Lesson 2: Health care

Overview

 

Prevention is the key to a healthy livestock operation. I encourage you to be observant and to recognize the signs of illness and stress in animals. I think it is important to monitor each animal at least once a day. Remember: It's really important to promote health through high-quality feed, healthy pastures and low-stress living situations. Medical treatment must be utilized when needed, even if this means animals may lose their organic standing.
 
Just as successful organic crops start with healthy soil, a successful organic livestock operation starts with healthy animals. This requires close and careful attention to animal condition by someone who recognizes the signs of vigor as well as the signs of stress, infection, nutritional deficiencies and other problems.
 
Your system should be set up so that you or someone you trust sees every animal on a regular basis—usually daily, if not more often. The key to organic animal husbandry is preventive health care, and the key to preventive health care is well-informed monitoring of livestock that has been provided a supportive, healthful environment.   
 
Animals are like people—sometimes we get a little stressed out or rundown, and that's when we're most susceptible to illness. If we can get some rest, relax and eat properly, usually we can fight off serious illness before it takes hold. You have to be a good enough manager to notice when an animal isn't quite right. In organic farming, there's no substitute for observation. Due to their many differences, obviously each species on your farm will require a different level and type of observation.