largelycontrolled. This must occur within anenvironment where the rights of the animalsare respected. Any handling system thatreduces animal stress will be safer for the Mart

Guidance on the Safe Handling of Livestock at Marts and Lairages | Page 3

1 Introduction

or Lairage workers. Rough and aggressivehandling is not acceptable in a welfare sense,nor will it help in creating a safe workingenvironment for staff.

In any given situation in a Mart or Lairage,where there is a choice between human safetyor animal rights the balance must always tip infavour of the safety of persons handling theanimals. There is no situation where anyperson in a Mart or Lairage should be injuredbecause of an Animal Welfare/Rights factor.

1.5 Understanding the Process ofManaging Health and Safety in aMart or Lairage

Effective management control is implicit in‘Safe Systems of Work’ in any Mart or Lairage.If any part of this does not happen then the

‘Safe Systems of Work’ objective is unlikely tobe achieved, meaning that staff and any otherpersons present are put at unnecessary risks ofinjury from the cattle.

There are just three basic components in thesafe handling of livestock at any Mart andLairage. These are the handlers, the cattle andthe facility. By and large the Mart or Lairagewill accept the animals presented to them, theonly exceptions being horned cattle (illegal inMarts), diseased or injured animals. Marts canrefuse to accept fractious cattle for auctionwhere it is evident that the staff and clientswould be endangered by their presence. Inmost instances the main variables for the safehandling of livestock at a Mart or Lairage arethe staff and the facility.


The Handler

The FacilityThe Animals

2 A Safe Facility

2.1 Layout

The layout and nature of the Mart or Lairagehas a significant impact on the ease of movingthe cattle and hence on the safety of theworkers and other persons present. Welldesigned and maintained facilities should havelower accident rates. A well designed facilityenables the calm and ordered movement ofcattle. Signage should be well located andclear. It is always better to have too many signsrather than not enough. Signage cover is partof the legal ‘Duty to Warn’ of a hazard butshould not be relied upon alone. The principlesof an effective layout for a Mart or Lairage arevery well established. These are the mainelements of a good layout:

1. The railings must be strong and highenough to deter possible jumpers.

2. Where possible use curved races to movecattle.

3. Aim to avoid 900 bends in narrow races.

4. Where the walls of the inspection/identi-fication races are sheeted there is less side-view visual disturbance for the cattle.

5. In the Crush aim to have at least 6m ofclear vision in front.

6. The Crush Gates should be opened fromabove to prevent the handler from leaningover the cattle’s head to open the gate,where possible.

7. Avoid steep inclines, particularly whenloading, unloading, and in Lairages in therace leading to the kill-box.

8. The gates must open and close in adirection that facilitates the movement ofthe cattle.

9. Gates should be the width of the race sothey can be latched when open.

10. Gates should be easily latched so you canbe sure it is a secure barrier. Self-latchinggates are easier to shut – but they can alsobe more noisy.

11. There should be built in refuge points or‘safety passes’ where a handler or others

can shelter or move out of the way,if required.

12. The ‘isolation pens’ must be easilyaccessible to the identification/inspectionraces. These pens must be capable ofsecuring extremely fractious cattle.

13. There should be direct access to the inspec-tion/identification and loading/unloadingareas without interrupting the movementof cattle. Often in the Marts this is achievedwith overhead walkways or ‘split walkways’(at ground level) so that the public canmove safely without any direct contact withthe cattle. It is important that all publicaccess points are designed so that cattlecannot enter public areas.

14. The entrance and exit points onto publicroads must be safe.

15. It should be easy to seal off the facility inthe event of cattle escaping.

2.2 Layout of the Sale Ring

In the sale ring cattle can be at their mostdangerous as they are nearly always separatedfrom other cattle for weighing, and thenreleased into the sale ring with brighter lights,no escape route, many unfamiliar faces andthe noise from the loudspeakers. The ringmanmust be able to release the weighing scalesgate and then shelter behind the gate, ifnecessary. There must be a safe refugeavailable to him at this point, either a barrier

Modern Marts and Lairages are well designed,have good cattle flows and are efficient to operate(Ardee Mart)


2 A Safe Facility

or a narrow exit gate. The sale ring is normallysemicircular and should be fully sheetedexcept for the exit gate. There should not becorners where cattle can put their head down.Where an animal is particularly fractious, thelatch on the exit gates should be opened by asecond person or by a quick release cord thatis activated by the ringman from his refuge.

2.3 Surfaces - Slips, Trips and Falls

Marts and Lairages inevitably generate slipperysurfaces usually from dung and urine. The sur-faces must be such that neither the cattle northeir handlers will slip and there must be noholes or dangerous projections that will causeeither to trip. Drains must be of adequate size

and manholes covered and properly fitted. It iscommon practice to use sawdust, wood shavingor straw to soak up some of the muck. Concretesurfaces do need occasional maintenance andin some instances resurfacing. The surfacesshould always be left with a rough finish orwith a pattern left on them to prevent slipsoccurring. Any loose stones, pieces of wood,etc., must be removed.

Drainage grates can cause cattle to baulk. Ingeneral the grates should run in the directionof cattle movement.

In the winter when there may be frost or blackice all icy surfaces should be treated withindustrial salt before work commences.

2.4 Height of Railings / Gate Fittings /Strength of Steel

The height of railings and gates wouldnormally vary according to the class of cattlebeing handled. However, the “PrecautionaryPrinciple” suggests that both Marts andLairages should be overbuilt rather than ‘justenough’. Standard railings should be at least1.8m in pens and races and at least 2.1maround the sale ring of Marts. Round pipework should result in less tissue damage if thehandler is thrown or crushed against therailings. The bottom rails should have a gap ofat least 30cm to allow the handler to roll awayin the event that he ends up on the ground.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries andFood have published guidelines for theminimum specifications for Bull Housing andthe Cattle Crush, Race and Enclosure6, all ofwhich are relevant for Marts and Lairages.


A full semi-circular ring leaves nowhere to hide –they will move around, allowing bidders a numberof views (Ardee Mart)

The chance of slipping on a roughened or groovedsurface is much lower (Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny)

6DAFF S160: Minimum Specification for Bull Housing, DAFF S137:Minimum Specification for Cattle Crush, Race and Enclosure

A downwardsslope on thelatch requiresless effort toclose it(Ardee Mart)

2 A Safe Facility

Gates must be pinned or have reversed hingesso that they will not lift off the hinges if ananimal gets its head underneath and lifts up.Self locking latches are an advantage. Analternative is a ‘gravity latch’ where to close itis a largely downwards movement.

In the UK the guidelines for lairages is for thesteel to have minimum yield strength of235N/mm2 for round, square or rectangularsections (standards EN10210-2, EN10219-2 andEN10255). Welds and hinges must have thesame strength in accordance with EN1011-1&2.All steel work should be treated for corrosionprotection to the standard EN14713. It matterslittle whether the corrosion protection is frompainting, hot dip galvanising or zinc coating,the main objective being to preserve theinherent strength of the steel work.

2.5 Maintenance

Good maintenance is an essential part ofmaintaining a safe facility. In particular:

1. Ground surfaces must not have slips andtrips hazards.

2. Slippery concrete surfaces should beregrooved.

3. All gates must swing freely, the hingesmust be secure and latches easily closed.

4. Bent or broken railings should be repairedor replaced.

5. Broken lights must be replaced.

6. The Mart or Lairage must be thoroughlycleaned after each day.

7. Metal corrosion must be controlled so thatthe inherent strength of the steel is notreduced.

2.6 Unloading/Loading Bays

Many problems occur and sometimes escapescan be caused by the nature of the unloading/loading facility in Marts and Lairages. Thereare some general principles that apply:

1. All Marts and Lairages should have anadequate perimeter fence and gate orcattle grids to confine any escaped animalsto the site.

2. Each loading/unloading bay should bearound 3mwide with two side folding gates.

3. Loading/unloading bays should besupplied both for typical farmers’ trailers(about 20cm above road level) and fortrucks (about 50cm above road level).

4. Where it is necessary for an animal to stepup to a trailer the step must be less than20cm.

5. Trailers and trucks must be able to bebacked right up to the gates before theramp is lowered. The ramp angle shouldnot exceed 150.

