Agriculture Victoria Livestock industry development officer Nick Linden said cattle yards that prioritised animal and operator safety reduce injuries, created a safer environment for everyone and make stock movement quicker and more efficient.
“WorkSafe figures show that the majority of on-farm injuries are caused by collisions including impacts between animals and people,” Mr Linden said.
“So, a guiding tenet of good yard design and safe animal handling should be able to keep workers and animals separate from each other within the cattle yard.
“Having a catwalk alongside a race and an operator-only work area around the crush are great examples of safe features in a cattle yard’s design.”
The Safe Cattle Yard Design video highlights practical design features such as the circular flow design, a separate working area, safe flooring and effective gates and latches that help control animal movement.
In the Cattle Loading Ramps video, livestock transporter Dom Shanahan speaks with Mr Linden about why cattle need their space and said safety is a primary concern for him and his drivers.
“When planning a new set of yards, taking time to consider safety features will lead to years of enjoyable and efficient use,” Mr Linden said.
Farmers can watch both videos and access practical guidance on safer cattle yard design at agriculture.vic.gov.au/cattle-handling
