Ensuring safety at calving on suckler and dairy farms this spring

The spring calving season is fast approaching on both suckler and dairy farms across Ireland and is a high-risk period for farmer safety.

There are countless stories across Ireland of incidents where farmers have seen cows turning on the farmer or a person assisting with the calving.

The behaviour of recently calved cows is highly unpredictable, and while no livestock can be completely trusted, even quiet cows that have recently calved can perceive people entering the pen with a calf as a threat and attack.

Safety is paramount for all people entering a farm yard and when it comes to safety at calving, it is better to be proactive to reduce any potential risks.

A sturdy, effective calving gate in a well-lit area with fast escape routes for the operator is a basic safety necessity on all yards where cows may be calving.

When entering a pen with an unrestrained cow and her calf, it is advisable to keep a gate between the handler and the cow at all times, and always have an escape route planned.

Some farmers tend to hang gates in calving pens slightly higher than normal, allowing the gate to pass over the calf and separating the farmer from the cow when handling the young calf.

When tagging, naval dipping or assisting a calf to stand or drink colostrum, it is best if the cow is restrained in an effective calving gate.

Where a cow is not effectively restrained and the calf cries out, it can trigger the cow to attack farmers or handlers by instinct. Cows have also been known to attack without a trigger such as a calf crying out.

Dogs should be kept away at all times, as a simple trigger such as a dog or cat entering the sightline of a cow after calving can be a trigger for a cow to attack and protect her calf.

It is best to treat all cows as dangerous and pay particular attention to first-time calvers.

Simple changes on farms such as securely hung gates, good lighting, and effective calving gates to restrain cows will help to reduce risks on farms and could potentially safe a farmer or handler from severe injury or death when handling a cow and calf.

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