Here are five reminders to think about when working with animals regardless of species. There continue to be fewer and fewer farmers, so there are more and more people who do not have practical experience with farm animals. Be especially watchful of visitors to your farm and their actions around animals. Ignorance may be bliss in some situations but not with animals. One of the benefits of growing up around animals is seeing them in all stages of growth.
Young animals are particularly fascinating to most people.
Be sure the young animals are in a separate location before allowing visitors near them. Maternal instincts of all species do not react well to squealing or bawling of young, especially their own. Avoid placing the young or inexperienced worker in situations around stressed animals. These situations could include loading beef animals that have been on the range for some time or horses being separated after having been together for awhile. Another stressful situation could be mixing of similar species of animals that are unfamiliar with each another.