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Information Leaflet

Mitigating Risk in Conservation Grazing Livestock can be dangerous – even a gentle knock from a playful animal can cause an injury. It is therefore vitally important that you take precautions that minimise the risks to yourself, your staff / volunteers and to the general public. In addition, conservation sites can have hazards that could harm the grazing stock themselves and therefore part of your management strategy should include measures that mitigate these. It is important that everyone working with livestock is aware of the hazards and that precautions are put in place to decrease the risks involved The contents of this leaflet are • Performing a risk assessment. • Reducing risks.

»»On sites with public access. »»For staff / volunteers working with stock.

• Assessing the risks of a site to livestock. • Responsible use of medicines. • Action plans. Further advice on managing the risks associated with grazing livestock is provided in other GAP publications e.g. • Grazing Stock on Sites with Public Access. • Gathering, Handling and Transporting Stock. • Animal Health and Welfare. Additional information can also be found on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

©Rare Breeds Survival Trust

Performing a Risk Assessment A ‘hazard’ is anything that might cause harm. The ‘risk’ is the likelihood that a person or animal could be harmed by a hazard. To identify hazards • Walk around the site - every site is different and your assessment should be specific to your site(s). • Consider how and where the public may interact with livestock. • Review ‘routine’ procedures e.g. stock checks, gathering, handling, transporting stock, feeding stock etc. • Learn from experience. Think carefully about any past accidents or illnesses. • Seek advice from experienced stockpeople and others who work in conservation grazing. • Talk to your staff / volunteers. They may have spotted something you have not. • Check data sheets and instructions for medicines /chemicals / equipment. • Don’t forget to think about long-term health hazards.

It is impossible to eliminate all hazards associated with livestock. You should • Weigh up the risks – remember that these can alter throughout the year, under different weather conditions or with different types of stock. • Decide on precautions. • Comply with the law. • Put the results into practice. • Keep good notes so that any trends or particular issues can be identified and dealt with. • Regularly review your assessments, especially after an incident.

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Mitigating Risk in Conservation Grazing

Reducing Risk On Sites with Public Access The HSE have produced an advice leaflet on cattle and public access for English and Welsh livestock keepers. A Scottish version is also available. The two most common factors associated with ‘public-livestock’ incidents that are reported to the HSE are walkers with dogs and cows with calves – even normally placid cows can become aggressive when their protective maternal instinct is aroused. Animal temperament is key. Kevin Caster

If an individual animal is a problem, it should be removed from the site • Carefully assess each animal’s temperament.

»»An animal’s behaviour can alter over time e.g. if previously chased by a dog, being fed by ‘well-wishers’, maternal instinct, hunger etc.

• Use breeds and animals that tend to be more docile in temperament. • Train your animals or choose stock that are familiar with people, dogs and other stimuli they may encounter. • It is illegal to keep bulls from recognised dairy breeds on sites with public access.

»»These breeds are Holstein, British Friesian, Ayrshire, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry.

• Beef bulls are banned from fields or enclosures with footpaths unless accompanied by cows or heifers. • In areas with heavy public access, try NOT to have

»»Calving cows. »»Cows with calves less than 12 weeks old. »»Lambing ewes. »»Ewes with young lambs. »»Bulls older than 10 months old unless accompanied by cows. »»Rams older than 12 months old unless accompanied by ewes. »»Groups of steers and bulling heifers that can be boisterous and inquisitive.

©Rare Breeds Survival Trust

Figure 1. Appropriate signs can advise the public and help protect your livestock.

In some herds, an individual animal may act as a ringleader. This animal influences the others and can be a nuisance e.g. regularly escaping or intimidating the public. It should be removed from the site. It is also important to remember that most people lack ‘stock sense’ and are unable to fully assess and respond appropriately to a situation that involves animals. Use relevant signs to inform the public that stock are grazing the site and / or provide additional advice (Figure 1) e.g. • Explain the need for conservation grazing. • Give emergency contact details for the grazier and / or the site manager. • State that dogs must be kept on leads or under close control. • Advise that dogs should be released if chased by cattle. • For electric fencing provide warning signs located at access points and suitable intervals along its length (50 –100m apart).

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For Staff / Volunteers Working with Stock Animals used for conservation grazing may be infrequently handled and can become very agitated when gathered or corralled. Those handling these stock need to be well-trained, risk aware and capable of working with animals in a calm, competent manner.

Ruth Dalton

Precautions and proper handling systems should be put in place to decrease the risks involved – see Box 1 and GAP leaflet on Gathering, Handling and Transporting Stock. Figure 2. Bull in field sign.

