New videos by Agriculture Victoria are helping farmers improve safety in cattle yards, showcasing practical design features to reduce injury and make stock handling easier and more efficient.
The videos –Safe Cattle Yard Design: Key Considerations and Cattle Loading Ramps: Safe Handling — were filmed at properties in north east Victoria to demonstrate how a safely designed cattle yard functions in real conditions.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock Industry Development Officer Nick Linden said cattle yards that prioritise animal and operator safety don’t just reduce injuries, they create a lower stress environment that makes stock movement easier and quicker.
‘WorkSafe figures show that the majority of on-farm injuries are caused by collisions including impacts between animals and people,’ Mr Linden said.
‘So, a guiding tenet of good yard design and safe animal handling should be to keep workers and animals separate from each other within the cattle yard.
‘Having a catwalk alongside a race and an operator-only work area around the crush are great examples of safe features in a cattle yard’s design.’
Mr Linden said producers should make safer cattle yards a top priority at their property so that everyone – the farming family, workers, guests and visitors such as veterinarians or livestock transporters – are all protected in that environment.
In the Safe Cattle Yard Design video, Milly Mackinnon from Tintaldra Station and Mr Linden highlight practical design features such as the circular flow design, a separate working area, safe flooring and effective gates and latches that help control animal movement.
In the Cattle Loading Ramps video, livestock transporter Dom Shanahan speaks with Mr Linden about why cattle need their space and said safety is a primary concern for him and his drivers.
Mr Linden shows how the catwalk and handrailing, the ramp’s sliding gates and flat platform area all help control cattle flow and keep operators safe.
‘When planning a new set of yards, taking time to consider safety features will lead to years of enjoyable and efficient use.
‘Alternatively, reviewing and assessing your existing yards and loading ramp may reveal that only some basic maintenance or low-cost upgrades are required to improve overall safety and efficiency,’ said Mr Linden.
Farmers can watch both videos and access practical guidance on safer cattle yard design at cattle handling and management.
The videos were produced through Farming Safe and Well, a $2.8 million Victorian Government program supported by the Community Support Fund, that delivers practical resources, risk management protocols, and targeted interventions to improve farm safety outcomes for Victoria’s agricultural communities.
