Examining The Environment
3.4 EXAMINING THE ENVIRONMENT
A good AHA always verifies how the animals are managed, as well as the type of shelter, food, water and soil. This becomes especially important when many animals are sick.
Check carefully:
- Food & water sources - Pastures - Shelter & pens - Birthing areas - Number of animals - Space available7 Minerals Soils in tropical countries often lack adequate minerals such as phosphorous. Animals eating forages from these soils may also become deficient in these minerals. This happens especially if animals' diets are not supplemented with minerals using a "mineral-salt block" or a special "feeder" or "tank" of minerals. See page 101. Information on the soil in your area can usually be obtained at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Vitamins Animals can also lack certain vitamins in their diet. Sometimes, feed stored for months in a hot place may lose its vitamins, particularly vitamins A and E. Wet feed can also spoil and lose its vitamins and/or make animals sick.
Poisons If one suspects poisoning, one should check all feed and water sources as well as pastures, pens and shelters where the animals stay. Animals running loose may have easy access to poisons such as rat poison.
- Molds. Moist feed can become moldy. The mold may produce a toxin or poison which can cause illness and death. Molds also make the food less tasty so that the animals do not want to eat it.
- Poisonous plants may also cause problems. During drought periods, some plants concentrate nitrates and become poisonous. Often poisonous plants do not taste good to animals. However, when feed is scarce, hungry animals are more likely to eat poisonous plants.
- Garbage. Some garbage like old car batteries, antifreeze or used motor-oil are poisonous and should not be left where animals can find them.
- Animal feeds.
- Feed can be accidentally contaminated with toxic chemicals.
- Animals may be fed the wrong feed. For example, pig feed may contain enough copper to poison sheep. Horses die if fed Monensin or Rumensin - a common feed additive for livestock.
Water Always check the water source.
- Contamination: If water is contaminated, stagnant, has a dead animal floating in it, or is too warm or cold, animals may not drink it. Thirsty animals may drink from a contaminated water source and become sick.
- Salt poisoning: Pigs receiving salt in their diet and inadequate quantities of water may die due to brain swelling. This is commonly called "salt poisoning" or “salt toxicity”, but is actually due to lack of water. See pages 254, 269, 313.
- Electric currents: If the drinking water source has an electrical current in it, animals may not drink it.
Pasture Animals that are overcrowded or kept continuously in the same pasture will have more problems with internal parasites. If a pasture is overgrazed, it will no longer meet the nutritional needs of the animals.
Shelter Animals need protection from the sun (in hot climates) and wind. Baby pigs need to be kept at about 91 F (33 C), otherwise, they will get diarrhea or pneumonia. Animals closed inside a shelter without fresh air may develop pneumonia. Animals kept in a wet pen frequently develop infected feet and diarrhea.
Crowding Crowding too many animals together in a pen is asking for trouble! They are more prone to many diseases and injuries. Pigs and chickens that are crowded may cannibalize (eat) their pen mates.
Birthing Areas Animals giving birth in dirty conditions often develop uterus infections, and their babies get navel and joint infections as well as diarrhea. Animals should give birth in clean, dry, and "fresh" areas where other animals have not been.
