How much water do pigs need to drink? In hot weather they go to the watering point and seem to be looking for more water. Is giving them water once or twice a day enough? They tend to knock containers over and waste water. What is the best way to…
Question: How important is it to determine the temperature of a sick animal? When infectious organisms such as bacteria or viruses invade an animal, the immune system tries to destroy them. As part of this reaction the animal’s temperature rises causing what we know as fever. Fever is the first…
Question: Where do I start to become a better livestock farmer? The answer is basic and straightforward. You have to decide, first of all, if you are going to be merely a livestock owner or whether you want to be a livestock farmer. The difference lies in the fact that…
Sometimes horses become depressed and feverish. They develop swollen glands around the head that start oozing yellow liquid. This condition is called strangles. Strangles is one of the most important diseases in horses worldwide. It spreads easily from one horse to another and is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi.…
Observing your livestock’s general health costs nothing and you don’t need special equipment – but it can save your animals’ lives. It takes very good stockmanship to spot abnormal behaviour in your animals. Daily observation of normal behaviour and a step-by-step investigative approach if they do not behave as usual.…
Are your cattle fetching low prices at auctions? Here are some tips and suggestions on how to prepare animals so that they can compete for better prices. A few changes to on-farm animal management practices can make all the difference. CASTRATION AND DEHORNING It is important that animals be castrated…
Question: On which part of the body would you vaccinate cattle? And what should be done before and after vaccination? Most vaccinations given to cattle are injected under the skin (subcutaneous). But there are a few vaccines that have to be injected into the muscle (intramuscular). Ensure that you read…
Question: Many of my cattle died during the drought and those that survived are recovering very slowly– despite all the rain and the availability of green grass. What can I do? The drought caused your cattle to lose weight due to the lack of fodder and grass. Their weak condition…
Farmers need to be proactive to make sure that cows are in top form before calving. Wilma den Hartigh explains how body condition scores can be used to ensure this. It is essential that cows calve in ideal conditions, and this includes ensuring that the animal is in top condition.…
Have a livestock vaccination plan in hand for when a disease outbreak occurs. Vaccination is the most effective method of controlling diseases under the following conditions: Where avoiding exposure to disease-causing factors is difficult or impossible. If the disease is carried by biting insects it is impossible to keep them…
The Zimbabwean government has launched a US$300 million Special Livestock, Fisheries and Wildlife Programme to improve livestock production to support the revival of the meat value chain in the country. The programme was launched in Matabeleland South. The Zimbabwean government has invested US$80 million in the programme, while the private…
Improving animal health and welfare standards is key to increasing food production in ways that protect the environment and enhance resilience of livestock farmers, says the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). “Animal health and welfare are two cornerstones for the future of globally diversified livestock production,” said Monique Eloit,…
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says it needs US$7.5 million to fund a critically urgent livestock vaccination campaign before the start of the rainy season in South Sudan. In a statement, the FAO said nearly 9 million animals should be vaccinated before the end of March to…
The British Department for International Development (DFID) says it will provide £90 million to support research that will lead to the creation of new “super-crops” to address the problems of food security and nutrition in Africa. DFID is the international development aid agency of the British government. In a statement…
An innovation for crop and livestock integration has lifted profits and resilience for about 60 000 livestock farmers in Zimbabwe. The adoption of mucuna, a high protein, drought-tolerant legume, has enabled livestock farmers in the drylands of Nkayi and Gwanda districts to diversify their income sources. The innovation is brainchild…
The government of Sierra Leone has revamped the Teko Central Veterinary Laboratory with the aim of building national capacity to detect, diagnose and control livestock diseases. The laboratory will enable veterinary scientists to test for all livestock diseases and treat zoonotic infections like rabies and anthrax. Also read: Livestock production: What are…
The Zambian government has deployed 1 500 field officers to conduct a livestock census last done more than 40 years ago. Livestock and Fisheries Minister Michael Katambo said the census, to be conducted in collaboration with the Central Statistical Office (CSO), will set a benchmark for future surveys in the…
The International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) has reported progress in its Red Meat Value Chain project. This project seeks to help Tunisian livestock farmers gain stockfeed self-sufficiency, while teaching drought adaptation techniques to crop farmers. In a project update statement, ICARDA said 42 farmers have involved…
With research progressing rapidly, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) says it will roll out groundbreaking solutions to develop healthier and productive livestock in Africa next year. ILRI Director General Jimmy Smith said the solutions in the pipeline would make livestock in Africa more resistant to climate change and disease.…
In the 3 articles listed below, an experienced livestock farmer gives advice on the restoration, management and maintenance of livestock operations. The profitability and sustainability of livestock farming is under severe pressure. Fortunately, top Namibian farmer Mecki Schneider has excellent advice for extensive cattle and sheep farmers. Part 1 of…
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned livestock farmers and food producers globally to stop using antibiotics on healthy animals. “The WHO strongly recommends an overall reduction in the use of all classes of medically important antibiotics in food producing animals, including complete restriction of these antibiotics for growth promotion…
AgDevCo’s Smallholder Development Unit (SDU) has partnered with Mozambican livestock company MozAgri to help smallholder farmers. Through the partnership, roughly 9 500 farmers will see an increase in productivity and income. MozAgri, established in 2009, supplies improved genetics and buys fully-grown goats from 6 000 local farmers across a wide…
This five-point assessment method allows farmers to identify several diseases and parasites in their small livestock. This enables you to diagnose and prevent diseases and death on your farm. 1. NOSE AREA Nasal discharge By checking the nose, you can immediately see if there are any sign of nasal worm…
Eastern Cape wool farmers received some much-needed shearing equipment from Bayer South Africa as part of an initiative to support communal wool farmers in the region. “Having the correct equipment is central to bolster efficiency and production volumes for these farming communities that are already pooling their resources together,” Bayer…
