Farmers and farm workers must always be on guard when working with or around animals. Clutter, messes, and disrepair often set the stage for accidents and contribute to the seriousness of many injuries. Taking simple precautions may take a few extra seconds, but removing or reducing hazards can save time, pain and suffering, property, resources and lives. A better understanding of animals is gained by observing their structure, learning their composition, and contemplating the effects of the differences between them and humans. For example, human eyes are positioned approximately 2.5 inches apart on the front of the head.
Most farm animals have their eyes located more to the side rather than to the front of their heads.
Animals, with their wide-angle vision, have a reduced ability to perceive depth and to judge distances. Cattle and horses have panoramic vision, which means they can see everything except something that is directly behind them, giving them a viewing range of 270 degrees while humans have a range of about 180 degrees. While most animals are colorblind, their hearing is extremely sensitive relative to humans, especially to higher frequency sounds. Experienced animal handlers should recognize that animals perform and or produce best when their lives are as tranquil and their environment is as comfortable as reasonably possible. Avoid extremes in temperature, humidity, lighting, and other environmental conditions such as loud noises, rapid motions, excitement, and harsh treatment.