MSU Extension offers two Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock (ERAIL) trainings in the Upper Peninsula
Print
EmailEquipment for safely extricating livestock from trucks/trailers and containing animals after transport accidents will be shown in the first in-person training. Euthanasia training covers identifying compromised animals and humane euthanasia.
Responding to accidents is never an easy task. Responding to an accident that involves large trucks, people and animals can quickly turn into a chaotic event if the local response team is not prepared or trained to handle such an occurrence. Following several livestock truck rollovers over the last few years in Michigan and adjacent states, Michigan State University Extension along with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan Pork Producers Association recognized the need to have a network of trained people across the state to respond to these situations. To help local sheriff/police, fire crews, ambulances, veterinarians and other officials prepare for rollovers of semis pulling livestock trailers, MSU Extension is coordinating specialized hands-on Emergency Response to Accidents Involving Livestock program training for livestock accident responders.
Opportunity 1 - Captive Bolt Device Euthanasia Training
This workshop is designed to teach first responders how to perform humane livestock euthanasia with a captive bolt device. Workshop topics include identifying compromised animals, animal anatomy and target location, rules of animal ownership as well as animal restraint and animal safety.
When: September 30, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Upper Peninsula State Fair Grounds, 2401 12th Ave. N, Escanaba, Mich. 49829
Cost: $25 per person
Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Registration information can be found by visiting the MSU Extension events calendar.
Opportunity 2 - Comprehensive ERAIL training in the Upper Peninsula
This program is designed to assist response teams in responding to rollover accidents involving livestock. This one-day training focuses on managing the scene of an accident, organizing volunteers and working to ensure public safety and animal welfare. Participants will learn about extrication of trapped animals from trucks/trailers, management of a rollover accident incident, chain of command, safe handling of large animals and animal behavior, and humane euthanasia techniques for severely injured animals. The program will consist of both in-class and hands-on training with several species of livestock available for the hands-on portion of the training. Please be aware that there may be a contained beehive at the training.
When: October 1, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Upper Peninsula State Fair Grounds, 2401 12th Ave. N, Escanaba, Mich. 49829
Cost: $75 per person or $60 per person for groups of two or more, including lunch. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. No refunds within two weeks of each program. Substitutions may be made.
Registration information can be found by visiting the MSU Extension events calendar.
Questions about the training can be directed to
Beth Ferry at 269-876-2745 or franzeli@msu.edu
Mike Metzger at 517-788-4292 or metzgerm@msu.edu
Tom Guthrie at 517-788-4292 or guthri19@msu.edu
