Tips to keep your livestock healthy
Biosecurity on the farm when it comes to sheep and goat operations is a crucial part of a management program. It is important for all producers, large and small, to implement some sort of biosecurity measures to protect not only the herd, but to protect the people working and visiting on your farm. Many diseases can spread quickly leading to illness, reduced productivity, significant financial losses, and even death.
Healthy animals are important to a successful operation and there are a few guidelines that are relativity simple to help protect your herd and all of those involved.
Isolation and Quarantine: All new animals arriving on your farm should be quarantined for at least 30 days before they are introduced to your herd. You should have a quarantine/isolation area on your farm that does not have any fence line contact to the rest of your herd. Many diseases do not show up right away, so having a quarantine area will allow you to observe your new stock for any potential health issues. During this time, you should perform routine vaccinations if needed, hoof care, and infectious disease testing if it was not done prior to purchase. Isolation also allows time to conduct fecal testing and to properly deworm animals and monitor for any signs of parasites before introduction to the current herd. Keeping a record of past and current vaccinations and de-wormers will help you recognize any resistance to de-wormers and to keep up to date on needed vaccinations.
Animals purchased at sale barns most times come with unknown health histories, including vaccinations and disease exposure. They are also exposed to multiple animals due to co-mingling of pens and bedding. It is important to isolate and quarantine any animals coming from a sale barn to mitigate the chance disease transmission. An animal that appears healthy may still be harboring a disease that can be transmitted to your herd.
Access Restrictions: Limiting access to your farm by large groups of guests is one way to keep diseases at bay. If you are inviting school groups for an educational visit, limit the access to a small area. If potential buyers need to access various areas or your barn, provide a disinfecting foot bath and disposable plastic boots for them to put over their own footwear. These items as well as a sanitizing solution can be purchased at many farm stores or ordered online. Another good practice is to maintain a record of visitors as well as any trucks or trailers that come to your farm. Dirt and manure from other farms can inadvertently pass contaminants or pathogens into the environment.
Hygiene Practices: Good hygiene practices are important to help prevent the introduction and spread of disease on the farm as well as keeping your herd healthy. Not only is it important to regularly wash your hands while working with livestock, it is important to also keep footwear and clothing clean to help prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases. There are several sanitizing laundry detergent add-ins to help kill any bacteria. Soiled items of clothing should always be washed separate and use a second rinse to help wash away any debris from clothing.
Producers should also establish and maintain a good veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR), especially if you are in a rural area with limited access to a close veterinarian. Finding a veterinarian that deals with sheep and goats on a regular basis is important to make sure your herd is getting the best medication and care. You can reach out to other breeders and local extensions for a list of veterinarians.
For more information on this subject, visit the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners Biosecurity Tool Kit Resources.
