Animal Health & Welfare

A dramatic reduction in the total number of fatal agricultural accidents occurred in the UK between the early 1970s and the late 1980s (Health and Safety Executive, 1986). However, no obvious reduction can be identified in the number of fatal accidents involving farm livestock, the majority of which were caused by cattle.

In the 11-year period between 1992 and 2003, 44 people were killed either directly or indirectly by cattle in the UK. Handling practices have changed little over the last decades but there is now scope to improve human safety by the uptake of modern designs and handling principles which encourage the calm movement of cattle.  Building these principles into new handling layouts should not greatly increase their cost and significant improvements can also be made to existing systems by fairly minor changes.  

Several of the other menu options on the left give recommendations on how this can be achieved.