townfarmer
Well-known member
I came across an interesting article titled " Bull related incidences: Their Prevalence and Nature" that was published in July this year in the Journal of Agromedicine. According to data collected over the past three years and based on hours of exposure there is greater risk of a bull related fatality than any other known agricultural hazard. The areas with the greatest numbers of bull related injuries are Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. The two biggest offending breeds are holstein and angus although the authors point out that they are the most prevalent breeds in North America so the data doesn't necessarily mean they are the most aggressive.
The authors of the article made an interesting comment in their recommendations. They said:
" There appears to be diminishing respect or awareness of the hazards regarding handling bulls. The data analyzed here suggests that, in many cases, the victims were overly confidant as to their bull handling skills or were unaware of the potential risks associated with mature bulls or bulls in the presence of cows being bred."
I'm assuming this lack of respect for bulls comes from people getting into cattle as a hobby or a lifestyle who didn't get the education about cattle from their parents or grandparents. When you go to a show the bulls all look like big gentle labradors being led around on a leash. There will be trouble if you treat your bull like a labrador.
I'll try and post a link to the full text of the article.
Andrew
The authors of the article made an interesting comment in their recommendations. They said:
" There appears to be diminishing respect or awareness of the hazards regarding handling bulls. The data analyzed here suggests that, in many cases, the victims were overly confidant as to their bull handling skills or were unaware of the potential risks associated with mature bulls or bulls in the presence of cows being bred."
I'm assuming this lack of respect for bulls comes from people getting into cattle as a hobby or a lifestyle who didn't get the education about cattle from their parents or grandparents. When you go to a show the bulls all look like big gentle labradors being led around on a leash. There will be trouble if you treat your bull like a labrador.
I'll try and post a link to the full text of the article.
Andrew