Animal Health: the umbrella of livestock heath

 

Animal health is an umbrella term that encompasses animal health from conception to death. Proper animal health starts with proper animal upbringing, which includes providing clean and nutritious food and water, adequate shelter, and good biosecurity. Proper animal health also includes disease prevention and treatment, as well as population management to ensure the long-term viability of the animal production system.

Methods for ensuring livestock health.

When raising livestock, animal health is an important consideration. The health of the animals you raise is critical to their and your success. Some of the most important ways to ensure the health of your livestock are as follows:

• Regularly inspecting the animals' health. Looking for signs of illness, injury, or disease is part of this.
• Vaccinating animals for common diseases.
• Feeding a balanced diet that is tailored to the needs of the animal
• Providing plenty of clean water and adequate shelter
• Ensure that the animals are handled and treated properly during transport, slaughter, and processing.

The value of animal health in the food industry

The food industry places a high value on animal health. Proper animal health can increase output while decreasing disease incidence. Disease can cause significant economic and animal welfare losses.

The food industry has recently placed a greater emphasis on animal health. This is because good animal health can lead to high-quality animal products, which can boost consumer satisfaction and food demand.

There are numerous factors that can have an impact on animal health, both internally and externally. Genetics, diet, environment, infections, parasites, and injuries are all examples of risk factors. Each of these factors can affect an animal's health and well-being and can be addressed to improve their health.

There are numerous methods for improving animal health.

Improving animal health can lead to higher output, lower animal costs, and better animal welfare. Improving feed quality is one way to improve animal health. Increase the number of nutrients and vitamins in the feed, add supplements, or change the feed composition to improve feed quality. Reduce the number of contaminants in the feed to improve feed quality.

Improving animal nutrition is another way to improve animal health. Increase the number of nutrients and vitamins in the feed, add supplements, or change the feed composition to improve animal nutrition.

Improving the environment in which the animals are raised is one way to improve animal welfare. The environment can be improved by reducing the number of pollutants in the air, water, and soil, improving shelter quality, and increasing farm biosecurity.

Animal welfare in research.

Because of the close relationship between animal and human health, animal health is a major topic of research and concern. Animal-human health interactions are thought to account for roughly one-third of all human disease.  Animal health is an important aspect of food safety and public health.

Animal health is a broad subject that includes animal biology, animal behavior, veterinary medicine, food safety, and public health. It is also a rapidly expanding field due to the increasing number of animals and their interactions with humans. Animal health researchers are constantly developing new methods and technologies to maintain and improve the health of animals and humans.

One of the primary goals of animal health research is to create methods for preventing and treating animal diseases. Animal diseases can be financially and psychologically devastating to both the animals and the people who raise them.

The subject of animal health is complicated.

Animal health is a complicated subject with no single answer to every question. Every animal is unique, as are all situations. This means that no single approach is always the best solution. It is critical to work with a veterinarian who is familiar with your specific situation and your animals in order to receive the most effective animal health care possible.

When it comes to animal health, there are a few key points to remember. First and foremost, always ensure that your animals are receiving the best possible food and water. Second, be on the lookout for any changes in behavior or appearance. If you notice any unusual symptoms, take your animals to the vet as soon as possible.

Finally, be ready to answer any questions that your veterinarian may have. You can help ensure that your animals receive the best possible care by becoming familiar with animal health. 

Heat Management in Poultry Birds' Brooding

Heat management in poultry birds' brooding is the monitoring and controlling of the form of energy that is transferred by a difference in the temperature of the poultry pen. It is highly important to have a maximum control of the room temperature at the stipulated temperature of 35 °C, which is the required room temperature for day-old chicks for the first 3 days.

You might be wondering why heat is essential?

To give an answer to your question, Let me start with this: since they are also living things, they go through some cycles that involve fertilization, egg formation, and hatching. During the process of hatching, the egg undergoes a level of temperature which helps in the development of the chicks inside the eggshell. Which brings me to the real point: they need time to adjust to the temperature outside the shell and to solidify their body systems, just like human beings.

What form of heat source can I use?

We have various heat sources, be it firewood, charcoal, lanterns, electric bulbs, electric heaters, stoves, etc. But not all the listed sources can be used in brooding houses as a source of heat. The most common heat sources used by poultry farmers are: lanterns, charcoal, brooding gas lamps, electric heaters, and bulbs. Most of these heat sources are easy to monitor and regulate to get a good result.

When should I start and stop using heat?

Knowing when to start and when to stop things brings out the perfection of the thing. This is applicable to brooding; you need to know when to introduce the heat, likewise the withdrawal period. It is best to introduce the heat into the brooding room a day before the arrival of the chicks to regulate the room temperature and humidity. Adjustment of the temperature on their arrival might not be conducive for some of the birds. A heat source is only needed during the first 3 days; after that, the temperature will be adjusted gradually till they have all their feathers grown, which should be at the age of 4 weeks old.

How will I know if the temperature is high or low?

