Thousands on Animal Health and Pennies on Farmer Health

By Keith Fahy, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare

Working as a Drystock Advisor with Teagasc, I see first-hand how farmers look after their animals. The majority of farmers I deal with put the health and welfare of their animals ahead of their own. They certainly spend more on animal health than their own. I am always astounded by how much time, money and effort farmers put into devising animal health plans, implementing vaccination programmes, dosing, injecting, blousing—the list is endless in terms of farmers looking after their stock.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for farmers’ own health. Whilst running ACRES courses in Mellows Campus in Athenry a few months ago we covered an array of topics including farmer health and safety. One woman in attendance shared how her husband “spends thousands on dosing, vaccinations and TB testing every year and he won’t get a check-up for himself for €50”. While the statement created a bit of humour, the thought really hit home. How true this lady was, she was simply stating a fact from her own family farm but as we know this is the case on thousands of farms across the country. Farmers I deal with often make the point that if an animal broke a leg or needed stitches the Vet could be there in a matter of minutes whereas if we fall or need stitches we could be hours waiting in an Accident and Emergency Department.

So the question must be posed, “Why aren’t farmers looking after their own health?” Is it because of time? Money? Macho mentality? Fear of finding out something may be wrong? The Health and Safety Authority website is a fantastic resource that gives tips and advice to farmers and indeed all members of the public on an array of different topics such as manual handling, legislation, employer and employee supports, education, health and much more. Their website can be found by looking up www.hsa.ie. So my advice to farmers is pick up the phone today and make an appointment with your doctor and get bloods and cholesterol checked.

The figures for farm fatalities and accidents are frightening: farmers only account for 7% of the national workforce but over 40% of workplace fatalities. According to the HSA there has been an average of over 19 farm fatalities over the last 10 years with 16 fatalities in 2023 alone. Additionally more than 4500 farm safety incidents occur each year. According to the Teagasc National Farm Survey in 2020 a staggering 52% of these injuries are sustained from livestock. The risk of an accident increases with age with 85% of injuries happening to farmers over the age of 65 years.

For over 30 years farm vehicles have been the main cause of farm fatalities. See Fig 1 which explains Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing fatal workplace injuries from 2013 to 2022.

Fig 1

As we head into the winter months with daylight hours shortening there are a few easy steps farmers can take to ensure their safety. Assess farmyards for lighting, machinery for lighting and ensure silage wrap, twine and netting are stored in a safe and adequate area to prevent trips and falls. In my health and safety courses I advise that installing LED lights on tractors is a quick and easy way to reduce risk. A lot of older tractors and machinery are very poorly lit. Many farmers I have spoken to couldn’t believe the improvement in visibility when they upgraded their lighting. This is vital when feeding cattle and removing wrap off bales etc.

There is also a 60% grant available to farmers for a large number of farm safety equipment via the TAMS 3 FSCIS which stands for Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme Farms Safety Capital Investment Scheme. Some of the more popular options that farmers can choose from are calving pens, mobile and fixed sheep handling equipment, mobile cattle handling equipment, head scoops, leg hoists, cattle weighing scales, calving gates, yard lights, calf dehorning crates, horse handling facilities, calving cameras and bale slices. See the Department of Agriculture website for more details and reference costs. These items can really reduce the risk and dangers when handling livestock. See Fig 2 Photo of a calving gate.

Fig 2

I would like to advise farmers to book an appointment with a GP, assess yards and machinery for lighting before the time changes and to look at the TAMS 3 FSCIS to familiarise yourselves with what safety equipment is being grant aided. It may save a life.