Sheltering Livestock During Rainy Season

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

In Botswana rains come after a dry season, and due to insufficient animal feed in the rangeland livestock become thin and weak, therefore livestock especially small stock need to be provided with shelter to avoid death by hypothermia and respiratory infection ( Pneumonia). Young animals are also vulnerable to respiratory infection and hypothermia hence the need for sheltering.

Most people think winter is the most important to provide shelter but summer heat by far; be harder than winter if sheltering is not provided. Heat stress is the number one killer of livestock during summer, which in Botswana and other parts of Southern Africa is also the rainy season.

Good sheltering or housing includes providing isolation area,feeding area,watering area and well ventilated housing that is clean to avoid spread of diseases such as Footrot.

DISEASES TO LOOK OUT FOR DURING THE RAINY SEASON
1. Pasteurellosis
2. Footrot
3. Aphosphorosis
4. Lumpyskin
5. Pulpykidney

(Photo: M. Gaspar/IAEA)