As many may have heard, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been found in dairy cattle in multiple states around the United States. Dairy cattle on a farm in Texas first showed unusual symptoms, including an unexpected drop in milk production, thick colostrum-like milk, and changes in manure consistency. On March 25, 2024, the United … Read more
Attention to animal health is important when raising livestock. On organic and alternative farms, it may be even more critical. Due to the limited use of antibiotics and often smaller size, disease introduction and spread can be especially damaging. One tool you can use to help monitor and maintain the health of your livestock is … Read more
Heritage breeds developed over generations and reflect the rich history of livestock. Heritage breeds were bred to keep traits that helped them to adapt to their environment, farming practices, and purpose. Some heritage breeds are currently threatened and facing extinction. Genetic Traits Today, heritage livestock breeds today retain many traits that allow them to survive … Read more
It is important to prioritize the health and welfare of your animals, no matter how you raise your livestock. Organic and alternative livestock farmers can face unique challenges in preventing illness and keeping their animals healthy. Establishing a VCPR with a local Vet is a great place to start. This week’s blog post will discuss … Read more
As many farms across the U.S. are dealing with high temperatures, keeping your livestock cool and comfortable can be challenging. Especially during the hot summer months, it is important to keep your livestock comfortable to prevent stress, decrease the risk of disease, and maximize production. High temperatures require strong management and planning. Monitor weather forecasts … Read more
For organic and alternative farmers, grazing animals is a large part of their feed program. Pasture is convenient and allows for diversified grazing of lands that may not be useful for raising crops. It is important to carefully manage your pastures to prevent overgrazing, soil depletion, and health problems. With proper care, your pastures can … Read more
The Livestock Project has put together a user-friendly disease prevention plan template for organic and alternative farms and ranches. This template can be customized to fit your farm and your goals! Disease preventions actions are needed daily to help ensure the health of your livestock and poultry. These same actions can also help prevent zoonotic … Read more
The Livestock Project has created a Self-Assessment Disease Prevention Checklist for use on organic or alternative livestock and poultry farms. This easy to use checklist can help point out your strengths as well as areas for improvement This short checklist can be printed and filled out, or filled in online and saved. If you participate … Read more
Items moving on and off your farm or ranch can bring disease. Recognizing movement risks can help you prevent them. The Livestock Project has created a Step 1: Movement risks checklist that can help you recognize and think about the types of movements that happen on your operation. In addition, the checklist can help you … Read more
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