In many rural areas, livestock production is a major source of food and livelihood. Hence, focusing on the sustainability of livestock farming is of extreme importance in today’s world. Due to a huge increase in population over the last century, there is an ever-increasing demand for meat production, which is expected to rise even further in the future. This is why the significance of investing in measures that serve to increase output in meat production should not be ignored by the up-and-coming companies in the agriculture industry.
However, due to a lack of awareness and the employment of money-making shortcuts to increase livestock production, some farms may resort to using unethical ways for higher profits. Acts such as inappropriate husbandry, lack of care, ignoring festering diseases and parasites, etc. result in an unhealthy and less productive batch of livestock.
To achieve favorable results and profits, ranchers and farmworkers must act with care towards their livestock. Things such as their nutrient intake and diet should be monitored regularly in order to produce meat that sells well. There are numerous methods through which the output from cattle farming can be improved by paying attention to the animals’ health.
Here are some of the ways farms can put emphasis on their livestock’s health and productivity:
Monitoring Health
Animals are susceptible to various diseases and bacteria, some that can even be found in the soil. Therefore, monitoring their diseases and regular health checkups are great ways to ensure that they stay healthy. If the animals are sick, they will not produce the output required by the company, which has clear repercussions as the product itself is not fit for further production.
A great way to monitor the livestock’s health is to use technological solutions. Some innovations allow farm owners to check when their animals aren’t in the best of health by using sensors for heat detection and stomach acid. This can give the farm owner context for the reasons why the animal may not be feeling well. Similarly, other technological solutions can be employed to help with an animal’s pregnancy or monitor the amount of exercise they need and the amount of exercise they get.
Ensuring Good Feed
Making sure that the animals receive the food they require to remain healthy can immensely improve their performance. Feed high in nutrients has obvious nutritional benefits, but generally prioritizing good quality feed can result in improved levels of production. This is reflected in their increased level of productivity. Furthermore, using kernel processors on farms has also proved to increase livestock production as it includes processes such as grinding, flaking, and steamrolling which bring out the nutritional value in the feed.
Keeping the animals’ water intake into account and ensuring clean water for the animals is also necessary to keep them healthy. Most livestock animals need large amounts of water every day, therefore, drinking contaminated water can have regressive effects on their health. Water is important as it allows animals to maintain a balanced body temperature in different weathers, and also helps them eat the adequate amount of food they require.
Nutrient Management
Farmworkers must pay attention to the nutritional needs of an animal to keep the livestock healthy. In recent years, scientific research has found the exact percentages of the different kinds of nutrients one should give their livestock in order to keep them healthy and of good quality to supply to the market.
Hence, animals should be fed nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, but they should be monitored closely. An excess or a lack of these nutrients can have detrimental effects. Therefore, it is very important to maintain balance. Different animals need different levels of these nutrients.
Lactating cows, for example, need approximately 32% to 38% of undegradable protein and 62% to 68% of degradable protein in order to balance their nitrogen supply. If this balance is not followed, it can result in the absorption of nitrogen into the blood supply or the excess of nitrogen can be excreted in the feces, which affects the soil. The animal’s body may also ingest the nutrients if they are in excess which has consequences on the quality of meat produced at the farm.
While this balance may be difficult to strike, it is important to keep the animals healthy. Nitrogen, for example, allows ruminants (animals with four compartments in their stomachs, such as cows, sheep, and goats) to contribute to the growth of rumen microorganisms that help them produce Microbial Crude Protein. Phosphorus also has advantages, such as producing milk and metabolizing the animals’ fat, carbohydrates and proteins. Therefore, it cannot be omitted from their diet.
Using Additives
Enforcing measures such as giving the animals additives, hormones, and supplements can increase livestock performance if done carefully and under the supervision of a veterinarian. These can improve feed efficiency, growth rates and can keep the animals healthy by improving nutrient efficiency.
Conclusion
Prioritizing the health of a farm’s livestock not only has the desired business results of better productivity but also results in a reduced carbon footprint. The attention placed on the betterment of the livestock not only allows one to benefit from higher profits but also works to reduce the costs of running the farm and increases output in meat production. This works well for businesses as it helps them keep up with the high demand for meat production.
