By Daniela Roland
Working with livestock makes dairy farming a more hazardous occupation compared to other sectors of agriculture. By understanding dairy cattle behavior, farmers can create a safer and more productive working environment for both the animals and the animal handler.
While experienced farmers may intuitively comprehend cattle behavior, new employees and beginning farmers can benefit greatly from learning the foundational principles. Knowing how and why cattle respond to their environment, their handlers, and their routines can help minimize animal stress, improve animal care, and reduce injuries to both the animal and the handler.
A recent study looked at worker-related injuries on Wisconsin dairy farms from 2017-2023. They found that 13% of agriculture-related injuries were from cows. Cattle-related injuries were the second most common cause of farm-related injuries. The study also noted that while other farm-related injuries were on a downward trend, the cow-related injuries remained steady (Modji, et al. 2025).
Source : psu.edu