Swine & U

Part of the National Ag Safety Awareness Program is a focus on safety around livestock — including livestock handling and transportation. Stressed livestock are more likely to injure themselves, their handlers and are more difficult to work with.

Providing stockmanship training for workers handling livestock is key to preventing injuries. Stockmanship is a practice which promotes positive animal handling and is SWINE & U important for both animal By Diane DeWitte and caretaker safety. It reduces stress, increases productivity, and reduces potential injuries on the farm. The Upper Midwest Agriculture Safety and Health Center (UMASH) has resources developed to promote and teach stockmanship for caretakers and managers of all animal species. Visit umash.umn.edu/farm-safety to learn more.

Considering production across the different phases, from the movement of replacement females, weaned pigs, or marketing of finishing, and culled breeding stock, a conservative estimate for the total number of pigs in transport on any given day in the United States adds up to over one million.

More often than not, those several thousands of transporters can expect to have a typical day with no major issues. These individuals will have completed a livestock transport certification program, Pork Checkoff’s Transport Quality Assurance, and are prepared to safely handle and haul these animals. Despite following proper procedure and the rules of the road, accidents do happen.

Keep current contact information

Having emergency contact information readily accessible for producers and employees is the first

UniversityofMinnesota EXTENSION

See SWINE & U, pg. 16

safety and attention to

SWINE&U all parties involved. Alerting the authorities, and exchanging information are also initial steps to take. step to prepare for accidents, breakdowns or delays. Producers who have participated in Common Swine Industry Audit or had a Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA+) Site Assessment know that having this information up-to-date is a requirement of certification. When transporting livestock, there are considerations that must be taken into account beyond those typical of a noncommercial accident: Alert emergency operator about size, number and condition of pigs on board, as well as the status of any loose animals or hazards that may influence public safety. Place emer-

Just as producers should keep copies of this infor- gency warning devices to alert other traffic of accimation in the office, livestock haulers should also dent scene. Contact harvest plant and the pig farmhave those emergency contacts on hand. Similar to er with details and updates of the incident. Herd an on-farm emergency response plan, the names, any loose pigs from road away from traffic and proaddresses and phone numbers for the producer, vide protection and comfort. Take pictures of the police, fire, ambulance and herd veterinarian should accident scene. Include road conditions, vehicle posibe included with the pigs being transported. tion, damage and other views for documentation

Additional information, such as the company, des- later reference. Refer media to first responders in tination or harvest plant dispatch, insurance pro- charge. vider, and roadside assistance will be needed when Livestock emergency response trailers dealing with a transport issue. Roadside traffic available incidents, no matter the severity, cause added stress The Minnesota Pork Board and Region 5 of to drivers and livestock alike. Keeping up-to-date Homeland Security Emergency Management creatcopies of these contacts, in the cab and on paper, can ed emergency response trailers for use in situaalleviate the added anxiety and ensure key contacts tions where a transporter has a roll-over or some aren’t forgotten during the scramble of dealing with type of accident requiring additional assistance an incident. controlling livestock on board or loose animals at Accidents happen. What should you do? the scene.

Pork producers and transporters have accepted These trailers, located throughout Southern numerous responsibilities in their profession — Minnesota in Adams, Buffalo Lake, Fairmont, with biosecurity, pork quality and animal health Granite Falls, Pipestone, Sleepy Eye and and wellness being closely tied to transportation. In Worthington are equipped with livestock panels, the event where a truck driver is involved in a traf- sorting boards, chains and other equipment necesfic incident, these responsibilities — in addition to sary to provide safety for both animals and traffic human safety, property, and public perception of the alike. If a livestock transporter needs assistance industry — will be put to the test. with controlling loose animals, requesting one of

For accidents occurring on public roadways involv- these trailers can be done by contacting 911 or ing other vehicles, the first priority is providing

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