Pasture Safety Checklist

A safe pasture will mean fewer accidents involving your animals, less time spent doctoring injuries and less money spent on veterinarian visits. Regardless of the type of animal kept in the pasture, be it horses, cattle, goats, emus or sheep, the safer and cleaner the pasture, the happier and healthier the animals living in it.

  1. Holes

    • Rodents such as gophers, moles and badgers create that can be dangerous to livestock. Because the holes are often disguised beneath long grass, a running animal may not see it and end up with a twisted ankle or a broken bone. Rodent control and elimination is the most effective prevention; however, harrowing a field and plugging holes is an effective alternative if done routinely.

    Fences

    • A safe pasture has safe fencing, suitable to the type of animal being kept in it. Fences that are suitable for horses may not be suitable for a goat. Ensure that the fencing is sufficient in strength and coverage to prevent the animal from jumping over it, crawling under it, pushing it down or running through it.

    Sharp Objects

    • Old farm equipment, sharp rocks and low-hanging branches all present potential harm to an animal that may be unaware of the danger. Many types of livestock will use stiff objects to rub against when itchy, so anything sharp that could cut or puncture an animal should be removed from the pasture. When animals are running around a pasture, whether out of fright or play, they may inadvertently run into these objects, which can cause significant harm.

    Ice and Mud

    • Ice and mud are slipping hazards to animals, much as they are to humans. They can lead to broken bones and painful strains, and should be minimized if possible. Since it is not feasible to control the weather, other methods of ice and mud prevention will help. Install diversion methods for water to help it drain water away efficiently, have a dry,covered area available to the animals or consider temporarily moving the animals to a drier pasture.

    Debris

    • If the pasture is near a road or other public property, litter may blow over the fence. Curious animals might begin to play with the debris or even ingest it. Litter might contain dangerous chemicals that could be poisonous to livestock in addition to being a choking hazard. Remove litter and debris promptly.