Livestock distraction checklist safety talk
Cattle, pigs and sheep will balk and refuse to move if they see distractions, something as simple as
a shadow could be to blame. If an animal won’t move, survey the area when animals aren’t present and look for these possible distractions:
- Sparkling reflections on puddles
- Reflections on smooth metal
- Chains that jiggle
- Metal clanging or banging
- High pitched noise
- Air hissing – should be silenced with mufflers or piped outside the facility
- Air drafts blowing toward the animals
- Clothing hung on the fence
- Piece of plastic that is moving
- Fan blade movement when the fan is off
- Movement of people nearby
- Small objects on the floor (a coffee cup)
- Changes in flooring and texture
- Drain grate on the floor
- Sudden changes in the color of equipment, bright colors tend to cause more distractions
- Race entrance is too dark; animals will move from a darker place ta brighter place, however, keep in mind they will not move toward light that is too bright
- Animals may balk at one-way and backup gates
- Install the gates two to three body lengths away from the crowd pen
- Equip one-way gates with a remote controlled rope so that they can be held open when the single file race is filled