View Presentation Application

Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock(ERAIL)

Animal Science

Mike Metzger
MSU EXTENSION
JACKSON

Abstract

In the United States, total red meat production is around 52.1 billion pounds with large numbers of animals transported over the nation’s highways daily. According to the 2020 Ag Census, there are 3.26M head of livestock in Michigan. The MSU Extension animal agriculture team identified the need to prepare first responders for livestock transportation accidents as our state began to experience an influx of livestock haulers. This need is addressed through the Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock (ERAIL) program which is a comprehensive training and response program. This program serves Michigan’s animal agriculture industry by providing resources to help respond to accidents involving livestock. 

The ERAIL program is made up of four different components: In-person training for response  and transportation professionals, virtual training modules dedicated to expanding the reach of the ERAIL training program, individual consultations for organizations, locations, and units that are looking to be prepared for these types of situations, and developing a fleet of emergency response trailers in Michigan dedicated to providing the equipment and tools needed by responders to address emergency situations involving livestock. These efforts make up a robust, effective and proven program supported by evaluation data, funding support, stakeholder comments and effective response events. To date, over 800 people have been trained through the ERAIL program with 96% of participants indicating an increase in their skill set. Consistently, over 90% of the training participants indicated that they felt more comfortable around livestock after this experience and are more confident in their skills to address needs for accidents involving livestock. 100% of participants are aware of response resources that are available to them to help prepare for and respond to accidents involving livestock.  

The ERAIL team remains steadfast in their goal to increase the preparedness for accidents involving livestock by continuing to focus on training for first responders and providing accessibility to specialized equipment needed for these events. These efforts will continue to protect the safety of first responders at accident scenes, the public traveling on the roadways, promoting welfare of animals involved, and protecting the image of the animal agriculture industry.  

Authors: Mike Metzger, Beth Ferry, Tom Guthrie, Casey Zangaro, Cora Okkema, Poala Bacigalupo-Sanguesa, Jerad Jaborek, Anna Heck, Madonna Benjamin, Katie Ockert
  1. Mike Metzger Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 49202-2135
  2. Beth Ferry Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 49022
  3. Tom Guthrie Extension Educator, MSU Extension , Michigan, 49201
  4. Casey Zangaro Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 48801
  5. Cora Okkema Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 49307
  6. Poala Bacigalupo-Sanguesa Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 48854
  7. Jerad Jaborek Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 48471
  8. Anna Heck Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 48824
  9. Madonna Benjamin Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 48824
  10. Katie Ockert Extension Educator, MSU Extension, Michigan, 48846