For Bulls a suitable sign (Figure 2) has • A black triangle on a yellow background. • A bull or bull’s head (black on yellow) • Supplementary text (also black on yellow) such as ‘bull in field’ if desired. • Supplementary text should NOT suggest that the bull is aggressive, threatening or dangerous i.e. avoid words such as ‘beware’ or ‘danger’. • Remove sign when no longer required. Misleading signs which deter people from using public rights of way are illegal and should never be used Minimising disease risk to the public All livestock naturally carry a range of diseases. Some of these (known as zoonoses) can also infect humans. However the risk of transmission to members of the general public is usually low. Consider taking the following precautions • Create stock-free areas e.g. picnic sites, footpaths and recreational areas. • Provide hand-washing facilities if possible. • Use signs to

It is also important to have a rigorous culling policy to remove ‘difficult’ animals. Furthermore, people should ensure that they protect their own health and safety e.g. • Carry a charged mobile phone. • Assess the site conditions. • Ensure sufficient daylight remains. • Ensure weather conditions are satisfactory. • Avoid possible problems with the public. • Have adequate equipment and guidance e.g. »»Personal protective equipment. »»Lone working policy.

It is not illegal for a single person to work alone with stock. However, although individuals may work carefully around animals most of the time, they can still be injured because of haste, impatience, anger or just because their mind is pre-occupied with something else. It is during these moments that a handler really needs to understand animal behaviour and learn ways to reduce risk by using some simple livestock handling techniques.

»»Keep all staff and visitors informed. »»Advise public to avoid contact with livestock and their faeces.

• Maintain high animal health and welfare standards. ©Rare Breeds Survival Trust

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Box 1. Ameliorating Risk when Gathering, Handling and Transporting Stock Risk

Comments

General

Make sure that staff and the general public are not put at risk – older people may be less nimble and children less able to appreciate the risks • Anyone working with stock must be well briefed, appropriately trained and experienced both in handling and safety issues • Have first aid equipment close at hand and make sure everyone knows the emergency plan in case of an accident • Know your site • Ensure that you have the right equipment to do the job efficiently and safely • Wear appropriate protective clothing • Understand animal behaviour • Stay calm and try to keep your livestock calm • Know your animals – both individual temperaments and your herd / flock dynamics • Make sure there are at least 2 people present if you have to separate one animal from the herd• Provide facilities for cleaning hands and equipment following any animal contact to reduce the risk of zoonotic disease transmission • Consider culling any animal that is regularly aggressive or difficult to handle.

Gathering

Prepare your route in advance – consider your pinch points and which gates should be opened / closed in advance • Work out where stock are likely to break away (e.g. open gateways, drawn to other stock along your route, if spooked by public, dogs or vehicles) • You must do all you can to prevent injury to others, especially when livestock are being driven on public access land.

Working in confined spaces

Plan an escape route for stock handlers • Design stock pens to include these • Keep handling pens tidy and well maintained • Be very careful when handling large stock (cattle, ponies etc.) in confined spaces • Make sure all hurdles and gates are well secured and will not fall if a person needs to climb up / over one •Do not get arms, legs or head trapped between an animal and solid structures.

Working through a race / crush

Never get in the race with large cattle or semi-feral equines • Don’t put your arms, head or legs through the race walls • Work with at least one other person if you can • Pack the race firmly to stop cattle or equines moving back and forth.

Giving veterinary treatments

Anyone doing any veterinary procedure (including administrating medication) must be properly trained • Maintain all equipment and ensure it is working properly before you start • Everyone must wear suitable protective equipment – remember that aerosols from sprays and pour-on treatments can spread in the wind and could contaminate helpers standing downwind • Make sure the animal is properly restrained.

Loading / Unloading a trailer

Make sure you don’t get trapped inside a trailer with large stock• Ensure there is a suitable loading ramp with a non-slip surface • Take due care closing the ramp gates – most accidents occur as the gates are being closed and large livestock kick-back or push-back on top of the handler •Ramp side panels will deter escapes • Stand to the side when lifting the ramp and seek assistance where ever possible to avoid back injury • Stock may want to exit a trailer quickly once they become aware that release is imminent – when the ramp is lowered to unload, step well to the side in case a stampede occurs • Be patient and don’t rush the stock to leave the trailer.

