New Zealand Dairy Farm Workers Face Sleep and Stress Challenges During Calving Season
The Impact of Calving Season on Dairy Farm Workers
In New Zealand, the demanding work schedules of dairy farm workers, especially during the calving season, have raised concerns about sleep deprivation and increased stress levels. A recent study has shed light on how these intense periods affect farm workers’ sleep quality and overall well-being.
Study Highlights
Dairy farms practicing block calving, where cows give birth over a set period of six to 12 weeks, require long hours and significant physical effort from farm workers. Research led by Lucy Hall, Ph.D., from DairyNZ Ltd., highlights that these practices result in reduced sleep and increased stress for workers during the spring calving season.
Findings and Implications
The study involved participants wearing an Oura ring, a device that measures sleep activity. Results showed workers averaged only six hours and 15 minutes of sleep per night, less than the ideal seven to nine hours. Over the study period, sleep duration decreased further, indicating the strain of work demands.
Dr. Hall points out that working with machinery and large animals requires vigilance, making sleep deprivation a serious safety concern. The isolated nature of farm work exacerbates these risks.
Strategies for Improvement
Though once-a-day milking was expected to allow more rest, the time was often filled with other essential farm tasks. Management practices including better task delegation and understanding the importance of sleep are recommended to mitigate stress and ensure worker safety and health.
Regions like New Zealand’s West Coast faced additional challenges due to understaffing and adverse weather, impacting workers’ sleep even further. The specific roles of workers also mattered, with managers tending to get more sleep than younger colleagues who might prioritize socializing over rest.
The research underscores the necessity for dairy farms to adjust work schedules and incorporate strategies that support workers’ sleep, ultimately benefiting the individuals, the farm, and the animals they care for.
