Marts dangers for the unwary or careless

Health and safety risks are heightened at marts, with large numbers of cattle brought together in unfamiliar surroundings.

Anxious cattle at the mart pose a threat — they may retreat, take flight or attack.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) advises that they will not typically attack unless they think there is no other real option.

If you’re bringing cattle to the mart, you should watch out for the danger signs, such as tail position, and if cattle are pawing the ground.

The HSA has this list of dos and donts when it comes to cattle handling at the mart:

• Do back right up to the loading bay, so escape is impossible, when loading or unloading;
• Do let staff know if you are delivering a bull or a fractious animal;
• Do watch out for cattle being moved; move out of the way;
• Do follow any request from staff;
• Do watch for an escape route;
• Do watch for any escaped or out-of-control cattle;
• Do park your jeep or tractor in an orderly manner;
• Don’t attempt to help with cattle unless you’re asked to;
• Don’t stand talking, in the way when staff are moving cattle;
• Don’t bring children;
• Don’t move livestock without a stick or a sorting paddle;
• Don’t smoke inside the buildings;
• Don’t bring your dog to the mart;
• Don’t poke the cattle in the sale ring.

Other suggestions from Teagasc advisers include:

• Avoid bringing old age pensioners, sick or infirm people to the mart;
• If selling stock, book animals in a few days in advance of the sale, and arrive early on the day of sale with your stock. If you have not visited or done business with a certain mart before, check out the premises, sales ring, office, yard and penning area, toilets etc. Rushing around trying to find things will lead to accidents;
• When transporting animals to the mart, ensure that the vehicle carrying the animals is roadworthy and well lit up. Ramp gates on trailer lorries need to be hanging and secure;
• If selling stock, follow the instructions of mart staff carefully, it is their job to ensure the stock are penned according to their booking by docket and sales stamp number;
• Where you are doing business at the mart and there is somebody assisting you, know where your work partner is positioned and doing at all times. Work as a team;
• Do not frighten cattle by shouting, banging on gates with sticks etc;
• Stay clear of cows with calves at sales; never get between a cow and her calf;
• Never enter a pen with cattle in it;
• Where there is a safe viewing area or overhead walkway available to view stock, use it as much as possible;
• Never try to sit up on the rails in the sales ring;
• When loading cattle after the mart, avoid slashing with sticks at animals’ legs and hooves, they will kick out.