Beware of cows with calves

A farm safety re-enactment drama focused on highlighting the dangers associated with cows and calves took place at Beef2024 Open Day in Teagasc Grange, Francis Bligh tells us more.

Health and Safety Authority data for the period 2014 -2023 shows 37 people lost their lives due to livestock related incidents on Irish farms and a third of these fatalities were associated with cows and their calves.

To highlight the dangers associated with cows with calves Teagasc health and safety specialist advisors in association with Andrew Reilly of Cohort and Trim Drama Group produced a re-enactment drama for attendees at the event. The re-enactment also highlighted the contributing impact of factors like farmer stress on a farmer’s ability to think and act safely when working on the farm.  The dramatization is scripted to be typical of the serious accidents that happen with livestock on Irish farms every year.

The re-enactment opens with Joe a sucker beef and tillage farmer and his wife Anne in their farm house kitchen. Joe is planning to tag a calf but Anne is very concerned about Joe. Anne has been encouraging Joe to take action and seek help to manage his stress but Joe has not taken action. The drama then moves to the field where Joe sustains serious injuries while tagging a calf. An ambulance arrives and takes Joe to hospital.

The re-enactment highlights a number of important considerations when it comes to managing health and safety with cows with calves. The video also highlights the need for good planning, good facilities, using calving gates and keeping a physical barrier between you and the cow at all times.  

Farmers and their families and friends must also be vigilant and aware of the effects of stress, fatigue and tiredness because these factors can increase the likelihood of poor decision making.

Watch the video below (viewer caution is recommended due to subject matter)

Further information on identifying and managing farmer stress