To confirm the brooding house temperature, it is recommended to use a thermometer to have an accurate room temperature and humidity. In cases where this device is not available, check the activity of the birds to see if they cluster towards the heat source or move far away from it. Clustering means there is a drop in temperature while running away from feed and heat source shows excess heat. To get this right, ensure you feel heat when you are inside the room, about to sweat and not suffocating.

In conclusion, ensure you avoid using heat sources that produce smoke to avoid carbon monoxide buildups, which can lead to chronic respiratory disease (CRD) and other diseases in birds. Don't forget to share your experiences with us in the comment section. 

How To Raise Poultry Birds From Day-Old

Raising poultry birds from day-olds has always been an act most poultry farmers avoid. This is becoming a general attitude among most farmers nowadays. Even those that do raise theirs from a day-old are opting out of doing so. This is caused by so many challenges being faced by farmers from day-olds to the third week of their age.

Some Common Challenges Faced During the Brooding of Chicks

There are a lot of challenges encountered during the brooding of chicks, which usually lead to the total loss of the birds or the nursing of diseases among the flock throughout their lifetime. Some challenges include:

Heat Regulation: Most farmers find it difficult to get the accurate room temperature of the brooding house, which leads to the birds' clustering or running towards the wall to find a breezeway. This can lead to casualties and disease breeding amidst them.

Poor Litter Quality: The use of wood shavings has been the most common litter used in poultry farm management. Some farmers used other means like rice husks, shafts, etc. Most fail to understand the main reason behind litters in brooding, which is to absorb moisture released by the birds.

Ammonia Production: Excess moisture released by the birds through their droppings or clustering can lead to ammonia buildup, mostly if the shavings fail to absorb moisture. Likewise, the means of heat used are significant. Some use lanterns, stoves, charcoals, etc., and it's best to always check if there is no smoke produced from them.

Feed and Water Quality: The chicks need very high quality and chlorine-free water. They require regular water to avoid dehydration and a drop in their immune systems. Feeding assists a lot during this time frame. Starvation of the birds will lead to malnutrition, which is very dangerous to their health.

Lighting: It's best to give the birds a source of light for a full week to enable them to eat enough, grow feathers, and strengthen their immune systems.

These challenges are the most common issues faced by farmers during brooding, and they lead to complications. To avoid any of these issues and have a successful brood, some measures need to be established, which include:

✓ An excellent medication chart that will help to guide you throughout your production season. This is not only for the next 4 weeks, but for the whole production.

✓ Constantly check the birds to avoid clustering and to observe any changes in character.

✓ Always clean the surroundings of the feeders and drinkers to avoid any ammonia buildup. They constantly use these locations, and deposit their droppings there, leading to buildups of ammonia.

✓ Remove any sick birds or anyone acting strangely amidst them, to avoid the spread of disease and to have a good observation of what's about to come.

✓ Clean the navel of the chicks with spirit, or any mint upon arrival to avoid infection and reduce the mortality rate.

A successful poultry farm is not only in the management but also in your attitude and consistency. Your experiences and questions will be appreciated. Do share them for all to learn in the comment box.

How To Make Money From Noiler Chicken

Poultry farming consists of different breeds that are kept for meat and eggs. The most common breeds of chicken are broiler, layer, and cockerel. Noiler are a newly developed breed by Amobyn for smallholder farmers. They are known as dual-purpose birds for their meat and eggs.

Noiler is a new type of breed developed by AMO Sieberer Hatchery Limited in 2008, and the project started in 2003 with the commercial sales of Noiler chicks in 2014. The breed is raised in West African countries, including Nigeria.

To some farmers, the name Noiler is not strange to them. They are already in the system, but most have little or no idea of how profitable they are and the guiding rules for running this breed. Some concentrate on egg production, while others concentrate on meat production. The most profitable part of Noiler is the breeding purpose, which is becoming popular now.

NOILER CHICKEN CHARACTERISTICS

They are known for their high growth rate, colors, and adaptability. They have a variety of colors, which include white, gold, black, brown, and gray. Furthermore, they have some characteristics of local birds, which include adaptiveness to harsh weather and scavenging for food if placed on free-range. Likewise, they lay 140 to 160 eggs throughout their lifetime, with the first laying starting at 20 weeks to 22 weeks of age.

Making a big profit from Noiler Chicken is not from selling eggs or meat. To make it big in NOILER production, you need to focus on breeders; that is, you're going to start crossing the birds neither through natural mating nor artificial insemination. There are some things you need to follow that will help you succeed in this business.

HOUSING

In my articles, "Becoming a Successful Farmer" and "How to Set Up a Poultry Farm," I stated the importance of having a good house on a livestock farm, mostly a poultry farm. It is important to have an intensive farming system by housing the birds inside a cage or deep-liter system. A cage system is used when practicing artificial insemination (AI), while a deep-liter system is used when practicing natural mating.

BIRDS SELECTION AND PURCHASE

Depending on your level of experience in farming, going for day-old chicks of NOILER is best in order to have proper monitoring in terms of feeding, medication, and vaccination schedule. If you are not expert enough to handle a day-old chick, go for a 4 week old NOILER.

SORTING

No matter how good or experienced you are at poultry farming, you are bound to experience some having faster growth than others. Once they clock 8 weeks of age, sort the small ones from the big ones. If possible, remove all the males from the flock.

