The Human Element
Human error is the primary cause of many types of accidents. These errors in judgment and action are due to a variety of reasons, but occur most when people are tired, hurried, upset, preoccupied, or careless. Remember that human physical, psychological, and physiological factors greatly affect the occurrence of life threatening accidents.
Animal Behavior
Understanding cattle behavior can help farm and ranch workers avoid dangerous situations.
Animal Vision
Cattle have panoramic vision, meaning they can see in all directions, except directly behind, without moving their head. Additionally, cattle have poor depth perception, especially when they are moving with their heads up. In order to see depth, they have to stop and put their heads down.
Flight Zone
Moving a group of cattle takes some knowledge and understanding of the animal’s “flight zone.” The flight zone is an animal’s personal space. When a person penetrates the flight zone, the animal will move. Conversely, when one retreats from the flight zone, the animal will stop moving.
Additional Handling Tips
In addition to the flight zone, an understanding of the “herd instinct” is important. Cattle follow the leader and are motivated to follow each other. Each animal should be able to see others ahead of it. Make single file chutes at least 20 feet long, or 30 to 50 feet for larger facilities.
Corral Systems Design
Corral and working facilities are constructed to confine cattle safely and efficiently for close observation and to perform routine health and management procedures. Good cattle handling systems make working livestock easier with limited manpower.
Holding and Sorting
Pens serve several purposes, including catching and holding cattle being worked, sorting cattle into groups, and holding cattle being quarantined. When designing and constructing pens for working facilities, consider the following:
Why is it important to understand cow flight zone?
Understanding a cow’s flight zone will reduce stress on the animal and reduce the likelihood of injuries to you and the animal.
What happens when you enter a cow's flight zone?
When a person enters the cow’s flight zone, the cow will move. A dairy cow that is accustomed to human interaction on a daily basis has a smaller flight zone than a beef animal out on the range (the flight zone of such an animal might be up to 300 ft).
How to move a cow forward?
To move a cow forward, you should be positioned behind its shoulder. If you need to move the animal backward, position yourself in front of the shoulder. Whether moving a cow forward or backward, work at the edge of the cow’s flight zone and at angle of 45° to 60° so that you stay within the animal’s field of vision.
How much is a safety zone violation?
A safety zone violation is a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $500. A second subsequent offense within two calendar years is a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000.
How far can you discharge a firearm from a game commission vehicle?
It is unlawful to discharge a firearm within 150 yards of a Game Commission vehicle if its occupants are releasing pheasants. The safety zone for archery hunters statewide, including those using crossbows, is 50 yards.
Is it illegal to shoot into a safety zone?
It is unlawful to shoot into a safety zone, even if you are outside of the zone. Driving game, even without a firearm or bow, within a safety zone without permission is unlawful. For comparison, think of a safety zone as about one and a half football fields.
Is it illegal to hunt or trap animals?
It is unlawful to hunt for, shoot at, trap, take, chase or disturb wildlife within 150 yards of any occupied residence, camp, industrial or commercial building, farm house or farm building, or school or playground without the permission of the occupants.
Do safety zones apply to occupied buildings?
Safety zones only apply to regularly occupied buildings.
Can you make a safety zone sign without the Game Commission logo?
Safety zone signs are only given to public access cooperators and in some limited circumstances to people whose property line borders a state game land. Landowners are welcome to make their own safety zone signs without the Game Commission logo. The signs may also be able to be purchased online.
How to avoid cattle?
Avoid quick movements or loud noises. Cattle have close to 360-degree panoramic vision. A quick movement behind cattle may “spook” them. They also have sensitive hearing and can detect sounds that human ears cannot hear. Be patient; never prod an animal when it has nowhere to go.
How to move livestock?
Move slowly and deliberately around livestock; gently touch animals rather than shoving or bumping them. Don’t shout.
How dangerous are bulls?
Most animals tend to be aggressive when protecting their young; be extra careful around cows with newborn calves. Bulls of breeding age are very dangerous. Use special facilities for them and practice extreme caution when handling them. Never trust them or assume they are tame.
How far is the safety zone for archers?
The safety zone for archers though is only 50 yards instead of 150 yards.
Do you need to carry a loaded gun in a saftey zone?
Appeaantly you don't understand exactly what a saftey zone is or how it's unlawful to enter such. One does not need to carry a loaded or unloaded gun or wear FO or not wear FO. Entry alone is a violation.
