Livestock
How do farmers keep animals healthy?
Everyone gets sick from time to time, and animals are no different. But how do farmers keep animals healthy and when they are sick, make them better? �e most important things a farmer can provide animals are lots of clean water, feed and a healthy environment. �ese simple, yet crucial, items allow the animals to behave naturally and go through natural processes such as eating, resting, growing and, for some animals, making milk. �ere are many different ways that farmers help to prevent sickness and injury on their farms. One way is for farmers to vaccinate their animals against diseases, very similar to the way humans are vaccinated. Farmers work with veterinarians to develop vaccination programs that outline which vaccinations to give and at what age each is to be given. Animals need their“ toe nails” clipped just like we do. But instead of using a clipper, animals like cattle, horses, pigs, goats and sheep need something a bit different. �ey get their hooves trimmed. It is important that livestock get their feet trimmed because it can prevent lameness. Trimming feet also gives the producer a chance to inspect his animals ' hooves and catch infections.
Farmers can protect their animals ' feet through grooving the barn oor and installing rubber mats at feed alleys, where animals stand to eat their food. �e grooved oors will prevent the animals from falling or slipping. �e rubber mats act as a cushion when the animal is eating and causes less wear. Deworming is a method of protection that helps to prevent animals, especially those on pasture, from getting parasites. Farmers can give dewormers by mouth, injection or pour them onto the animal ' s back.
Some farmers may choose to dehorn their cattle, sheep or goats. Dehorning is a process where the horn bud of the animal is removed. �is means that the horn is not able to grow back. Dehorning can protect other animals from being injured and farmers from being harmed. Tail docking is when part or all of the tail is removed from the animal. �is practice most commonly occurs in sheep and pigs. Sheep may have their tails docked because it prevents ies from infesting the hind wool. Sheep may get manure on their hind wool, and it can become matted. Flies may lay their eggs here and the maggots could infest the animal. Pigs have their tails docked because some pigs may bite other pigs ' tails. �is is a health concern because open wounds on the pigs could become infected.
Farmers might use a ventilation system and
fans to keep air moving through barns, not only to provide fresh air for livestock but to keep them cool. Sprinklers in barns also come in handy when it is very hot and animals need to cool off. Farms also work with a nutritionist and veterinarian, who come out to the farm to make decisions on how best to care for the animals. A nutritionist is someone who formulates the diets for the animals to ensure proper growth and development. A veterinarian is an animal doctor who checks for illnesses and treats sick animals. Veterinarians also help to set vaccination schedules and administer shots.
When animals do have a health problem, farmers use antibiotics and other medications to treat illnesses Farmers o�en buy new animals and bring them on to the farm, but they can take preventative measures to avoid unwanted diseases that the new animal may have from entering the herd by placing the animal in quarantine. Quarantine is the separation of newly received animals from those already in the facility until the health of the new animals has been checked by a veterinarian and found to be disease- free. Farmers work hard to take care of their animals and ensure that illness is reduced as much as possible.
www. farmersreviewafrica. com January- February 2017
FARMERS
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