Practicing good animal husbandry helps your herd or flock stay healthy and happy. To do this, we need to train ourselves to monitor the health of our animals. Animal health monitoring involves keeping a close eye on your livestock for signs of illness to catch problems early and prevent minor dilemmas from becoming significant issues. … Read more
Animal stress is different than human stress We may experience stress from a lack of rain to grow our crops, tax season, or just having too much on our plate. Our animals experience stress quite differently. Small things, things we might not even notice, can cause our animals to stop eating. A sunny day in … Read more
What is African Swine Fever (ASF)? Like Foot and Mouth Disease and Classical Swine Fever, African Swine Fever is a foreign animal disease (FAD), meaning it is not known to exist in the United States. In late July of 2021, African Swine Fever (ASF) was found in the Dominican Republic, and soon after, an outbreak … Read more
Animal diseases can be spread by dirty or shared vehicles, ATVs, equipment, and machinery. Having a plan to limit vehicles, equipment, and their movement on your farm or ranch can help prevent disease introduction. Vehicle and equipment movement risks What kinds of vehicle or equipment movement occurs on your farm? Have the vehicles that come … Read more
As organic and alternative producers, we like to allow the animals we raise to exhibit their natural instincts, such as grazing, rooting, and frolicking in open spaces. Many of our animals spend their lives outside to allow this behavior. No matter where you’re located, some sort of wildlife inhabits the same land that you raise … Read more
One of the best ways to teach people about agriculture is to show them firsthand what happens on your farm. This can be through an onsite store, farm tours, or holding workshops on your property. You may need extra farm help and hire an employee or have a friend wanting to learn the ins and … Read more
If you follow current events, you’ve probably seen news of a large bird flu outbreak in Europe and Canada. Most recently, this strain of bird flu was discovered in a wild American Wigeon in South Carolina. This disease is not limited to the large farms we often see on the news. Strains of the virus … Read more
It’s always exciting to add new animals into your herd or flock. Additions often bring added production and improved genetics. But, it pays to be cautious, as new or returning animals can bring in new diseases. Having an area to keep these animals separate from your home herd, as well as to isolate sick animals, … Read more
It’s not possible to produce wholesome farm-raised meat, eggs, or milk without also having manure. When animals are housed indoors, using the correct bedding or litter can improve animal comfort, help protect your herd from disease, and make cleaning up easier. There are many options when it comes to bedding. Price, location, and equipment will … Read more
Every organic or alternative farm at one time or another experiences animal death losses. Knowing what to do with the body to prevent disease spread will help protect other animals and people on your farm. Proper disposal is also critical in protecting air and water quality. Methods of disposal There are several different ways to … Read more