Title: Demonstrate safe practices in handling livestock.
Course: Introduction to Animal Systems (18101) > Section: Applying Safety Practices in the Agricultural Lab/Workshop

Demonstration should include

- awareness of livestock behavior (e.g., primal reflex reactions when they are threatened, in pain or under stress; defense of food, shelter, territory, and young)
- observation of livestock to determine their temperament (e.g., raised or pinned ears, raised tail, hair on the back, bared teeth, pawing the ground, snorting, and understanding the flight zone of livestock)
- use of equipment
- use and maintenance of facilities
- control of potentially dangerous situations
- avoidance of actions and situations that make the animals or the handler vulnerable to injury
- awareness of aggressive, intact males
- awareness of females with young
- biosecurity practices to prevent zoonoses (e.g., keeping facilities clean, testing, immunizing, and sanitary practices in animal handling)
- handling livestock.

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why is it important to understand stress in an animal as it relates to proper handling?
- Why is it important to understand livestock’s panoramic vision as it relates to approaching them?
- How does noise impact the handling of livestock?
- How can moving objects disrupt livestock handling?
- How does sense of smell impact animal behavior?
- How can color and lighting have an adverse effect on animals being worked?
- How can poor facility planning and improper maintenance impact livestock behavior (e.g., clutter, sudden change in color and texture, flooring, drain grates)?
- Why is it important to understand animal behavior?
- What are the major causes of incidents involving animals?