Cows with calves

Always make sure there are at least 2 people present if you need to work with a young calf (e.g. to eartag it) • The 2nd person should dissuade other animals or the dam from approaching too close to the task • S / he should focus on the other stock and give a warning when to take avoiding action, e.g. entering the vehicle • Do not get between a calf and its mother without a barrier or other protection, especially when treating the navel or ear-tagging a newborn • If you have to catch a calf, keep it between you and the mother. Alternatively work in a place where you can position a fence or vehicle between you and the cow • Avoid lifting calves if possible. If you have to lift a calf, use your legs and keep your back as straight as possible. Once a youngster is lifted off the ground, the mother may panic because she thinks her offspring has vanished (she can no longer compute that the youngster is hers when it is in this unusual position) – putting the youngster down may instantly calm the mother.

Moving Bulls Bulls are more likely to be amenable if they have learnt from an early age to associate people with pleasant things e.g. feeding and exercise • Don’t try to move a dangerous bull on foot or on its own– get someone to help and or use a vehicle. Alternatively bring the bull along with a group of steers or cows to help keep it calm. Semi-feral equines

When pressurised and especially when in confined spaces, semi-feral equines may kick, bite, rear or buck •Enlist the help of experienced handlers and / or use handled ponies or head-collar trained animals to gain experience.

©Rare Breeds Survival Trust

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Assessing the Risks of a Site to Livestock To perform a detailed risk assessment for livestock you will need to know • Your grazing system. »»The ecological aims and objectives. »»Proposed timing and duration of grazing. »»Stock type to be used – sheep, cattle, ponies, goats, pigs and whether they are breeding or non-breeding. »»Site infrastructure – water supply, areas where stock will graze, fences, access etc. »»Source of grazing animals – either own or grazier.

• Your grazing animal.

»»Appreciation of the relevant species’ welfare requirements. If necessary, enlist the help of a competent person to help assess this.

One possible approach for identifying hazards is to categorise them based on the “Five Freedoms” (see Box 2). Some hazards (e.g. feed availability) will vary from year to year, so it is prudent to review the assessment annually. You should revise the risk assessment if the grazing system alters in any way e.g. if you introduce a different grazing species, alter the time of year that grazing occurs or if public access to the site increases.

Box 2. Possible Hazards to Livestock Categorized into each of the Five Freedoms Disease Basic Requirements (Refer to 1st and 2nd freedom)

• Food

»» Lack of availability (quantity and quality) »» Impeded access (e.g. snow, flood)

• Known mineral deficiencies (consult local vet if necessary) • Water »» Lack of availability (quantity) »» Quality (salinity, pollutants, water-borne diseases) »» Accessibility (physical access, freezing, drought)

Physical Harm from Natural Elements (Refer to 2nd and 3rd freedom) • Fire • Flood • Poisonous plants • Excess feed (e.g. equine obesity predisposing to laminitis) • High natural levels of minerals / heavy metals (e.g. high copper levels, old lead mines) • Ground conditions (e.g. cliff edges, marshland, old mineshafts) • Entrapment (e.g. bogs, old mine shafts, brambles) • Water bodies (e.g. drowning, exposure, injury entering / exiting water) • Weather (extremes of heat, cold, wet) • Lack of shelter • Insects • Predators (foxes, badges, crows especially at lambing)

©Rare Breeds Survival Trust

(Refer to 3rd freedom) • Internal (e.g. endoparasites) • External (e.g. fly-strike, ectoparasites) • Biosecurity (e.g. previous grazing stock, neighbouring fields, water contamination, wildlife) • Other (e.g.infectious, non infectious, acute, chronic) Physical Harm from Man-made Structures (Refer to 3rd freedom) • Fences • Bridges / crossing points • Debris (including fly-tipping) • Electrical supply • Shooting • Vandals • Dogs • Other (e.g. soil contamination) Psychological Stress (fear or distress) from Natural Factors (Refer to 4th and 5th freedom) • Inability to demonstrate natural patterns of behaviour • Negative social interaction (e.g. bullying) • Weather (extremes of heat, cold, wet) • Lack of shelter / well-drained lying area Psychological Stress (fear or distress) from Man-made Factors (Refer to 5th freedom) • General • Dogs • Vehicles / machinery • Noise (e.g. shooting, aircraft) • Vandals

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Responsible Use of Medicines (Box 3) Use veterinary medicines as little as possible, but as much as necessary Veterinary medicines are an important part of controlling and treating disease. However, prevention is always the best policy. This can be achieved by • Good stockmanship and animal husbandry. • Strong biosecurity and knowledge of the health status of any bought-in animals. • Good hygiene practices. Box 3. Responsible Use of Medicines • Animal medicines should always be used responsibly to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while minimising the risk of side effects. • Only give medicines when required e.g. »Animals » are noticeably unwell. »When » any animal is in obvious pain. »A » vet has advised a specific treatment. »Laid » out in your Animal Health Plan. »Required » by any statutory measure (e.g. sheep scab treatment in affected animals). »Seasonal » control measures are specifically recommended by NADIS or SCOPS e.g. treatment of liver fluke, Nematodirus, blue tongue. • If not used properly, animal medicines have the potential to cause harm to »The » individual animal by. >Over / under-dosage. > >Injury > while administering (poor technique).

