Time to fix up the yards

On far too many small farms, the yards if they exist are a potential disaster. Owners know this and are reminded every vet visit and Tb test, but it’s a question of finding time to fix things.

If anyone is injured using your yards, this could have OSH and ACC implications, so there are plenty of reasons to fix things this holiday time.

When planning yards, visit other farmers’ yards and preferably when they are working stock. Check for a good clear entry to the yards, how stock flow and how many mobs you can draft and hold securely afterwards. Remember those “boxups” after drafting?

Plan new sheep yards so stock move uphill through the crush pens and drafting race. Avoid sloping holding pens as sheep can smother if they pack in at the bottom of the slope. Put a gate there for emergencies. Close-board the crush pen and make it narrow enough to hold stock on your own with your legs, without doing the splits when drenching and vaccinating.

Gates warp and drop with age and catches won’t fit - so fix them. Metal gates last longer than wood and are lighter but can be noisy and bend under stock pressure.

Concrete the crush and drafting race if you can afford it, or use 100-150mm of rock or road metal. Put a layer of shade cloth under the metal to stop it sinking.

Pay special attention to sharp corners, protruding bolt heads not cut flush, and nails that work their way out over time. They pull wool, damage hides and bruise meat - and also damage humans.

Design cattle yards to avoid having to get in among them for a wrestling match every time you need to drench or tag. A decent head bail is the first essential, and fit it at the end of a well-made race with high sides to prevent escapes when animals may be stressed for injections, ear tagging and sorting out calving problems. Include in this a safe vet gate to allow access behind each animal.

Have blocking rails that can be inserted behind each animal without getting whacked by them if the beast moves back. Also have a good safe cat walk along the outside of the race to reach over the rails to drench, inject an apply pourons.

All stock hate blind corners and narrow gaps where they can get caught and damage their hips. Build some narrow escape gaps in cattle yards so handlers don’t get injured when stock are moving past or there is a bull around.

Build a lockable weatherproof box in the yards for gear, records, a first aid box and your mobile phone. Write in it your emergency phone numbers.