Is it illegal to shoot at wildlife?
It is unlawful for any person, other than the lawful occupant, while hunting game or wildlife, taking furbearers of any kind, or pursuing any other privilege granted by this title, to hunt for, take, trap, pursue, disturb or otherwise chase any game or wildlife or to discharge, for any reason, any firearm, arrow or other deadly weapon within or through a safety zone, or to shoot at any game or wildlife while it is within the safety zone without the specific advance permission of the lawful occupant thereof.
Do you need a safety zone sign?
Safety zone signs are really nothing more than a courtesy to the hunters that might be approaching from a direction where they wouldn’t see or otherwise be aware they are approaching a building. All other situations shouldn’t need a sign since hunters are supposed to know better than to hunt, shoot, trap or even disturb wildlife within 150 yards of a building without first getting permission from the occupants.
Is it illegal to hunt in 150 yards?
It would be illegal to be hunting or disturbing wildlife within 150 yards of a persons occupied building even if the they owned the property or it was separated by a road or other obstacle without the advance permission of the person who lived in the buildings.
Can you hunt off your porch?
With owners permission you could hunt off of their porch !
Can you hunt in a safety zone?
Most hardware store or farm supply stores can get safety zone signs but you could also make some by simply generating them on you computer, laminating them and posting them within 150 yards of your home or other buildings. Actually a safety zone doesn’t need to be posted with signs for it to be illegal to hunt within the safety zone. If you are having problems with hunters within your safety zone call the Game Commission back and ask the local WCO to contact you concerning the matter.
How wide should a cow chute be?
You must be protected from being overrun by the next cow in line behind. 6. Prevent turning by making sure working alleys and chutes are ideally 18 inches wide for calves and 30 inches for cows. Walls should be 5 feet tall and sturdy enough to contain your biggest cows.
How to reduce shadows on a cattle chute?
When you set up a working chute, consider the sun angles and light sources. Reduce shadows by putting solid sides on chutes and crowd pens. Artificial light directly overhead will produce fewer shadows. Cattle also balk at noises from dangling chains or rattling head gates, Lemenager says.
How many cows did Lemenager have?
On his own farm, Lemenager had 25 cow-calf pairs drinking from a two-bowl automatic drinker. Cows would take turns and then head back to graze before the calves could drink. Cattle. For related content and insights from industry experts, sign up for Successful Farming newsletters.
How to move cattle in a paddock?
10. Put gates in the direction you want ca ttle to move in a paddock. He likes alleyways to connect pastures and paddocks. If you’re usually moving cattle in a northerly direction through alleyways, put the gates in the north corners of paddocks. Moving will become routine to them.
How to keep cattle from going back in the direction they came?
7. Consider a Bud Box to keep cattle from going back in the direction from which they came. To take advantage of this, some producers have built a holding pen, sometimes called a Bud Box, leading into a working chute. The box is 12×20 feet. The entry gate is next to the chute entrance. You put cattle in the box, and as they try to go back through the same gate they entered, they funnel into the chute. It takes advantage of their natural instincts.
How to teach cattle to take flight?
He’s also a rancher, so he’s put these tips to practice. 1. Reduce shadows, color contrasts, and noise. Cattle want to take flight when they can’t see what’s ahead. Shadows and odd color patterns may confuse and stop them.
Do cattle balk at dangling chains?
Cattle also balk at noises from dangling chains or rattling head gates, Lemenager says. 2. Remember that when you work cattle in an open pen or pasture paddock, their blind spot is directly behind. They won’t respond to your commands or arm signals from there.
When is a deployment site used?
The deployment site is used when fire conditions are such that escape routes and safety zones have been compromised. How do you identify a good safety zone? Consider the distance from the escaped fire as well as topography, winds, fire behavior, and fuels in the area.
How far must a firefighter be from the fire?
For radiant heat only, the distance separation between the firefighter and the flames must be at least four times the maximum flame height. This distance must be maintained on all sides if the fire has ability to burn completely around the safety zone. Convective heat from wind and/or terrain influences will increase this distance requirement.
What is a LCES?
Safety Zones 1 (LCES) A safety zone is a location where a threatened firefighter can find adequate refuge from an approaching fire. What is the difference between a safety zone and a deployment site? In a safety zone, a firefighter can survive without using a fire shelter.
