Early Planning Key to Livestock Safety
UK - The winter weather can be tough on livestock and animals may need a little extra protection at this time of year.Making a contingency plan can make all the difference in keeping livestock safe and sound in extreme weather conditions.
Vet John Blackwell, President Elect of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), has some advice for farmers as the weather gets colder.
He said: "At this time of year it can be tempting to ignore weather warnings and assume forecasters are being overly cautious. But given the cost of being caught out, unable to reach animals who may be hungry or in distress, I’d encourage farmers to exercise extra caution this winter.
"Consider moving animals from high ground before extreme weather arrives or at least make sure there is fodder ready on site. Water provision needs to be checked as well to make sure animals can survive if temporarily stranded."