This document summarizes key factors for animal health on farms, including the importance of healthy soil, adequate nutrition, clean water, shelter, sunlight, movement, and fresh air for livestock. It discusses signs of good health, parasite management, preventative health products, and taking care of basic needs like adequate space, ventilation, and opportunities for animals to rest. The goal is to promote the overall health and welfare of farm animals through a whole-farm approach.

1. Addressing
Animal Health
Issues
Lisa McCrory, Earthwise Farm and Forest
Beginning Women Farmer Conference
March 22 & 23, 2012

2. Healthy Livestock
are part of a
whole farm
system

3. Healthy Soil
starts from the
soil up

4. A good balance of
minerals
and organic matter

5. Biological Life

6. With healthy soils,
you can
produce high
quality feed
for your livestock

10. Beyond Nutritional
Needs
• Clean Water
• Adequate Shelter
• Sunlight
• Freedom of Movement
• Pasture to Graze
• Fresh Air

11. 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

12. Good quality, plentiful
water is important.
It is best to have water
in the paddocks where
the animals are
grazing (during the
grazing season).

13. 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

15. Fresh Air, Comfort

16. Fresh Air, Comfort

17. Know Your Animals

18. Signs of Good
Health
• Glossy Coat
• Bright Eyes
• Good Mobility
• Good Body Condition
• Alert
• Manure –
• Appetite – food and water
• Milk Quality (for dairy animals)

19. Fly Control & Parasite
Management

20. 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.

22. Parasites:
Preventive Strategies
- - Rotational grazing
system plan
- - Know the parasite life
cycles
- - Monitor your livestock
- - multi species grazing
- - rotate pasture and hay
land

23. Health Products used on
Earthwise Farm and Forest

24. Preventive Products on Earthwise
Farm and Forest
Offered Free Choice On hand in case of need
• Minerals, clay minerals • Electrolytes
• Salt • Peppermint liniment
• Kelp • Iodine (teat dip and navel
dip)
• Humates
• Nutritional boluses
• Lotion
• Homeopathic remedies

25. Questions/Discussions
• Lisa McCrory
• Earthwise Farm and
Forest
• www.earthwisefarman
dforest.com
• 802-234-5524
• Lmccrory@hughes.net