About two-thirds of the 1,400 farms in Waterloo Region work with livestock, making the safe handling of animals very much a daily priority.
Susan Martin and her family work with sheep at their farm near Floradale. As a member of the Waterloo Rural Women group, she knows the importance of livestock safety.
“If you live or work on a farm or visit a farm, you do need to understand that there are differences in how large animals think compared to how we think. You have to know how to work around them or be around them safely,” she explained.
One of those main differences is understanding how animals see very differently than humans do. Large animals tend to lack depth perception and have difficulty entering or exiting, and transitioning from light to dark due to their eyes.
This also applies to large animals that have blind spots, making it vital for anyone interacting with livestock to be aware of them.
“They can’t see directly behind them. That’s putting yourself at risk. So, you always approach a large animal, you have to let them know you’re there, but not in a loud, obnoxious manner by shouting or jumping, but by using just a calm voice saying, ‘Hey, I’m here,’” said Martin.
Another safety precaution that Martin spoke about is being alert for animal warning signs. Though animals can’t speak, they all have signs that show they are uncomfortable or potentially aggressive.
“You need to understand those warning signs with any animal – like if that dog’s ears are pinned back, perhaps it doesn’t want you to pet it,” she noted.
“We as people need to recognize those warning signs because an animal can’t talk, but they’re telling you, ‘I’m uncomfortable, back off.’ Maybe by the pinned ears or the crouched position with sheep and with cattle. You know, that cartoon where the bull stomps his foot? Yeah, that’s a big warning, and that means ‘I’m uncomfortable with you, and I might have to act.’”
It’s important to ensure that people have the proper training and are age-appropriate for the tasks they are assigned, she added.
Just as people require some training before they are allowed to drive, working with large animals should be no different.
With children, particular care is needed.
“If you’re five, you shouldn’t be approaching a large animal, because you’re too small; that’s not a job for you. Your best job is to feed the cats. Jobs have to be age appropriate.
“If you’ve never handled a horse before, or you’re going to move large animals from one setting to another, you need to have a bit of background, a bit of training to learn how to do that safely, for you and for the animals involved.”
Volatility in animals should always be considered when working on or visiting a farm.