6. Positioning guidance lines should bepainted on the road surface to help driverskeep their trailer or truck square-on to theloading/unloading bay. These shouldextend out for at least 8m from the bay.

7. If the trailer/truck has no side gates thepen gates must be used to secure the side.

8. The person lowering the ramp must beable to step behind the side gates or anescape point, should the need arise.

9. The receiving pen should be at least 7mlong in order to hold a full load of cattlefrom a truck.

2.7 Lighting

Lighting must be bright enough for thehandlers and others present to clearly see theway and any ground hazards. Large contrastsof light should be avoided and diffuse lightingused to reduce shadows. Wherever possibleuse natural lighting from roof panels. Alllighting installations (lamps, switches andsockets) should be IP67 rated.

2.8 Noise Levels

Noise levels are generally unlikely to exceedthe limits in the 2007 General ApplicationsRegulations. Much more important are theeffects on already nervous cattle of suddenand loud noises. Sources can be from:1. Gates clanging shut.2. Loudspeaker and intercom systems.


2 A Safe Facility

3. Amplified telephone ringers.4. People shouting.5. Dogs barking.6. Vehicle noises and blowing of horns.

Sudden noises should be minimised in allMarts and Lairages.

2.9 Control of Vehicles - Parking

Parking is generally not a problem in theMarts as the spaces provided tend to cater forthe average sale day rather than the very busyspring market days. When there is a busy Martday parking must be organised in a controlledand orderly manner. The loading/unloadingbays must be left clear with sufficientmanoeuvring room for drivers. Trafficattendants in the Mart yard must wear highvisibility vests complying with EN471 Class 2and should have flashlights for dark evenings.

If it is necessary for some vehicles to park onpublic roads outside of the Mart, they shouldbe confined to one side of the road onlythrough placing “No Parking” cones on theleast favourable side.

2.10 Entry/Exit Points to the Public Road

There must be clear visibility onto and off thepublic road for 150m each way. In someinstances, it may be necessary to widen theroad to create a ‘turning in’ bay in the centreof the road. Long grass and hedges must betrimmed so that it does not obscure thevisibility for drivers coming to and from theMart, or for other road users.

2.11 Site Security

There are significant legal issues arising fromany damage caused by cattle that escape froma Mart or Lairage. Fencing must beappropriate and well maintained. All Martsand Lairages must have secure perimeterfences and gates to prevent escaped cattleleaving the site. A well-designed cattle grid atthe gate will prevent cattle from leaving by thegate and is best practice. An alternative is agate that is controlled by a member of staffwho would have sufficient time to react.

2.12 Children/Minors in Martsand Lairages

The definition of a child used in the “Code ofPractice on Preventing Accidents to Childrenand Young Persons in Agriculture” is used;

a) A “child” is a person under 16 years of ageor the school leaving age, whichever is thehigher.

b) A “young person” is a person who hasreached 16 years of age or the schoolleaving age, whichever is the higher, but isless than 18 years of age.

c) The term “minor” encompasses both“child/children” and “young person’s”

The very nature of both Marts and Lairagessuggests there is no place at all in them forsmall children.

1. Children should not go into the yard areaor loading/unloading areas of Marts orLairages.

2. Children are to be under the directsupervision of an adult at all times.

3. There is no situation where older childrenup to and including the term “minors”should be involved with any work activityinvolving cattle in either Marts or Lairages.

Note that the guidance in the “Code ofPractice on Preventing Accidents to Childrenand Young Persons in Agriculture” relating to“minors” handling livestock relates to a farmsituation, not Marts and Lairages.


Ordered and controlled vehicle parking is muchsafer for everyone (Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny)

2 A Safe Facility

All Marts and Lairages must have signage toindicate the restriction on children/minors.

2.13 Access by Farmers and Agents

Most of the Lairages have strict policiesrestricting the movement of farmers or theiragents. The Marts are entirely different and inmost the farmers feel the need to inspect cattleeither before or after the sale. The net effect isthat farmers will often impede the free and safecontrol of cattle being moved either to or fromthe sale ring or inspection point. There is no easysolution as this has been custom and practiceover a very long time. Some newer Marts haveexcellent overhead walkways that farmers use toinspect cattle. All overhead walkways or“catwalks” should have railings that comply withthe “Working at Heights Provisions” of the 2007General Applications Regulations7.

Where farmers or hauliers are in the way, Martstaff must ask the farmers or hauliers to standclear while the cattle are moved past. It isimportant that the normal ‘pathways’ of accessand egress to the pens or car parks does notimpede the safety of the Mart staff movingcattle.

All Marts and Lairages should have signs towarn and restrict access to certain areas.

These may include:

1. “Children not allowed in ............................”

2. “Children must be supervised at all times.”

3. “Livestock can be dangerous. You areadvised to keep away from the pens, theraces, and the loading and unloading baysunless absolutely necessary.”

4. “Please advise staff before unloading ifyou have reason to believe that thelivestock may be unsafe, wild, fractiousor dangerous.”

5. “Please use the overhead walkways”.

All signage must be in the line of vision, bekept clean and if necessary illuminated.

In defining a ‘Safe System of Work’ for a Martor Lairage a fundamental principle is that thegates are set and the way is clear before thecattle are released for movement. Wherefarmers are in the way, they must be warnedof the impending danger and asked to moveaside while the cattle are moved through. Thisassumes that nearly all the work in movingcattle in a Mart is done by the Mart staff andthat there are sufficient staff in relation to thenumbers being presented for sale.

7 2007 General Applications Regulations SI299:2007 at www.hsa.ie

At Cillín Hill Mart every pen can be viewed fromabove – there is no disturbance to the cattle or tothe stockmen (Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny)

A very clear message here to please use the over-head walkways (Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny)


3 Effective and Safe Handling of Cattle

Consider these questions:

1. Are we all competent stockmen*, meaningare we all excellent at handling cattle?

2. What makes a competent stockman*?

3. Can stockmanship be learned?

First, we are not born with skills as astockman. ‘Stockmanship’ is a learned skill. Tosome people it comes easily...others willalways have difficulties in handling animals.A key factor is that the stockman must be ableto ‘read the animals’ - like a book. Theyobviously can’t speak to you but theirappearance, demeanour and behaviour tellsnearly everything about how they are likely toreact. People from a farming background willnearly always have more experience inhandling animals though that doesn’t meanthey are necessarily better stockmen, as theirown learning and experience will influencejust how effective and safe they are inhandling the animals.

3.1 Good Stockmanship – What is it?

The competent stockman has a very widerange of skills. These include:

1. Recognises signs of health and ill health –easily identifies sick animals.

2. Understands changes in behaviour – easilyidentifies aroused animals.

3. Understands animal health - knows whenveterinary assistance is needed.

4. Has planned feeding and animal healthprogrammes.

5. Ensures the environment is satisfactory –not only the housing but also the effectsof the surrounds like noise, smells andlights.

6. Has the management skill to make thesystem work.

7. Handles them with care, avoidingunnecessary stress to the animals... andthemselves.

8. Is calm, patient and observant with theanimals.

9. Is cautious but at the same time firm sothey know who is in control.

10. Is confident when segregating cattle.

11. Is safety aware and knows when to retreatand get help.

12. Knowing what clothing is appropriate forthe job – safety boots, overalls, gloves etc.,

A good stockman will rarely have any conflictwith the animal welfare regulations. Goodstockmanship is an essential competency forany person handling cattle in a Mart orLairage. If an individual lacks the necessaryskills then specific training is required in orderto achieve these skills. These are learned skillsand can be improved with training. Peoplelacking these skills should not be working withcattle in either Marts or Lairages.

A good stockman will always be totallyfocussed on the job and their interaction withthe cattle. It is not acceptable to be frequentlydistracted while handling the cattle. A finalfactor is that the stockman must havesufficient fitness1, strength and agility toensure not only his own safety but also thesafety of others in the vicinity, whetherdirectly handling the cattle or not.

3.2 Understanding Cattle Behaviours

Cattle on farms are a highly social group.Amongst them are leaders, dominant animals,bullies and submissive cattle. Cattle have ahighly developed social order within the herd.They always prefer to be amongst theirherdmates rather than alone or in anunfamiliar group. They feel ‘safest’ this way.When they feel safe it means they don’t feelunder any particular threat. Their behavioursare predictable and generally they don’t showaggression towards people handling them.