BREEDING

At the time they start laying, the ratio of male to female shouldn't exceed 1 male to 6 females to have a good result, but 1:5 is good. The standard ratio is 1:10. The results from the experience are not encouraging.

HATCHING

The reason behind putting the male in with the female is mainly for fertilization. A female will always lay eggs, whether they are mated or not. That's why fertilization is important. Ensure you observe the flock to confirm successful mating among them, and wait 2 weeks before picking eggs that will be taken for hatching. Hatching always takes 21 days, giving you the opportunity to always take the eggs to the hatchery every week, mostly on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the hatchery you are using. You can visit a commercial hatchery, or you can set up your own incubator, which you will use to hatch your eggs if you have the capacity.

MARKETING AND SALES

NOILER day-old chicks have never required any marketing skill or connection, nor does it involve any stress. All you need to do is visit your hatchery at the time of pick-up of your hatched birds; the marketers are always there to plead for your birds. You have multiple choices for negotiation without stress.

In conclusion, making it big in NOILER production is possible, but be prepared for any unforeseen disease to avoid complications and delay in egg production. In every commercial hatchery, you pay per egg, which is not too much, and it's for renting space inside their incubator. Don't forget to share your experiences and questions in the comment box.

Becoming A Successful Farmer: What You Need To Know

Farming, as we all know, is the practice of cultivating the land or raising animals, which is mostly considered an occupation or a way of life. Everyone is aware that farming is divided into two major categories: cropping systems and livestock production.

Success is not what can be attained in a day, but through a lot of effort, commitment, mistakes, and guidance from others. To become a successful farmer, you must have acquired great knowledge about the part of farming you are envisioning.

In today's Nigeria, we can all testify to the debasement of the economy, which can be seen in the increasing inflation rate of commodities. The agricultural sector of Nigeria faces many challenges which impact on its productivity, which include climate change, land degradation, the poor land tenure system, bad roads, etc.

Why did you want to start farming?

This is a very important question, to which I believe you should have gotten an answer. However, you have still yet to answer this question. Let me elaborate a bit on this to help you in your decision-making.

There are a series of personal reasons for starting a farm, whether venturing into cropping systems or livestock production. As the farmers slogan says, "No Farmer, No Nation", this proves that, without food, no living being on earth will be able to survive for long. All reasons for starting a farm can be categorized into two categories:

Consumption: In the local region, you will observe a lot of domestic animals in free-range, which are mostly for personal consumption. There are a lot of families out there that have backyard farms that might be pot-raised plants or cultivated on land. Vegetables and plantains/bananas fall into this category, which is mainly for home consumption.

You might be wondering why they are facing this kind of stress, I will say, most of the people in this category believe in fresh foods and possibly organic foods, which we all know are very good for our health. You can also join them today.

Profit Purpose: The unemployment rate in Nigeria today is increasing every day. This is happening because we are having graduates produced every year and our job creation level is very low. Income generated from salary is no longer enough to take care of daily home expenses; savings are nothing to write home about.

They invested in farming to cover for all possible financial lapses that they might be facing, or possibly they are investing in their future, much like a retirement fund. If you fall into this category, you’ve really thought well, and I congratulate you on the great step you have taken.

Where To Start If You Have Never Farmed Before?  

Farming, as it’s been stated earlier, has been divided into two sections: cropping systems and livestock production. Decision-making is very important in every step one needs to take in life; this can’t be done without having guiding steps to take. All you need to do to "become a successful farmer" includes:

Step 1: Start If You Have Never Farmed Before

Your passion determines which aspect of life you truly belong in. you need to seek more advice on what you want to do base on the available resources, passion and motive. All agricultural practices and sector are profitable, be it family consumption or profit making.

Step 2: Reserve a Spot

No matter what part of farming you are planning to venture into, space is very important. It might be your backyard space, family land, or a rented portion of land. This will be the place to cultivate or raise your animals to success without any external negative effects until you are ready for further expansion.

Step 3: Locate a Source of Funding

Finance is the backbone of all the investments that I know. This can be done through loans, family support, or personal savings. If you are cultivating a land, you will need money to purchase all of the necessary materials, and livestock production requires money to purchase the animals and nurse them to term. Not having enough funds readily available might lead to a crisis when an emergency occur that need to be tackled immediately. Don't be deceived, issues might happen during farming. That's why we need to be prepared.

Step 4: Plan Your Farm's Success

As the adage says, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Planning requires you to have a business plan, which does not necessarily have to be a professional one, depending on how big your dreams are. For a farm to become great and successful, you need to target your breakeven time.

Step 5: Plan Your Marketing Channels

In any business, marketing is one of the most important parts of their planning. Getting farm produce to final consumers has to go through some channels: from the farm to marketers, to wholesalers, to retailers, and finally, to final consumers.

You are the determinant of your success. The aspects of farming are too broad to be covered all in just one article. Likewise, expect more articles on this blog that will draw on more personal experiences from my daily activities on the farm and also from some of my partners and seniors in this field. Feel free to add more of your experiences, questions, and views in the comment section.