A good management program provides the environment, housing and care that permit animals to grow,mature, reproduce and maintain good health.
All livestock need protection from climatic extremes even in moderate climatic regions primarily to insure survival of animals for continued production and reproduction.
Protection includes trees,solid-roofed shades in hot weather and fence line windbreaker or open sheds in cold weather.
Shelter should be accessible to all animals,have sufficient ventilation and be designed to prevent build-up of waste materials and excessive moisture.Ventilation is imperative. Appropriate ventilation is keyfor gaits of all ages but especially kids; poor ventilation is a common cause of Pneumonia in goat kids.
Excessive build-up of animal waste and stagnant water should be avoided as it harbors animal diseases such as foot rot that causes lameness hence reduction of feeding time leading to thin animals eventually death.
The necessity for sheltering livestock probably relates to the expected weather pattern in the area,the nutritional level and body condition of the herd,the physiological stage of the animal (newborn, pregnantanimal,lactating animal) and class of animals.
For example,in Botswana the rains come after a dry season for livestock especially sheep and goats. Most smallstock around the country is thin and weak due to insufficient animal feed in the rangeland therefore special precautions need to be taken when the rains come to avoid death by hypothermia. This is because thin goats are vulnerable to respiratory infection and to hypothermia.
Young animals are also susceptible to pneumonia and hypothermia hence the need to provide them with shelter during the rainy season.
Research has shown that continuous heavy rains( 24 hours to longer) can lead to high death rates in susceptible goats irrespective of speed of wind. Also high winds and unpredictable intense storms can also cause death in all livestock. This is more reason to provide shelter during the rainy season.
On the other hand, most people think winter is the most important time to provide shelter but an animal’s natural coat can allow them to tolerate much colder temperatures than people can. Summer heat can by far; be harder on animals than winter if shade is not available to them either by trees or structures if they are out on pasture, or lack of ventilation in a barn or building.
To avoid heat stress in cattle, provide them with shelter to shade from direct sun,this will reduce the extra heat load they take on by up to 50 per cent. Heat stress and exhaustion should not occur if cattle are able to find shade and rest during the hottest part of the day. Heat stress causes low production in livestock.
It has been shown that cattle prefer shade over water in hot conditions and will spend more time resting and less time chewing their cud as the ambient temperature increases.
Good housing also provides for an area where livestock can feed and produce to its optimal. For example smallstock will need to be feed when they didn’t manage to graze during heavy rains. In Botswana where soils lack calcium and phosphorous,animals will need to fed these feeds all here round hence the need for animal housing.
One of the over looked function of livestock housing is isolation. Sick animals ought to live in an area reserved specifically for them. They should particularly be protected from cohabitationwith other farm animals.
Remember, rational use of housing is crucial for survival and profitability of a livestock enterprise.