All cattle have a highly developed sense ofsmell and hearing, much more so thanhumans. Their sight is also highly developed


* The word stockman or stockmen is intended in a gender neutral sense.1 The word ‘fitness’ is used with both physical and cognitive meanings.


though much different from humans. Sightfeatures include a narrow blind spot at therear and another immediately in front of theirnose. Their best vision, other than these smallblind spots, is in front where they see withboth eyes – binocular vision. To the sides theycan see form and movements but not as muchdetail or depth as here they are only seeingwith one eye – monocular vision2

Cattle see quite differently from us

Cattle routinely recognise at least 100 otherherdmates. They also recognise humans,particularly their main handlers and arealways nervous or edgy when a new personappears, whether to feed them, move them orto milk them. In a Mart or Lairage theygenerally won’t recognise anyone, nor othercattle if they are coming in singly or if they areseparated from their herd mates.This willgenerally make them nervous andunpredictable.

3.3 Different Cattle – Different Dangers

One factor we can do nothing about is theprior experience of cattle with their handlerson farms. This is a highly significant factor.Indeed experienced workers in Marts andLairages know to be especially cautious of thecattle coming from some farms – irrespectiveof the breed or sex. This indicates some factor

in the prior handling of these cattle, or a lackof handling, has had some effect on them tothe point where they are more of a danger tothose working in Marts and Lairages. Martand Lairage workers must always be alert forsuch cattle.

All cattle in Marts and Lairages are immenselypowerful (Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny)

3.4 Farming Type Effect

All mature dairy cows are accustomed tobeing handled at least twice daily and aregenerally very quiet. Indeed any fractiousdairy cow is likely to be quickly culled fromthe herd for safety and convenience reasons.This translates into the Marts and Lairageswhere the risk from mature dairy cows isgenerally low relative to beef cattle

Against this though are bulls from dairy farms.Many dairy farms have only one bull, who isoften housed by himself for long periods. Thenet effect is that no dairy bull is to be trustedas they see any human as a potentialcompetitor. They are often unpredictable andmay attack even where there is little priorwarning of impending trouble.

Beef cattle are generally handled less thandairy cattle and hence are less accustomed tobeing in a confined and unfamiliar place.

2 Dimberton 1999



During the winter, often the main contact ofsuckler cows is with a tractor and feedingwagon that daily supplies their feed. So as agroup, beef cattle in Marts and Lairages areless predictable than dairy cattle.

3.5 Breed Effects of Cattle

The dairy breeds are generally recognised asbeing more docile than beef breeds,althoughsome of this difference is due to the extent towhich dairy cattle are handled. There is ageneral perception that the ‘Continental BeefBreeds’ are less docile than the traditionalbeef breeds such as the Angus or Hereford.Given that the ‘Continental Cattle Breeds’ suchas Charolais, Simmental and Limousin make upthe majority of beef cattle, then the reality isthat there are good economic reasons forfarmers to use these breeds and that anytemperament factors have not been a largepart of their decision making. Americanresearch3 has shown significant differencesbetween cattle breeds.

Temperament is a heritable characteristic andtherefore it is possible to breed out badbehaviour. A docility ranking is available forall bulls used in the Irish cattle breedingscheme4.

For Mart and Lairage workers the mostimportant point is that cattle can never betrusted on breed alone. There are fractiouscattle in all breeds and behaviour towardshandlers will always vary widely both withinand between cattle breeds. It is important thatMart and Lairage workers are able torecognise the major breeds of cattle.

3.6 Age Effects of Cattle

Most beef cattle handled will be under 30months, most dairy cattle will be at least 7years and bulls can be even older dependingon whether they are raised for beef or used assires. Nearly all cattle will be coming fromhighly socialised groups but their behaviourtowards handlers will be more related to theirprior experiences than to any inherent ageeffect. Older cattle are vastly moreexperienced but this also means they are moreaccustomed to a routine. Being loaded ontotransport and taken to an unfamiliar Mart orLairage is a major change for them and it islittle surprise that sometimes they will exhibitantagonistic behaviour.

3.7 Sex Effects of Cattle

1. In general, never trust any bull whateverage or breed. Never trust even young 8-9months old bulls as generally they are stillless predictable and hence can bedangerous.

2. Older bulls are far more dangerous thanyoung bulls. Bulls become territorial fromabout 18 months and from then on willfight other bulls for domination. Wheretwo older bulls from different herds are


3 Voisinet et al 19974www.icbf.com

A Young Bull Showing Aggressive Behaviour


put together, as can happen at a Mart, it ishighly likely they will fight until the‘pecking order’ is established. While theyare fighting anyone in the vicinity is at amuch higher risk of being ‘tossed out ofthe way’. A fractious bull is normally saferto handle if he is shifted with a couple ofcows he is familiar with.

3. Jersey bulls are extremely fractious – theyare not common in the Marts and Lairages

4. Steers (bullocks) are generally quiet.

5. Cows with new born calves at foot can beextremely dangerous if she thinks that youare threatening her calf.

6. Heifers ‘on-heat’ are less predictable. Theywill mount other cattle and in turn bemounted.

3.8 Biohazards from Cattle(Includes Zoonoses)

Many serious diseases can be caught fromcattle, though fortunately the incidence isvery low. The nature of Mart and Lairagebusinesses is such that we have to acceptthere are some biohazard risks that are ‘partand parcel’ of the work. Most peoplehandling cattle in Marts and Lairages willexperience ringworm, that once recognised iseasily treated. Some of the bacterialinfections can be fatal, though rarely so.

Cattle in Marts and Lairages will inevitablyproduce more dung and urine than on thefarm as they will have apprehensions aboutwhat is happening.

The main risks are from:

1. Gut Disorders: A number of bacteria causegastro-intestinal disorders. These includeCampylobacter, _E.coli 0157, Salmonellaand Clostridium perfringens. The overallrisk is high.

2. Leptospirosis: There are two forms, Weil’sdisease that is transmitted by rats andcattle leptospirosis both usuallytransmitted by contact with infected urine.These can be fatal, if untreated. Theoverall risk to workers is low.

3. Cryptosporidiosis is commonly transmittedby birds and cattle, causing diarrhoea.

4. Bovine tuberculosis: All cattle coming intoMarts and Lairages should be free from TBbut there can be very recent infections.There is a higher risk of TB infection toworkers in lairages of abattoirs thatslaughter the TB reactor cattle comingfrom farms.

5. Brucellosis: This is now eradicated so therisk is negligible.

6. Q Fever: The bacteria Coxiella burnetticauses flu like symptoms and iswidespread. Many Lairage workers havebeen affected though the symptoms arenot often recognised as Q fever.

7. Ringworm: Quite prevalent causing awhite crusty lesion.

8. Orf is caused by a virus causing a localisedskin lesion

9. Tape and Gut Worms: The incidence islowest in mature cattle and there willalways be some carriers. The hazard islargely avoided with good personalhygiene and the overall risk is low.

Old bulls are more dangerous, but never trustany bull



There is evidence from overseas that the‘Superbug’ MRSA is affecting some classes offarm animals, that farm workers are at riskand that there is significant transfer of it tothe general population from some animals.The need for excellent hygiene amongst Martand Lairage workers is obvious.

The key to Safe Systems of Work with regardto biohazards from cattle is the prevention ofinfections occurring. For Marts and Lairageworkers this always involves the following:

1. Practice excellent personal hygiene.Wash your hands thoroughly with hotsoapy water before eating or smoking.All staff must have instruction on how towash their hands properly.

2. Cover all cuts with a waterproof plaster –then keep them dry. Wear waterproofgloves when the skin is broken. Glovesshould comply with the EN374-2 standard.

3. Avoid urine splashes directly onto the skin– best to avoid the risk by having the skincovered at all times.

4. When operating a power hose avoidsplashes onto the skin. Inhalation ofbacterial laden mist can be largelyprevented by wearing a portablerespirator complying to EN149 type FPP2.

