MANAGEMENT AND PRINCIPALS OF DROUGHT NUTRITION Flashcards
Name the 2 types of droughts
- Seasonal droughts
- Disastrous periodic droughts
Name the difference between seasonal droughts and
disastrous periodic droughts
Seasonal droughts are those which are reasonably predictable in extent and duration
Disastrous periodic droughts are droughts which exceed normal seasonal patterns and are unpredictable
In a drought a farmer has 3 options:
- Moving animals to graze in other areas
- Culling excess animals
- To apply strategic supplementation
What are the disadvantages of moving animals to other areas in drought conditions?
- Animals are at risk of contracting diseases and consuming toxic plants.
- The cost of transport is significant.
- Animals need to be transported over long distances inducing stress
When should a farmer start supplementary feeding in drought conditions?
Begin feeding animals which are in a good condition when they have lost not more than 15% of their mature, healthy body weight.
What are the effects of starting supplementary feeding in drought conditions too late?
When starting too late the activity of liver and pancreatic enzymes decreases and the animals don’t utilize feed as efficiently as before.
Allowing the animal to lose body weight before supplementary feeding begins is often more costly than maintaining the bodyweight of the animal.
Describe the 5-point condition score of sheep
- Extremely emaciated.
Not possible to detect any fatty tissues between the skin and the bone. - Eye muscle of moderate depth.
Little fat cover.
Transverse processes sharp.
Fingers pass easily under the ends - Eye muscle full.
Moderate fat cover.
Transverse processes smooth and well covered.
Fingers pass easily under the ends - Eye muscle full.
Thick covering of fat.
Ends of transverse process cannot be felt - Very thick fat cover.
Large deposits of fat over the rump and tail
Which animals must a farmer feed supplementary feed during a drought?
- The most sought after and the most expensive to replace after the drought.
- Young breeding stock
- Heavily pregnant and lactating ewes/does
Poor feeding in a late stage of pregnancy leads to losses:
o Pregnancy toxaemia
o Birth of undersized lambs/kids
o Ewes/does that die or exhibit poor mothering ability
o Underdeveloped udders and poor milk yield
What pen conditions must be considered during a supplementary feeding as a result of drought?
- Pens must be close to homestead for intense management as well as saving on labour and transport cost
- Pens should be well-drained and protected from wind
- Pens should be on hard soil so that it does not get too dusty
- Too low stocking density allows energy to be wasted on excess physical activity
- Too high stocking density will result in animals experiencing stressful, unhygienic conditions
- 10–15 cm trough space per lamb/kid
- 15–20 cm trough space per adult animal
- Good quality fresh water must always be available
- Animals must be grouped according to different classes/stages of production
- Flocks must not be larger than 200
- At least 10% roughage must be provided in diet for proper rumen functioning
Define survival feeding
Feeding the amount of feed required to meet the basic requirements of the animal
When drought has subsided, when do we stop supplementary feeding?
The flock must have a BCS above 2 and in a gaining state before supplementary feed is removed.
Name health problems during drought feeding
- Plant poisonings
- Worm infestations
- Salmonellosis
- Coccidiosis
- Acidosis
- Pulpy kidney
- Pneumonic pasteurellosis
- Urinary calculi
- Pregnancy toxaemia
Why are sheep so susceptible to worm infestations, salmonellosis and coccidiosis during a drought?
Due to animals being stressed and often kept in overstocked, unhygienic conditions
Why are sheep so susceptible to pneumonic pasteurellosis in drought conditions?
Because they are usually kept in dry dusty conditions with a Vit A deficiency
