The Dairy Workers – Animal Handling and Health course introduces the essential skills and safety practices needed to work confidently with cattle on a dairy farm. This training provides a practical foundation in animal behaviour, safe handling techniques, and the hazards workers may encounter while caring for livestock. Learners gain a better understanding of how cattle react to their environment, how to move animals safely, and how to identify common risks on the job.

The course also covers key components of animal health and management, including recognizing signs of illness, responding to injuries, and supporting overall herd wellbeing. Participants develop an awareness of disease risks, proper treatment procedures, and the safe use of equipment such as chutes and head gates. By building these skills, dairy workers can improve animal welfare, reduce workplace injuries, and support safe and productive farm operations.

Safe animal handling is essential to preventing injuries and maintaining healthy herds. Understanding livestock behaviour, recognizing stress signals, and applying proper handling methods help workers create safer conditions for both animals and people. This course introduces foundational knowledge that supports effective dairy farm operations and responsible animal care.

Introduction

• Review course objectives and core safety themes
• Understand the importance of proper animal handling on dairy farms

The Science of Animal Health

• Learn the basics of animal physiology and behaviour
• Understand how environment and management impact health

Risks of Working With Cattle

• Identify common hazards such as kicks, crushing, and environmental risks
• Learn how to reduce exposure to dangerous situations

Learning to Read Your Animals

• Recognize body language and stress indicators
• Understand how cattle react to movement, noise, and pressure

Handling and Moving Cattle

• Apply safe movement techniques and low-stress handling methods
• Learn how to guide animals through pens, alleys, and barns

Animal Health & Management

• Understand general health maintenance practices
• Learn how nutrition, environment, and daily care affect wellbeing

Sick and Injured Animals

• Identify symptoms of illness or injury
• Follow safe and appropriate response steps

Diseases

• Review common cattle diseases and how they spread
• Learn prevention strategies to protect the herd

Medical Treatments

• Understand basic treatment procedures and worker responsibilities
• Learn when to escalate issues to supervisors or veterinarians

Using Chutes and Head Gates

• Review safe operation of restraint equipment
• Learn positioning, handling, and safety precautions

Quiz

• Reinforce understanding of key concepts covered in the course

This online Dairy Workers – Animal Handling and Health course takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Learners may start, pause, and resume the training at their convenience.

A passing score of 80% is required to receive a certificate of completion. Participants may attempt the course up to three times. Short quizzes throughout the training help reinforce the material and support knowledge retention.

Upon successful completion, learners can download and print a digital certificate confirming their understanding of safe cattle handling and animal health practices.