5. Your footwear must be waterproof.Wellington boots with steel toe caps areexcellent footwear.

3.9 Biohazards from Slurry, Cattle Excretaand Mouldy Feeds and Bedding

A hidden and often unrecognised hazardcomes from the biologically active bacteriaassociated with slurry, dung or mouldy feeds.Collectively these are known as endotoxins.Only some workers are affected and thereactions can range from sinusitis, acutebronchitis or asthma. In extreme cases therecan be an allergic reaction that may be fatal.The ‘farmers’ lung’ syndrome is in theendotoxins category.

In some Marts, human wastes (from toilets)may not be kept separated from cattle wastes.This increases the risk of diseases such asHepatitis A. Human wastes should not bemixed with cattle slurry.

Any worker in Marts and Lairages handlingmouldy or decaying feeds, or experiencingdusts and mists from cleaning up using highpressure water jets will experience someinhalation of endotoxins. In some cases a singleexposure may cause chronic long term effects.

For most workers good protection will comefrom a well fitted portable respiratorcomplying with EN149 type FPP2. Workersknown to have respiratory allergic reactions orchronic conditions such as emphysema shouldhave a higher level of respiratory protectionwith an EN149 type FPP3 mask, or not do thistype of work at all. Instructions on fitting andwearing masks must be followed carefully toachieve the protection necessary.


Any rats present are a Weil’s disease risk

Respirators must comply with at least EN149- type FPP2


3.10 Recognising Cattle Behaviours

A competent stockman will nearly alwaysrecognise the behavioural signs and sounds ofthe cattle they are handling. These can be inthe form of the head position, the tail, itsoverall demeanour such as pawing the groundwith its legs, or bellowing. Seriously distressedcattle often bellow loudly – a sure sign to thehandler to be especially careful and to itsherdmates that there is danger. The diagramsbelow show typical head and tail positions5:

Thus the state of arousal has a large influenceon the response by any cattle to the handler.Once aroused their adrenalin levels haveincreased and they may do any one of threethings:

1. They may retreat, put their head in acorner where they cannot see you andwait. This is a frequent response when theyare in a group and is a submissivebehaviour.

2. They may take flight, if there is somewhereto go. If you are standing next to the exitthen they will push you out of the way.

3. They may attack as they see you as athreat. Cattle will not typically chargeunless they think there is no other option.

Beef cattle have a ‘comfort zone’ around themof about 6m. If you are inside that zone –often known as the ‘flight zone’, they aremost likely to react to your presence. Thecloser you are the more threatened they willfeel. In a Mart or Lairage you will nearlyalways be inside of their flight zone. A furtheraspect is that the flight zone value of 6m is anaverage. For most dairy cattle that arehandled daily, the flight zone hardly exists asthey are very comfortable with handlers upvery close. Infrequently handled cattle withpoor temperament may feel threatened at anyvisible distance.

The head position tells just how contented theyfeel....or otherwise1→ Neutral position2→ Slightly antagonistic position3→ Highly antagonistic position4→ Confident approach5→ Submissive approach6→ Alert before flight position

The tail position also says much about their state ofexcitement:

1→ Grazing or walking2→ Cold, ill or frightened3→ Threatening, curiosity or sexual excitement4→ Galloping5→ Kicking or playing

5 Albright and Arave, 1997, Mounaix et al.

1 2

3 4

5 6

1

2

3

4

5



Their state of arousal is a critical factor. Thearousal level is increased by factors such as:

• Being alone or separated from theirherdmates.

• Unfamiliar places.

• Strangers handling them.

• Aggressive handlers.

• Transport to and from the Mart or Lairage.

• Dogs, especially noisy dogs that niptheir heels.

• Moving quickly to bright light.s

• Shadows and contrasting colours.

• Sudden noises, such as a loudspeakerblaring or a clanging gate.

• Hunger.

• Oestrus activity – on heat.

• Being hit with a stick.

• Electric prodders.

• Situations that are novel or strange to them.

Arousal levels are reduced by the opposite ofeach of these. It is accepted that the arousallevel will always be higher in a Mart of Lairagethan on the farm. A key factor in safe handling

is to keep it as low as possible. This is wheregood planning, good facilities and excellentstockmanship are hugely important factors.

3.11 Handling Horned Cattle

The dehorning regulations are universalexcept for some pedigree animals and uniquebreeds. Cattle that have not been dehornedare illegal in Marts, but still sometimes getpresented for sale. Cattle with horns are likelyto be more aggressive to other cattle andpresent a higher risk to those handling themin a Lairage.


Moving into their flight zone gets a response.Moving out of it stops that response. Thelongitudinal balance line runs from the tail to thenose and the shoulder balance line through theshoulders6

This pedigree ‘Sales’ bull was very quiet, thoughthese horns would be too wide for some stunningboxes. With a fractious nature behind them thesehorns could be lethal.

6 (ACC Bulletin 517 2002)

Any horns on cattlepose a higher riskto handlers

4 Defining ‘Safe Systems ofWork’ for Marts and Lairages

A number of factors will result in safe workpractices and a reduced chance of injuryoccurring. These are:

1. Competent stockmen.

2. Systems that keep the cattle arousal levelas low as possible.

3. Well defined systems of work.

4. Early identification of potentiallyfractious cattle.

5. A layout that results in a good flow ofcattle.

6. Safety refuge areas where direct animalcontact is unavoidable.

7. Sufficient staff numbers to complete thework required in a safe manner.

8. Signs to indicate hazardous orrestricted areas.

9. Staff clearly identifiable with some type ofdistinctive clothing.

As a general principle, the objective is alwaysto minimise the direct contact between cattleand the handlers. Some direct contact isalways inevitable meaning the risk of injurycan never be eliminated, only minimised.

4.1 Management Control of Safety inMarts and Lairages

Every aspect of safe handling of livestock atany Mart or Lairage requires that someone isin charge of the activities and hasmanagement authority. Without this ‘SafeSystems of Work’ will not be achieved. Therole is for the manager (or equivalent) to becontinually circulating, watching, directing,assessing risks, ensuring there are sufficientand competent staff, ensuring thatmaintenance occurs, evaluating outcomes andensuring there is appropriate accidentinvestigation and remedial action taken,should the need arise. Identification andfurther training of staff who lack competencyeither as stockmen or in the humane handlingof the stock is a clear responsibility formanagement.

Management control is a key role andresponsibility for the safe handling of livestockat any Mart or Lairage ultimately rests withmanagement. There are no exceptions.

4.2 Ready Identification of Mart orLairage Staff

Company staff handling the animals should beclearly identified by some form of commonclothing. This is particularly important in theMarts where there are often large numbers offarmers present and without this it is not easyto recognise who is a staff member.

4.3 Use of Sticks/Electric Prodders inMarts and Lairages

A stick has two purposes. The main function isthat it makes the handler appear much largerto the cattle and so helps in maintaining thedominance of the handler over them. As suchit is very useful in turning and directing cattle.The second is for self defence in the occasionalsituation where that is needed. This is the onlytime when it is acceptable to hit the cattle,and then is best around the nose or face.Indiscriminate use of sticks is unacceptableboth in a welfare sense and also may bruisethe carcass and raises the animal’s arousallevel, usually unnecessarily. Cattle handlerswho constantly use their sticks to beat cattledemonstrate that they lack stockmanship skillsand knowledge, and are also breaking animalwelfare regulations.

Sticks should only be wooden. Blackthorn orwillow are excellent. They are typically about1m long. Alternatives to sticks are ‘sortingpaddles’ that are extensively used in the USAor small flags or plastic tassels on the end of alight wooden dowel or stick.

‘Sorting paddles’ are an alternative to a stick.



From an animal welfare perspective the‘paddles’ are preferable to sticks and theirregular use should be investigated andencouraged at all Marts and Lairages.

Sticks should be available for farmers whoarrive at a Mart without a ‘stick’ to assist themwhen unloading their cattle.

Electric prodders are not to be routinely usedother than encouraging cattle into the killingbox in a Lairage. When used they are only onthe hindquarters, for a maximum of onesecond and the animal must have a space itcan move towards. Use of electric prodders isprohibited in marts.

4.4 Dogs in Marts and Lairages

Dogs are seen by cattle as potential predatorsand therefore should not be routinely presentin either Marts or Lairages. The only exceptionmay be to help recover an escaped animal.

