How To Keep Your Livestock Animals Healthy

Farms are a lot like a house of cards—when one animal goes down, the rest are soon to follow. Farms are no easy business, and when you work with animals, things are bound to get messy. That is why it is so important to take preventative measures to ensure your farm stays stable, consistent, and healthy. As such, it is your main responsibility to keep up with any issues that arise, as failure can lead to health issues. Keep reading for more on how to keep your livestock animals healthy.

Set Up Regular Vet Visits

One of the best ways to keep your livestock animals healthy is to set up frequent veterinarian visits and check-ups. Despite the fact that you spend every day with your animals, a veterinarian will have the education and knowledge to notice things you might not. Moreover, a local vet will help you ensure your animals stay up to date on their vaccinations and deworming schedules to keep them free from parasites and disease.

Have Enough Space

There are a wide variety of spacing and housing guidelines for your livestock, but the main thing that keeps your farm healthy is freedom to roam. When animals reside in a cramped area with little space, illness is a matter of “when” not “if.” Cramped spaces can lead to issues like hoof rot and even soil concerns from overgrazing. To prevent these issues, many farmers will install a rotational grazing system that gives cows the space they need. This system helps avoid overgrazing, parasites, and infection.

Recognize Signs of Illness

When you work alongside animals, you tend to develop a sixth sense—you can tell when behavior is off at the drop of a hat. This sense will serve you greatly, as you must be able to recognize any behavior that indicates one of your livestock has fallen ill. The sooner you recognize it, the sooner you can separate the sick animal from the rest of the herd. Failure to notice changes in behavior can result in the rapid spread of illness you work so hard to avoid.