Addressing Animal Health

Issues Lisa McCrory, Earthwise Farm and Forest

Beginning Women Farmer Conference March 22 & 23, 2012

Healthy Livestock are part of a whole farm

system

Healthy Soil starts from the

soil up

A good balance of minerals

and organic matter

Biological Life

With healthy soils, you can

produce high quality feed

for your livestock

Beyond Nutritional Needs

• Clean Water

• Adequate Shelter

• Sunlight

• Freedom of Movement

• Pasture to Graze

• Fresh Air

Water

Dairy Cow = 10-25 gallons

Beef Cow = 10-20 gallons

Horses = 8-12 gallons

Pigs = 6-8 gallons

Sheep = 2-3 gallons

Goats = 2-3 gallons

Good quality, plentiful water is important.

It is best to have water in the paddocks where

the animals are grazing (during the

grazing season).

Fresh air, Sunlight, Shelter,

Outdoors • *A comfortable animal

is a happy animal

• * Opportunities to lie down (chew cud for ruminants)

• * Adequate perching space and nesting boxes

• * Good ventilation

• * Dry place to lie down

Fresh Air, Comfort

Fresh Air, Comfort

Know Your Animals

Signs of Good Health

• Glossy Coat

• Bright Eyes

• Good Mobility

• Good Body Condition

• Alert

• Manure –

• Appetite – food and water

• Milk Quality (for dairy animals)

Fly Control & Parasite Management

Flies can bring stress and disease to your livestock.

There are many resource links in your handout to highlight products , companies, and good old farmer ingenuity.

- - Fly traps

- - Fly parasites

- - Clean up manure and wet/moist areas where flies like to lay their eggs.

Parasites: Preventive Strategies

- - Rotational grazing system plan

- - Know the parasite life cycles

- - Monitor your livestock

- - multi species grazing

- - rotate pasture and hay land

Health Products used on

Earthwise Farm and Forest

Preventive Products on Earthwise

Farm and Forest

Offered Free Choice

• Minerals, clay minerals

• Salt

• Kelp

• Humates

On hand in case of need

• Electrolytes

• Peppermint liniment

• Iodine (teat dip and navel dip)

• Nutritional boluses

• Lotion

• Homeopathic remedies

Questions/Discussions

• Lisa McCrory

• Earthwise Farm and Forest

• www.earthwisefarmandforest.com

• 802-234-5524

• Lmccrory@hughes.net