4.5 Safe Unloading / Loading of Cattle

Unloading and loading of cattle at Marts andLairages has frequently resulted in injuries toboth staff and those transporting them, andescapes. Escaped cattle can be difficult tocontain as they are usually alone and in atotally strange environment. The unloadingprocess is much more ordered where the cattle

can be booked in for delivery in a specifiedperiod.

1. The trailer or truck must be positioned toeliminate the chance of cattle escaping byslipping between the vehicle and the siderailings. If necessary, reposition the vehicleso that it is correctly lined up. The Mart orLairage should supply a ‘banksman’ toprovide directions on the positioning ofthe vehicle. The ‘banksman’ must wear ahigh visibility vest complying to EN 471Class 2.

2. Wherever possible staff should be incharge of unloading and loading of thecattle. Cattle must not be released fromthe transport until the Mart or Lairagestaff have authorised their release and areready to receive them. The gates must bepreset to move them as smoothly aspossible.

3. Any steps should be less than 20cm andthe ramp angle should not be more than15o.

4. The unloading/loading pens must havenon-slip flooring.

5. The presence of fractious, distressed,injured or horned cattle or bulls should benotified by the driver to Mart or Lairagestaff before they are released from theirtransport. Additional persons may berequired. With potentially dangerousanimals it is better to have too manypersons than not enough. If such animalsarrive at night to a Lairage when the daystaff are not present, they must be notedby security and a system in place to ensurethat this information is made available tothe lairage staff before these cattle arehandled in the morning. It is essential thatsuch information is communicated to allrelevant persons. All Marts and Lairagesshould have signage in the unloadingareas requesting notification to the staffbefore known fractious cattle areunloaded.


Electric prodders are effective but increase arousalof the cattle and are not good practice in a welfaresense.

The most useful farmdog can create chaosand increased risks forall in a Mart or Lairage


6. The sedation of potentially fractious cattlebefore bringing them to a Mart or Lairageis totally unacceptable as a managementpractice and renders meat unfit for humanconsumption due to residues.

7. Marts can choose not to receive veryfractious cattle off the transport. In someinstances this will also apply to hornedcattle.

8. With injured or sick cattle, there should bea veterinary inspection before they areunloaded.

9. Cattle that might injure each other onaccount of their species, sex, age or originshould be separated and penned apartfrom each other on the transport and thisseparation maintained once released.

10. The transport driver should release therear gate/ramp. When opening the reardoor/ramp of the transport, he must beable to step aside either behind the gateor to a refuge point at the side. He shouldnot walk down the pen in front of thecattle that are being released.

11. When the rear door/ramp is opened, theremust not be other persons standing at theside of the exit ramp in the side vision ofthe cattle. This may cause them to stop.

12. During unloading the handlers should notfrighten or excite the cattle, raising theirarousal level.

13. Once the rear door/ramp is open thehandler should not rush the cattle. Theywill always want to leave the transport asthey never like being confined. It may take20-30 seconds for one of them to see theopening and move, then the others willfollow. Handlers should be trained to bepatient!

14. Mart or Lairage staff should never enterthe trailer to turn the cattle unless ananimal has ‘gone down’ and an assessmentis needed.

15. When loading cattle at Marts, sometrailers are unsuitable both in a welfare

and safety sense. These maybe a narrowhorsebox without a tail ramp. There is amuch higher risk of escape into theparking area from such trailers. Farmersusing such trailers should be asked to finda better method to move their cattle.

4.6 Safe Work During Inspection andIdentification of Cattle

On entering the Lairage each animal may beinspected by a veterinarian and safe systemsof work must be in place. In addition, allanimals must have their identificationpassports. At this point in the Marts they willusually get an additional identification tagsecured on the back. This work must be

The trailer or truck must be far enough back not toleave gaps like this

Truck well positioned – there is no chance of escape(Ardee Mart).



carried out in a race, sometimes with the useof a head crush. This work is much moredifficult if the Mart or Lairage design does notfacilitate the natural movement of the cattle.

1. Keep the cattle in their herd groups aslong as possible.

2. When moving them into the inspectionrace, wherever possible this should bedone without direct contact. Where directcontact is unavoidable the ‘forcing pens’must not be so crowded so that the cattleare not able to move in the requireddirection.

3. Only competent, fit and experiencedhandlers should be involved in this work.

4. Handlers must carry a stick/paddle to helpdirect the cattle.

5. Those checking the identification mustnever place their hands through therailings to check a tag etc., inspectionshould be from an above position. Theperson(s) checking the tags or making aveterinary inspection must not be standingin a position that impedes the flow ofcattle through the system.

6. No one should enter the inspection/identification race under normalcircumstances. If an animal ‘goes down’then this rule can be relaxed and then onlyunder the supervision of the manager.

7. The design should include side gates or alifting system to move any animal that‘goes down’ in the inspection/identificationrace.

8. If there is a fractious animal thenkeep it in a group as long as possible.

9. Where restraint is necessary with a headcrush the gate should be closed once theanimal is in the box so it cannot reverse.There must not be anyone within sight atthe front of the crush and the crush mustbe easily and rapidly closed once the headis through.

10. Once released, make sure there is a clearpath to join other cattle.

11. If cattle are being moved to a detentionpen there must be a clear pathway to thepen from the inspection area.

4.7 Separating Cattle into Sale orSlaughter Groups

Separating cattle into sale or slaughter groupsis one of the more dangerous jobs as directcontact is often unavoidable.

1. Only competent, fit and experiencedhandlers should be involved in separatingcattle.

2. If the cattle get very aroused/anxious,where possible leave them to settle downfor 20-30 minutes before moving in toseparate them.

3. The cattle must have room to move withinthe pen. If the pen is too full they willhave nowhere to go.

4. A stick or equivalent is essential to helpdirect cattle in the required direction. Thehandler should use the longitudinal andshoulder balance lines to get cattle tomove in the required direction (see figurein 3.10, Page 16).

5. There should normally be a second personon the gate, opening and closing it asrequired.


The provision of ‘escape slots’ means staff have asafe refuge if attacked


6. With very fractious cattle it is safer forthem to be separated without directcontact, usually directly out of theidentification/inspection race.

7. The pens must be set in advance so oncethe cattle are moving they can continue tothe intended pen.

8. In Marts this work must not be donewhile farmers are standing in the racesor pens.

4.8 Moving Cattle into the Stunning Box(Lairages only)

Once the cattle are in the race leading to thestunning box one person can usually keepthem moving up to the box and the ‘shooter’will secure them in the box. Other than ananimal ‘going down’ or for cleaning there isno reason why staff should enter this race. Ifcattle won’t move forwards it is usuallybecause they sense some obstruction. This canbe visual such as someone in front, bright light

Separation of the cattle nearly always requires somedirect contact. Competent stockmen are essential(Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny)

A curved race leading to the weighing pen withsliding gates to stop them moving backwards is avery safe system (Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny)

A circular forcing pen with the gates on a centralpivot enables the cattle to be moved without anydirect contact from staff

Circular forcing pens – the gates move only in onedirection and are self latching about every 60cm



or shadows, sounds or something they smell,such as blood.

1. Cattle generally move better if there is aslight incline in the race, up to thestunning box.

2. A slight curve also gets better movementas the cattle will follow those they seedisappearing ahead of them.

3. Use of one way overhead gates will stopcattle reversing back down the race.

4. Lighting should be dull with no shadows inthe race.

5. There should be no sudden noises.

6. There must be no smells of blood in therace.

7. Where an electric prodder is used, theoperator must be fully trained. If theprodder is powered from mains electricityit must be operated through a 30mA RCDin case of an electrical fault. The cord mustbe in excellent condition.

8. The stunning box must be large enough totake any cattle normally presented forslaughter.

9. The stunning box should not have a solidwall at the head end. Cattle will move intoit better if they can see a space beyond it.

10. A fixed-shelf head restraining system canimprove the accuracy of the stun but cancause the beast to be highly aroused at thetime when the opposite is desirable.

11. The stunning process should be fast andefficient. The ‘shooter’ must be fullytrained and hold a firearms license. The‘shooter’ should always have a backupcharge in case the first is not totallyeffective.

12. The ‘shooter’ must not release the stunnedanimal if there is any doubt about theeffectiveness of the stun and the relaxedstate of the animal for shackling andsticking to occur.

