Growing Beef Newsletter
March 2026, Volume 16, Issue 9
Safety when working around livestock
Denise Schwab, ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist
Agriculture is known as one of the most dangerous occupations. According to the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, a livestock farmer will experience a major injury once every 14 years. Calving season is a high-risk time for cattle producers, but a quick review of some basic safety practices might help keep you and family members safe from injury and extended downtime.
- Understand cattle and handle appropriately. Cattle have a wide panoramic view, blind spots, limited depth perception, and are highly sensitive to sounds. Use good stockmanship skills when working cattle, including calm movements with knowledge of their flight zones, pressure zones, vision, and blind spots. Update your facilities to provide escape routes for humans, good footing for both humans and animals, and ensure gates swing easily and pens are free of sharp projections. Recognize animals that are more aggressive than usual, such as bulls or cows with new calves.
- Manage the environment. A 2022 Nebraska study showed the most common body parts injured were the leg, knee and hip. Reduce risk by ensuring good walking conditions; managing ice, mud and manure; and utilizing a sled or other specialized tool to bring in newborn calves.
- Protect from zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and people, and include Campylobacter (bacteria), Salmonella (bacteria), E. coli O157:H7 (bacteria), Yersinia enterocolitica (bacteria), and Cryptosporidium (parasite), all very common in cows and especially young calves. The most common spread is oral contamination from fecal matter. Once germs are on your hands, you can accidentally transfer them to your mouth while eating, drinking, or engaging in hand-to-mouth activities such as smoking or nail biting. The most common symptoms are diarrhea and abdominal pain, but may also include vomiting, fever, cramps, and bloody diarrhea. The best prevention against these is frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and running water before you eat, drink, smoke, or chew (tobacco, gum, etc.) Frequent clothes washing, as well as cleaning and disinfecting boots before entering the home, helps prevent the spread to other members of the household.
- Another zoonotic disease of concern during calving is Q fever, caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii found in the placenta, amniotic fluid, urine, manure, and milk of infected animals. The common route of infection for people is through contact with calving fluids on open sores. Some people never get sick; however, those who do usually develop flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle pain, or in worst cases, chronic Q fever. Always wear OB sleeves when assisting cows during calving to prevent uterine fluid contact with open sores.
- Handle needles with care. Needlestick injury research shows that more than 80% of farm workers have accidentally stuck themselves. Prevention practices include properly restraining animals, using the correct equipment and techniques, avoiding putting needle caps in your mouth, discarding bent needles, and avoiding carrying needles or syringes in your pockets. Products of most concern include Tilmicosin (Micotil®), sedatives, modified live vaccines, hormones especially if you are pregnant, and antibiotics especially if you’re allergic. Purchase a Sharps container or create one from plastic laundry jugs. DO NOT use milk, pop or water containers. Place all used syringes, needles, knife blades, and other sharp items into this container as soon after use as possible and dispose of them according to BQA guidelines.
- Maintain equipment. Ensure equipment such as skid steers, tractors and loaders, and spreaders are maintained properly, with safeguards in place, and hydraulic hoses in good repair. Use restraint bars, limit extra riders, conduct all operations exclusively from within the cab, and distribute and secure loads evenly.
- Use technology. Farmers often work alone and can easily be injured for a long time before they are found. Today’s technologies like cameras and GPS systems are relatively inexpensive and can prove valuable in cases of injury. Calving cameras not only monitor cows coming into labor but can also be used to monitor the safety of producers working with fresh cows, and reduce the risks of checking cows at night if none is calving. Phone-based GPS systems can identify where producers are, in case of poor cell phone coverage.
A few safety precautions and good stockmanship will go a long way in protecting you and your family this calving season.
This monthly newsletter is free and provides timely information on topics that matter most to Iowa beef producers. You’re welcome to use information and articles from the newsletter - simply credit Iowa Beef Center.
