Dairy Animal Care: Heat is no longer just a season but has become a big problem for animal farmers. As the temperature is increasing, its effect is becoming visible on milch animals like cows, buffaloes etc. Many animals have started becoming lethargic, eating less fodder and milk production has also started decreasing. This problem has increased further due to suddenly changing weather, strong sunlight and light rain. If proper care is not taken in time, livestock farmers may suffer huge financial losses due to disease and decline in milk production.
Immunity is weak
According to veterinarian Kunwar Ghanshyam (KVK Noida), by adopting some easy measures in summer, animals can be kept healthy and dairy earnings can be saved. He says that this is the best time for vaccination of milch animals. If vaccines are administered on time during the summer season, serious diseases like fever, FMD, HS and black quarter can be prevented. The immunity of animals becomes weak in summer, hence small carelessness can cause major diseases.
Give clean and cold water 2-3 times
Apart from this, it is important to pay special attention to the diet of milch animals in summer. They should be given as much green fodder, balanced grains and mineral mixture as possible, so that essential nutrients are retained in the body and there is less impact on milk production. Lack of water is also a big danger in summer, hence animals should be fed clean and cool water 2-3 times a day. Sometimes adding a little salt to water helps in maintaining the mineral balance.
provide shade with straw or sackcloth
An easy way to provide relief to animals in the heat is to bathe them regularly. Animals should be bathed every day or at least every alternate day. This controls body temperature and reduces heat stress. This is even more important especially for buffaloes. Apart from this, keep the shed well ventilated, provide shade with grass or sackcloth and arrange for fans or water sprinklers wherever possible. This coolness can protect animals from diseases.
timely watering and regular bathing
If animals fall ill in summer, the first thing that happens is that milk production decreases, which affects the dairy’s earnings. Experts say that if vaccination, water system, green fodder and coolness are taken care of, then the animals remain healthy and milk production remains normal. Small measures like clean shed, timely watering and regular bathing can prevent major losses.
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