4.9 Handling Cattle in the Sale Ring(Marts only)

Cattle can be highly stressed in the sale ring.They are normally alone, the environment isnew to them, there are unfamiliar peoplewatching, there is no apparent way out, theloudspeaker of the auctioneer is loud, thelighting is bright and there is an unfamiliarperson in the ring with them.

1. Only competent, fit and experiencedstockmen should be working in the salering.

2. If other Mart staff have identified afractious animal there must be acommunication system in place to ensurethis is communicated to the ring manbefore the animal is released from theweighing box.

3. The ring man should always carry a stick sohe can direct the animal at ‘an arm’s length’.

4. When opening the gate from theweighing box, the ring man should openthe gate but not normally enter the box toturn the animal if it doesn’t quickly comeout.

5. The gate must be opened and the ringmanable to shelter behind the gate as theanimal comes out. Once the entry gate isclosed there must be a barrier or narrowexit gate to shelter behind, should it benecessary to retreat.


Entrance to the race leading to the stunningbox – no sharp turns and nowhere else to go


6. Once the viewing is complete the ring manmust be able to release the animal withoutentering the ring, should the animal behighly aroused. In some cases anotherperson will be required to release the exitgate. Understandably, there are fewdifficulties in getting cattle to move out ofthe sale ring.

7. Excessive and sudden noise levels shouldbe avoided in the sale ring.

4.10 Handling Fractious or Horned Cattle

A key factor to safe handling of fractious orhorned cattle is in recognising that there is adanger to those handling them. A proportion

of all cattle are potentially fractious.Fortunately, the number of very dangerouscattle presented at either Marts or Lairages isvery small.

1. Only competent, able and highlyexperienced stockmen should be involvedwith handling known fractious cattle.This is not a place for young, very old orinexperienced workers.

2. There must be good communicationbetween those who deliver fractious cattleand those who are receiving them. In theLairages this may require a formal notingon the cattle record if they are received atnight and signage appropriately placed atthe gate should ask for the presence ofknown fractious cattle to be told to thestaff receiving them.

3. A ‘Risk Assessment’ process should befollowed for any potentially dangerousanimal. This will vary between sites butmeans that where the danger is apparentin advance then a management plan canbe worked out and implemented.

4. At Marts with cattle where there is priorknowledge that they are likely to bedangerous to staff or to the public at largethey should not be unloaded. The decisionnot to unload should be made by the Martmanagement. Where such cattle areunloaded at a Mart and the managementconsiders that they present too muchdanger to staff and clients, they should beisolated and only moved again once mostof the clients have left.

5. It is an unacceptable practice to sedatecattle known to be highly fractious beforebringing them to a Mart or Lairage.

6. Very aroused cattle or cattle that arenaturally fractious should be kept with agroup of quieter cattle, as far as possible.This can work well with a bull where he iskept with several cows.

7. Horned cattle should not normally beunloaded at Marts. If necessary, such cattlecan be sold on the trailer. Cattle that are

Totally safe release of a fractious bullock into thesale ring (Ardee Mart)

Taking risks in the sale ring is not part of the job.There must be a place to retreat, when required(Ardee Mart).



legally permitted to have horns such aspedigree stock are exceptions.

8. In Marts, there are sometimes situationswhere cattle will respond better to thecontrol by the farmer who delivered them.This should not be the norm but can be apractical solution. However, as the farmercould be injured there are potentialliability issues to consider. The farmer mustonly do this work under the supervision ofa staff member from the Mart.

9. If a fractious animal arrives at a Lairagewhile killing is occurring, in order tominimise contact, it should be routeddirectly from the identification/inspectionrace to the race leading to the stunning box.

10. Staff members should never attempt tohandle a fractious animal alone. At leasttwo competent and agile stockmen mustbe present, more if required. Elderly staffare at more risk and must be assisted.Those involved must always be aware ofpossible refuge points for themselves.

11. Cattle that prove impossible to handle inthe Lairage should be shot by a competentmarksman. In other words, if they can’treasonably be handled then staff shouldnot be put at further and unnecessary risk.Sometimes the ‘shooter’ is able to getclose enough to stun them, using anextension arm for the gun. Alternatively,they can be tranquilised and then stuck.All required precautions must be availableand taken to protect other people in thevicinity. Each Lairage should have a policyand procedure covering the killing ofsuch cattle.

12. If animals are tranquilised in Lairages theybecome unfit for human consumption.

13. If cattle are presented for slaughter withhorns too wide to get into the stunningbox, they will need to be stunned andstuck before the normal box but in an areawhere the carcass can be readily moved.

4.11 Handling Mature Bulls

Unless from the same farm mature bulls

should not be mixed as they are very likely tofight. Once a fight starts they will be morefocused on each other than on any persontrying to move or separate them. As such theyare exceedingly dangerous for any personhandling them.

1. Do not enter a pen with any bull withoutsome means of protecting yourself. This isnormally a stick or a paddle.

2. Only highly experienced and fit stockmenshould handle mature bulls. This workmust not be done by young orinexperienced stockmen.

3. The handler of mature bulls must alwaysmaintain a psychological dominance overthem.

4. Persons over 65 years of age handling bullsin a Mart or Lairage should haveassistance.


Any horned cattle represent an increased risk tostaff than polled cattle

Separating two bulls that are fighting is verydangerous (Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny)


4.12 Emergency Situations– Escaped Cattle

Nearly all Marts and Lairages have lost cattleinto the parking area, and sometimes out intothe community. Mostly this occurs withunloading and loading. Cattle don’t like beingin an unfamiliar place and some will take achance to escape if they see a gap. If there areno gaps, then they won’t escape. The risksinvolved from escaped, highly aroused and loneanimals should not be underestimated and aredangerous both to anyone on site and to thepublic at large if they escape from the site.

Escaped cattle should be treated as anemergency situation and there must bepreplanning and training on how to deal withthe situation. This must be outlined in theSafety Statement or in a separate MethodStatement.

1. All Marts and Lairages should have anadequate perimeter fence and gate orcattle grid to confine any escaped animalsto the site.

2. When an animal escapes a general alarmmust be sounded to warn all on the site ofthe risk. If there is a gate then this must beclosed until the animal is under control.

3. Where cattle escape outside of the site AnGarda Síochána must be immediatelyinformed of the situation.

4. A competent marksman trained to dealwith this type of emergency situationshould be available to the site, if required.Often such a person is available from ahunting club. If a shotgun is used it shouldhave a single ball cartridge rather than‘shot’. This option will only be used wherethe animal has attacked or threatened toattack persons and where containment isnot a realistic option. The ‘shooting option’must be covered in the Policies andProcedures of each site.

5. Once the site is secure the normalprocedure is to release a group of quietcattle into the yard to keep the escapedanimal company.

6. Once the group have settled down, insome instances they can be moved to anadjoining field and moved back to theMart or Lairage once they have fullysettled down. To do this requires that theycan be quietly moved into a positionwhere they see that going through a gateinto a pen is a positive option. Extremepatience can be required. At least fourcompetent stockmen should be involved.It may be necessary to erect temporaryfencing to direct them into the pens.

4.13 Cleaning in a Mart or Lairage

All Marts and Lairages are cleaned with PowerWashers at the end of each day. High pressurehoses are normally used to move the wasteinto the drainage system.

1. The surfaces will be slippery so slipresistant footwear with ankle support isessential.

2. The water jets cause an aerosol of organicmaterial that should not be routinelyinhaled. ‘If staff have sensitivity to this orhave respiratory allergies a respiratorcomplying to EN149 type FPP2 should beroutinely used to provide a high level oflung protection while power washing.

3. Eye protection complying to EN 166 shouldbe worn while power washing.

4. The water jets must not directly contactany of the lights or other electricityswitches.

4.14 Availability of First Aid

The nature of the work in handling cattleboth at Marts and Lairages requires that thereis a trained “Occupational First Aider” alwaysavailable in the event of an injury occurring.There must also be a stocked first aid kitavailable for minor cuts and abrasions, and asuitable area to keep any injured person forassessment or until an ambulancearrives. This area should haveblankets, a bed and chairavailable.


