Farmers urged to take care in winter

WITH the onset of winter in the country, farmers have been advised to take precautionary measures during the lambing and kidding season of their livestock.

The current lambing season results from mating in December and January.

Other lambing and kidding seasons include September/October and March/April, which in turn can be mating seasons.

Erastus Ngaruka, livestock technical adviser for Agribank’s Advisory Services Division, says the survival and performance of animals depend on timely management interventions.

He says this starts with the preparation of breeding stock for mating, care during pregnancy and birth, and care of the young towards weaning.

“This includes a supply of enough feed and water throughout, administering all necessary vaccinations, protecting against adverse environmental conditions, and maintaining a clean farm/kraal environment,” he says.

Ngaruka says all necessary equipment and remedies must be obtained in advance to provide first aid during complications.

Antibiotics for bacterial illnesses or conditions such as retained placentas, diarrhoea, eye infections and navel conditions should be available at all times, for example.

He says small stock farmers have a big task at hand to ensure this lambing and kidding season progresses well so that production targets can be met.

Generally, animals’ breeding activities take place during seasons or times most favourable to their bodily functions and well-being.

During winter, extra care against the cold is needed, and farmers are advised to construct a shelter or housing structure to protect and keep animals warm – especially the most vulnerable ones.

Ngaruka says one of the cheapest and simplest practices is to dig a trench in the ground where lambs and kids can be kept overnight.

“Generally, animals generate or increase their body heat through metabolism, therefore it is advisable to ensure that your goats and sheep have enough roughage feed during winter,” he says.

Ngaruka says most mortalities among lambs and kids in winter result from cold stress, hunger and parasite infestation.

Some of the health conditions in small stock are predisposed by unhygienic kraals.

“Most of the time lambs and kids are kept in the kraals for long, and are thus directly exposed to these conditions. Dust inhalation and cold stress can result in lung and eye infections,” he says.

Another major problem is internal and external parasite infestation.

According to Ngaruka, the most problematic external parasites attacking lambs and kids in winter are mites, lice and fleas.

He says common signs of infestation by these parasites are irritation (restlessness, head shaking, scratching or itching), hair loss and anaemia.

These parasites can be controlled by dipping or spraying the animals with antiparasitic remedies, he says.

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