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Farmer’s Diary with Sheuneni Kurasha
Due to the increasing volume of feedback and inquiries from our readers regarding practical considerations when venturing into small livestock farming, this week’s instalment focuses on the importance of biosecurity and health management in livestock production.
Animal health management is crucial in small stock farming. As the age-old adage goes, prevention is better than cure.
Therefore, farmers must strive to always keep their livestock healthy and disease-free.
While sheep and goats are generally resilient animals, farmers must be diligent in maintaining their health. Vigilantly monitoring the farming environment and enforcing strict biosecurity measures are essential to reduce the risk of exposure to infectious pathogens.
Healthy animals are essential for maintaining productivity on the farm. When animals fall ill, they not only hinder production targets but also lead to financial losses.
Therefore, it is imperative for farmers to prioritise the well-being of all categories of animals, including bucks and rams, pregnant does and ewes, as well as newborn kids and lamps.
This entails implementing comprehensive measures for parasite control, effective vaccination management, careful environmental management and meticulous record-keeping.
Implementing biosecurity measures on farms is essential for minimising the risk of disease exposure. This not only reduces mortality rates among newborn kids and lambs but also enhances workers’ knowledge and skills in disease prevention and control.
By diligently enforcing biosecurity protocols, farms can create a safer and healthier environment for their livestock, ultimately contributing to improved overall farm productivity and sustainability.
Despite the implementation of effective health management systems, occasional illness in animals remains inevitable due to various internal and external factors.
Timely administration of appropriate veterinary medicine is crucial in mitigating the impact of these illnesses.
Therefore, it is essential that farm workers responsible for animal care are adequately trained to detect signs of illness early, enabling prompt treatment interventions.
Early detection and intervention not only contribute to the well-being of individual animals but also help prevent the spread of diseases within the herd, ultimately safeguarding overall farm productivity and sustainability.
This brings to the forefront the critical question: how to recognise sick animals within the herd? Sick sheep and goats exhibit various symptoms depending on the nature of the illness.
Some of the most common symptoms of a sick animal include fatigue with poor or no appetite, isolation from the rest of the herd, hunched posture, coarse and dull skin, heavy breathing, abnormal body temperature, faeces mixed with blood or mucus, dark yellow urine, slowed physical growth rate, red or watery eyes, elevated palpitations that can be felt by touching the interior side of the hind thigh, and drooling or excessive saliva from the mouth.
Once identified, sick animals should be separated from the rest of the herd and be treated immediately. To do this effectively, farmers and workers responsible for animal care need to have a thorough understanding of the disease and the appropriate medicine to use.
This includes knowing the correct handling procedures for medicines, such as avoiding exposure to direct sunlight and storing them at room temperature. Additionally, they must be aware of the proper dosages, which are often proportional to the animal’s weight. It is critical to always read the manual before administering any animal medicine.
It is crucial for farmers and workers who handle goats to possess comprehensive knowledge about the major diseases affecting sheep and goats, along with their underlying causes.
This understanding enables not only effective treatment but also the implementation of preventive measures, including vaccinations and management interventions.
Among the most common diseases are tick-borne illnesses like heart-water, foot rot, bloating, orf, pneumonia, brucellosis, as well as internal parasites (such as worms and flukes) and external parasites (including ticks and mites).
These diseases can have profound effects on the health, productivity, and profitability of sheep and goat farming.
Therefore, preventive measures such as vaccination, parasite control, biosecurity and sound management practices are indispensable for effectively managing and controlling diseases.
In addition, regular veterinary monitoring and timely treatment of sick animals play crucial roles in preserving the health and well-being of the flock.
Quarantining sick animals from healthy ones is a crucial animal husbandry practice for preventing the spread of disease throughout the entire herd.
Similarly, quarantine procedures should be applied to newly acquired animals being introduced to the herd from external sources.
This practice enables the farmer to closely monitor, document, and treat sick and newly acquired animals before they are allowed into the rest of the herd. Local veterinary offices can offer valuable guidance on appropriate quarantine protocols tailored to specific circumstances.
One of the primary methods to ensure the health of your sheep and goats is by providing them with sufficient and high-quality feed, along with access to clean water.
Additionally, constructing well-ventilated kraals plays a crucial role in safeguarding the animals from adverse weather conditions. Ensuring adequate space within kraals is essential to prevent overcrowding and minimise the risk of respiratory diseases.
Moreover, well-designed kraals and efficient animal handling facilities facilitate easier management during various tasks such as treatment, ear-tagging, or hoof trimming, thereby reducing stress on the animals.
This reduction in stress is particularly important as it can help mitigate the risk of diseases such as pulpy kidney and Pasteurella.
Sheuneni Kurasha is the Managing Director of Chivara Farm, a diversified farming operation which specialises in stud breeding for small livestock (Boer goats, Kalahari Red goats, Damara sheep and Meatmaster sheep) as well as Boran cattle. For feedback, kindly get in touch on email: [email protected]; X: @chivarafarm or WhatsApp: +263 772 874 523.
Online Reporter