Appendix 1 ‘Safe Systems ofWork’Checklists for Marts and Lairages

The lists below are a guide to ‘Safe Systems of Work’ for Marts and Lairages. These lists cover themain hazards but will not be complete as some sites will have different risks. There is provisionfor these to be noted at the bottom of each section.

a) Unloading and Loading of Cattle from Transport


Source of Hazard Suggested Control Site Assessment Changes By whom andOkay (√)/ Needs Required when?

Attention (X) (List)

Lorry or Trailer 1 Is there adequate space toCorrectly Positioning manoeuvre all vehicles?

2 Are there guidance lines paintedonto the roadway/yard?

3 Is there a banksman to control orderlyparking and to guide vehicles into place?

4 Can vehicles be parked sufficientlyclose to the unloading bay?

1 Are all livestock entering the facilitychecked by Mart/Lairage staff?

2 Is there a Policy and Procedurein place for receiving knownfractious cattle off transport units?

3 Is this information brought tothe attention of to all personsthat will handle these cattle?

4 Are the pens preset to run the cattle in?5 Is the floor surface in goodcondition and clear of debris?

6 Are there sufficient competentstaff available?

7 Are ‘bystanders’ controlled so asnot to impede the flow of the cattle?

8 Are dogs kept out?9 Is there an escape chute/refugewhere the person releasing livestockcan shelter?

Loading Cattle onto 1 Is there a system in place to ensureTransport at Marts that the transport is suitable to load

the animal(s)?2 Are the pens set to run them intothe transport?

3 Is the floor surface in good conditionand clear of debris?

4 Are there sufficient competentstaff available?

5 Are ‘bystanders’ controlled so as notto impede the flow of the cattle?

6 Are dogs kept out?

Other Hazards

Release of theAnimals fromthe Transport


b) Inspection and Identification of Cattle in Marts and Lairages



Access to 1 Is the person reading the tag able toThe Ear Tags operate from above the animal?

2 Are there sufficient competent staffavailable?

3 Is there sufficient light to easily readthe tag?

Use of a Head Crush 1 Is the head crush designed and(Lairages Only) maintained so that it easily locks

into place?2 Does the crush lock into place fromabove without workers having to leanover the head?

3 Is there a clear space immediately infront of the crush that the animal cansee on entering the crush?

Design of the 1 Does the design encourage the flow ofInspection Race cattle through the race?

2 Does the width preclude any cattleturning around in the race?

3 Are the rails high enough to avoid anychance of cattle jumping out?

4 Is there a slight curve leading into theinspection race to encourage the flowof cattle through the race?

5 Is the concrete in good condition tominimize slipping by staff or livestock?

Attaching Additional 1 Are identification labels attached toLabels to the Cattle the centre-back only accessed from(marts only) above the animal, not through the rails?

Possible Sudden 1 Are there sources of sudden noises thatNoises will cause the cattle to baulk or jump

minimised?

Other Hazards




c) Separation of Cattle to Sale or Slaughter Groups



Competency/Fitness 1 Are the staff fully able?of Staff to Separate (Large enough, agile enough andthe Cattle from mobile enough to safely dotheir Group this work.)

2 Do all staff handling livestock havethe necessary stockmanship skills?

3 Are there sufficient staff on hand tosafely do the required work?

Staff Personal 1 Do all staff handling livestock haveProtective Equipment steel toe cap boots with non-slip soles(PPE) and overalls?

2 Are suitable sticks, flags or paddlesavailable as an aid to assist in separationof cattle or if necessary for staff todefend themselves?

3 Are chest/back protectors (normallyused with horses) available whendealing with extremely fractiousanimals?

Design of the 1 Is it possible to divert fractious cattleSeparation Pens directly out of the identification/

inspection race into a pen where nodirect contact will be needed?

2 Are the exit gates logically positionedto direct away the separated cattle?

3 Is there an escape/refuge place for staffshould such be required?

4 Are the rails sufficiently high to deterpossible “jumpers” from trying tojump out.

5 Is the concrete in a condition tominimise slipping by staff or livestock?

6 Is the ground surface in good conditionand free of tripping hazards?(These could include sunken draingrates, etc.)

Other Hazards


d) Competency of Mart and Lairage Staff Working with Cattle



Physical and Planning 1 Is each staff member fully able?Ability of Staff (Large enough, agile enough and mobileHandling the Cattle enough to safety do this work.)

2 Does each staff member have the abilityto work without close supervision?

3 Is each staff member able to plan aheadto set the gates in a logical manner?

Stockmanship Skills 1 Does each staff member easily recognisethe signs of arousal in cattle?

2 Can each staff member easily identifythe main cattle breeds likely to beencountered?

3 Are sufficient staff membersexperienced at and trained inhandling fractious cattle?

4 Is each staff member aware of theAnimal Welfare requirements of theirjob?

5 Have staff with lesser stockmanshipskills received additional training/instruction in the required approachto the work?

Team Working and 1 Does each staff member contributeCommunication Skills actively to the team or do some prefer

to work alone?2 Does each staff member activelycommunicate details of animals orgroups of cattle to the next personhandling them?

3 Are language barriers in communicatingwithin the mart of lairage givenappropriate attention?

Other Hazards




e) Handling of livestock at the Sale Ring in Marts (Applies to Marts only)



Competency, 1 Is the Ringman fully able? (LargeFitness and enough, agile enough and mobileStockmanship Skills enough to safety do this work)(note that all of the 2 Is the Ringman a competent stockman?provisions of Section (Does he instantly recognise the signs ofd - above - also apply) arousal and aggressive behaviours, and

know the importance of the ‘balancelines and flight zone’ in controlling thecattle once they are in the sale ring.)

Design of the 1 Is the surrounding fence high enoughSale Ring to prevent any escape into the

viewing stalls?2 Is the Sale Ring a full semi-circle or arethere corners where cattle may face intoand be difficult to shift?

3 When the gates from the weighing penare opened can the Ringmanimmediately retreat into a ‘safety area’away from the animal in the ring.

4 Can the exit gate(s) be opened directlyfrom the ‘safety area’ of the sale ring?

Tripping Hazards 1 Is the concrete surface – in goodcondition to minimise slipping by theRingman or livestock?

2 Is the ground surface in good conditionand free of tripping hazards?(These could include sunken draingrates, etc.)

Bright Lighting 1 Is the lighting of the ring adequate toand Sudden Noises allow clear vision without the use of

bright flood lights?2 Is the amplification system of theauctioneer controlled and just loudenough so as not to cause additionaldistress to the animal in the Sale Ring?

Other Hazards


f) Moving Cattle into the Stunning Box in Lairages (Applies to Lairages only)



Design of the 1 Is the race slightly uphill?2 Is the race slightly curved?3 Are there overhead ‘reversing’ gates to stop cattle goingbackwards down the race?

4 Does the width of the race prevent smaller animals fromturning around?

5 Are the walls fully sheeted?

Lighting and 1 Is the lighting subdued and dull in the race andShadows stunning box?

2 Are shadows /sunlight rays across the race leading to thestunning box eliminated?

Loud Noises Are loud clanging noises or loudspeaker systems thatcreate sudden noises minimised?

Blood Smell Are blood smells from the ‘sticking area’ controlled to preventthem reaching the cattle moving up to the stunning box?

Use of the 1 Do cattle normally move freely up the race towards theElectric stunning box?

2 If the electric prodder is operated from main electricity isit on a 12V step down or otherwise operated through aResidual Current Device (RCD).

3 Is the electric prodder fully maintained?4 Are staff trained in the efficient and humane use of theelectric prodder?

Handling of 1 Is the stunning box fully maintained particularly the steellivestock at work and the hydraulic tipping system?

2 Does the stunning box have an opening to the front sideproviding vision for the cattle to the front?

3 Does the stunning box have a fixed shelf head restraining system?4 Is the firearm well maintained and safe for use?5 Is there a backup firearm?6 Is the correct load available in the firearm?7 Is the shooter fully trained and certified?8 Are the firearm(s) locked away when not in use?9 Does the shooter check the effectiveness of the stun beforereleasing the animal for shackling and sticking?

10 Does the shooter check that the ‘release area’ is clearbefore the stunning happens?

OtherHazards

Race Leadingto theStunning Box

Prodder

the StunningBox




g) Maintenance of the Pens, Buildings, Parking Areas



Regular Assessment 1 Do all gates swing freely and are latchesof the Steelwork effective using minimal effort?