»Your » own and the national herd / flock by increased antimicrobial resistance –every application of an antibiotic / anthelmintic increases the risk of resistance developing. »Humans » by

>Antibiotic > resistance. >Contamination > from residues remaining on coat or in meat. >Injury > while administering medication. >Zoonotic > infection. >Being > absorbed through the skin – some pour-on preparations (e.g. some anthelmintics and ectoparasite treatments) are designed to do this. Repeat exposure can build-up in the body over time and can result in long-term health problems.

»The » environment by

>Pollution > of water courses e.g. from pour-on medication or sheep dips. >Anthelmintic > effects on dung-beetles e.g. by ivermectin related wormers. >Effecting > invertebrate populations / soil microbial health.

• Balanced nutrition and good grazing management. • Clean drinking water. • Appropriate vaccinations. • Monitoring herd / flock performance to determine whether there may be any underlying issues. • Knowledge of the specific disease risks on your holding. For more details see GAP leaflet on Animal Health and Welfare.

• When giving veterinary medicines »Comply » with The Veterinary Medicines Directive (VMD) Code of Practice. »Ensure » that any person giving veterinary medicines has been properly trained. »Comply » with COSHH and Risk Assessments – The NOAH compendium has up-to-date datasheets. »All » staff (both administering and assisting) should wear relevant PPE and make sure any open injuries are covered. »Correctly » restrain the animal and /or use remote methods of administration e.g. slap injectors, hook dosing, remote injectors. »Use » good hygienic technique plus well-maintained, clean equipment and sterile needles. • Hazardous objects should be disposed of safely and in-line with current legislation. • Wash hands after handling. • Strictly adhere to your current Animal Health Plan and your vet’s prescribing instructions. • ‘Off label’ use must be approved by your vet. • To reduce the risk of resistance developing, do not use antibiotics ‘just in case’ and think carefully about anthelmintic use. »Target » animals that require treatment. »Abide » by the relevant RUMA, SCOPS and COWS guidelines. • Check the expiry date and date the bottle was first opened. • Calculate the correct dose to comply with the authorised use. • Calibrate all equipment properly. • Weigh the animals – don’t guess. • Administer the correct dose by the correct route according to the product label and your vet’s instructions. • Complete the recommended course.

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Action Plans It is useful to have action plans drawn up for all procedures that involve livestock. They should • Make clear who is responsible for the stock and the infrastructure e.g. grazier or site manager. • Contain information on all relevant contacts including those required in an emergency e.g. vet, fire brigade, police, and relevant disposal authority.

Examples could include • Daily stock checks (see Figure 3 and GAP leaflet on Animal Health and Welfare). »»Include guidance of what procedure to follow and who to contact if the incident is >> Immediately rectifiable e.g. shut open gate. >> Requires assistance e.g. fix broken fence, treat lame animal. >>An emergency e.g. ‘down cow’.

• Lone working policy. • Gathering stock. • Working in a confined spaces with stock. • Working with a lone animal. • Transporting stock. • Ensuring sufficient water is available. • Emergency supplemental feeding. • Managing ill or injured animals / fallen stock. • Lambing, calving, foaling, kidding. • Anything else!

Figure 3. Flow diagram of a simple action plan for checking stock Inform site manager / grazier of site visit and check equipment/information. Check that there is sufficient daylight to complete the exercise.

Contact Details Grazier................................. Site Manager....................... Vet.......................................

Carry out agreed site / livestock checks.

Is there a problem?

Do you need a 2nd opinion?

YES

Complete report form with appropriate notes. Inform site manager / grazier when leaving site.

Contact grazier / site manager for advice.

Can you safely resolve the situation on the spot?

Is it a clear emergency? e.g. dog attack, broken leg, traumatic wound.

an animal is down and will not rise, contact the grazier & vet straight away.

In non-emergency e.g. to return strays, deal with a lame animal, repair a fence. Contact grazier / site manager.

Stay with animals until vet and grazier arrives. Warn others of any danger.

Follow grazier’s advice e.g. Stay with animals until grazier arrives / Warn others of any danger / Safe to leave for grazier to review.

Complete report form with. appropriate notes.

* It may not always be appropriate for a volunteer checker to contact the vet without first discussing with the grazier / site manager.

YES Undertake remedial action e.g. close gate, fill water, right a cast ewe.

In a clear emergency e.g. where YES

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