Accurate Record Keeping&

Proper Care and Handling

Dr. Qazi Muhammad AwaisRCVetS, Lahore.

Keeping records is an important part of any livestock operation/project.

Accurate records let you identify specific animals for medication, analyze your efficiency, and find changes you could make to improve your operation/project.

Any records kept are better than no records at all.

Keeping Records

Animal IdentificationProper identification is key to good

management. If each animal is clearly identified, keeping records on treatments becomes a lot easier. Ear tag at county weight in Ear notch and/or tag – Swine Tattoo – Breeding Beef

Animal Identification

Keeping Accurate Records

Three main areas of record keepingIndividual Animal Records

Process Verification

Production Records

Individual Animal Records

Lets you know which animal belongs to whom.

Allows you compare performance of these animals:Selecting replacement femalesSelecting animals for your projectDetermining rate of gain

Process VerificationAny time you use medications or growth

promotants in your livestock project, it is important identify the individual animal and their treatments.

Animal IDDateProductDosageMethod of treatment (I.M., S.Q., I.V.)Location of injection (neck)Who administered itWithdrawal times (label)

Feed Records

It is very important to read your feed labels and keep copies of your feed labels.

Keep records on how much you feed an individual animal. (production records)

Production RecordsProduction records let you

measure animal and business performance.Examples:Average daily gainWeaning weightsLitter weightsPounds of milk in dairy cattle

Production Records

Business records can show how profitable the operation is.

Records from different years can be compared to see how your livestock project has progressed.

Care and Handling

The way you care for your animals can have a big impact on how they will grow and how they will behave.

Animal Needs

Three basic needs all animals have.FeedWater Environment

FeedFeed will be covered in more

detail a little later, but you need to be sure they have the proper ration for the kind of growth you expect.

WaterMake sure water is clean and

fresh.Would you rather drink clean or

muddy water?Make sure they have enough

water everyday.Water is critical for survival and

growth.

EnvironmentAnimal Environment Includes:

Space

Temperature

Cleanliness

Space

Is there enough space for the animal to eat, sleep and exercise?

Use space requirement tables to determine how much space an animal needs.references upon request

Environment

Temperature

Different animals prefer different temperatures, this is called their comfort zone.

Production variables can decline if an animal is outside it’s comfort zone for too long.

Environment

Ways To Control TemperatureHeat

Misting systemsSprinkle area (evaporative cooling)Fans (air movement)Shade (prevents radiation)

ColdDeeper bedding (insulation)Shelter (prevent drafts)House animals together to increase body

heat exchange.

CleanlinessClean environment reduces the amount

and spread of disease organisms.Regular removal of waste doesn’t allow

for the growth of microorganisms which may lead to digestive or respiratory problems.

Manure build up also provides an environment for fly populations to multiply.

Environment

HandlingHandling animals carefully is another

way to prevent injury or physical contamination of meat (bruising,etc.).

Animals two main instincts are fight or flight.

Slow quiet movements.Reduce the use of buzzers and prods.Interaction at feeding time.

The Flight Zone

StressHeat, cold or excitement can all cause

stress.Changes in feed, illness or movement

can also cause stress.Stress can ultimately reduce appetite,

production and also effect the quality of meat they produce.

Reducing StressHave animal well broke to reduce

excitement of the show.Keep animals on regular feeding and

exercise schedule.Get animals accustomed to strange or

flavored water.Try not to mix animals at shows to

avoid fighting.

1. Accurate records are essential for tracking medications given and performance characteristics in livestock projects.

2. Proper care and handling of livestock animals ensures the safety and well being of both you and your animal.

Conclusion