2 Are all railings fully secure and able towithstand the impact of a large fractiousanimal?

Regular Assessment 1 Are all drainage culverts fully grated?of the Floor Surfaces (Damaged grates should be repairedfor Trips Hazards or replaced.)

2 Do surfaces of all concrete floorsminimise trips/slips? (Damaged concretesurfaces should be replastered orreplaced and concrete that has wornsmooth should be ‘regrooved’.)

Waterproof Lights 1 Are all light fittings in good conditionand Switches and where necessary waterproof?

(Lights should be IP67 rated.)2 Are all switches and plugs at least IP44rated and in good condition?

1 Are roofs in good condition and withno leaks?

2 Are the building structures in soundcondition?

3 Is the guttering effective and regularlycleaned?

Parking Areas 1 Are separate areas assigned andsignposted for the large cattle transportlorries and farmers trailers?

2 Is there a traffic management plan andsupervision on busy days/times?

3 Are there lines marked on the roadoutside the unloading/loading bays tofacilitate accurate reversing?

4 Are there open culverts / manholes thatcould be hazardous to children aroundthe parking area?

5 Are parking areas maintained to preventslipping/tripping hazards?

6 Is there an ‘overflow’ parking area orparking plan for very busy days?(This may need to be worked out inadvance either with the local authorityor An Garda Síochána.)

Other Hazards

and Latches

StructuralMaintenance of theMart or LairageBuildings


h) Control of Farmers / Buyers / Visitors / Children



Children in Marts 1 Is there signage to indicate thatand Lairages ‘Children are not to handle cattle and

must be supervised at all time’?2 Is there an ‘Active Management Policy’that results in children being confined tothe sale ring viewing area or otherviewing areas?

Farmers / Buyers in 1 Is there signage to indicate that staffthe Areas where need to get a clear run when movingCattle are Being cattle, without obstruction of peopleShifted in the way?

2 Is there an ‘Active Management Policy’to get farmers and buyers to use theoverhead walkways, where they areprovided?

3 Is there an ‘Active Management Policy’for the control of farmers and buyers sothat staff can get a clear run whenmoving cattle between pens?

Other Hazards




i) Cleaning of the Mart or Lairage After Use



Slipping or Tripping 1 Is there a system in place to ensure thaton Wet or Greasy staff doing the cleaning wear appropriateSurfaces non-slip footwear? (These are normally

Wellington boots with good treads.)2 Are grates replaced immediately ifremoved to facilitate cleaning?

Contact of the Water 1 Is contact by the water jet of liveexposed electrical cables prevented?

2 Are cleaners trained not to direct waterjets at any light fitting or switch?

3 Are all electrical circuits protected byRCD’s that will trip in the event of apower leakage?

Personal Hygiene 1 Is smoking banned while cleaningis occurring?

2 Do staff practice excellent personalhygiene with hand washing, duringand after cleaning?

3 Are all cleaning staff issued withportable respirators complying withEN149 type FPP2 and instructed howand why these are beneficial?

Other Hazards

Jet with LiveElectricity

and Inhalation ofEndotoxins


j) Security and Access / Egress to the Site



Vision for Drivers on 1 Is there clear vision for drivers leavingEntering / Leaving the site that does not unduly risk eitherthe Site the driver or other road users?

150m each way is required.2 Is there sufficient space provided fortraffic turning into the site that does notunduly restrict or cause risk to otherroad users?

Ability to Stop 1 Is there an escaped cattle procedurein place and rehearsed for the site?

2 Is the site securely fenced so that it willcontain any cattle that escape from thepens or during unloading and loading?

3 In the event of livestock escaping fromcontrol, is there a means of ensuringthey cannot move out through theentrance gate, by closing the gates,cattle grids or both?

Site Security 1 Is there a system in place whereby all(Lairages Only) access and egress from the site is

monitored, either by a gate check orCCTV, or both?

Other Hazards

Escaped CattleLeaving the Site




k) Dealing with Horned, Fractious or Escaped Cattle



Identifying 1 Is there signage requesting drivers/Potentially farmers to inform staff of potentiallyFractious Cattle fractious cattle before unloading?

2 Does the site have a plan/system wherebyall potentially fractious cattle areassessed before they are released fromtransport units?

3 Once it is evident that there is a fractiousanimal in the Mart or Lairage is there amanagement plan on how it/they shouldbe handled?

Safe Handling or 1 Are there sufficient competent andPotentially Fractious experienced ‘stockmen’ available toCattle safely handle the animal?

2 Is there a management plan in placethat specifically deals with fractious anddangerous cattle?

3 Are the facilities adequate to handle anextremely fractious animal?

4 Is there a legal means of killing ananimal that is so dangerous that staffshould not be put at further risk?

Emergency Planning 1 Is there an emergency plan that dealsfor Escaped Cattle with cattle that escape while unloading /

loading, within the yards complex of thesite, or that gets up after an apparentlyeffective stunning has occurred?

1 Is there a plan of how to handle cattlewhere the horns are so large they cannotfit into the stunning box?

Other Hazards

HandlingCattle withExtremelyLarge Horns(Lairages only)

Definitions

“Mart” means a public place of business wherelivestock are traded.

“Lairage” means the part of an Abattoirwhere livestock are assembled for slaughter.

“HSA” means the Health and Safety Authority.

“Stockmanship” is the ability of an individualto competently handle domestic animals,normally meaning cattle, pigs and sheep.

“Biohazard” describes an organism orsubstance derived from an organism thatposes a threat to human health.

“Sale Ring” means that part of a “Mart”used to show livestock and where theauction occurs.

“Stunning Box” means that part of a lairagewhere the livestock are humanely renderedunconscious before being killed.

“Fractious” describes the state of an animalwhere it is highly aroused and is likely to posea significant threat to any person handlingthem. “Fractious” may describe an individualanimal or a group of animals.

“www” refers to the world wide web,commonly known as “The Internet”.

Acknowledgments

The information in these guidelines is drawnfrom many sources. The principle author NeilPercival expresses grateful thanks to thefollowing who have assisted or providedinformation:

Mr Pat Griffin of the HSA for facilitating theproduction of the Guidance.

The Livestock Safety Working Group of theFarm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee.

Mr Jimmy Shannon of Kieran and Magee Ltd,owner of the Ardee Mart.

Mr Michael Lynch, manager of the KilkennyCo-op Mart, Cillín Hill Mart, Kilkenny.

Ms Brenda Halpenny, of AIBP Meats Ltd,Ardee.

Mr Michael O’Connor, of Kepak Group Ltd,Clonee.

Mr John Kearney, of Dawn Meats Ltd,Grannagh.

Mr Peter Jones, of the New Zealand AccidentCompensation Corporation for permission touse diagrams from Cattle Handling Skills, ACCGuidance 517, 2002.

Ms Marie Doyle, Health and Safety Consultant,Castledermot, for expert advice on thisGuidance.

References

Albright, J.L., Arave, C.W. 1997. The Behaviourof Cattle, CAB International, Walingford.pp306.

British Meat Processors Association Health andSafety Guidance Note GN35 “Safety whenHandling Cattle in Slaughterhouses” 2008.

Dimberton, A., 1999. La Securite de l’elveur etle bien-etre des bovins pendant la contention:etudes de methodes adaptees aucomportement animal. PhD Thesis,Veterinaire, Lyon, 95p.

Mounaix, B., Boivin, X. Brule, A., Schmitt, T.Cattle Behaviour and the Human AnimalRelationship: Variation Factors andConsequences in Breeding.www/hsa.ie/Sectors/Agriculture_and_Forestry/Teagasc_research.pdf

Stafford, K.J., 2002. Cattle Handling Skills.Guidance 577 New Zealand AccidentRehabilitation and Compensation InsuranceCorporation. Wellington, New Zealand. 63pp.

Voisinet, B.D., Grandin, T., Tatum, J.D.,O’Connor, S.F., Struthers, J.J. 1997. Feedlotcattle with calm temperaments have higheraverage daily gains than cattle with excitabletemperaments. Journal of Animal Science75:892-896.


ISBN: 978-1-84496-128-3 HSA 0335

Guidance on the Safe Handling of Livestock at Marts and Lairages

Documents

Transcript of Guidance on the Safe Handling of Livestock at Marts and Lairages