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Signs of Good and Poor Health in

Livestock
Appearance of
the animal
● A healthy animal is aware of its
surroundings
● It stays with its group
● It is interested in its
environment and moves about

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Movement (Gait)
● Walks easily and steadily
with all feet bearing its
weight
● Has regular steps
● If animal is lying down, it
must stand up quickly if
approached

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Eyes of the animal
● Eyes are clear, bright and alert
● Eye sockets should be pinkish
● No discharge at the corners

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Ears of the animal
● Most ears are erect and respond well to sound
● Movements are fast to get rid of flies
● May be used to check body temperature

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Nose and muzzle of the animal
● Nose is clean with no discharge
● Cattle and buffalo: moist muzzle
● Sheep and goat: cool and dry muzzle
● Animal frequently licks nose with tongue

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Coat of the animal
● For short-haired animals (e.g. goat), hair must be smooth
and shiny
● Healthy cattle and buffalo have lick marks shown when
licking their coat
● In poultry, feathers should be smooth and glossy and not
ruffled
● Curly tails in pigs is a sign of good health

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Coat of the animal
● For short-haired animals (e.g. goat), hair must be smooth
and shiny
● Healthy cattle and buffalo have lick marks shown when
licking their coat
● In poultry, feathers should be smooth and glossy and not
ruffled
● Curly tails in pigs is a sign of good health

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Metabolic traits of animals
Respiration rate (per Pulse rate
Animal Temp. (°C)
min.) (per min.)

Cattle 38.7 12-20 40-80

Sheep 39.4 12-30 70-130

Pigs 39.2 10-18 70-80

Horses 37.5 8-12 36-42

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● Sheep and goat: pulse is felt on the inside of the
top of the back leg
● Cattle and buffalo: it is taken at a point on the
underside of the base of the tail
● Horse: inside of the cheek

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Rumination (Appetite)
● Healthy animal will eat until satisfied
● Pigs naturally rush at their feed
● Ruminants chew their cud for 6-8 hours each day

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 2
Sanitation
Sanitation as a biosecurity practice

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Employee Sanitation
Laundry Detergent and Bleach
Provide on-farm laundry facilities Encourage employees to wash
for all employees farm clothing with detergents
and bleach.
Gloves Animal Birth
Provide gloves when frequent Have workers wear some type of
cleaning between animals is medical exam gloves when
necessary. helping with births and maintain
proper hygiene
Hand wash
Have employees wash their
hands before and after milking
animals, working with sick
animals, and working
with young animals.
Task Order
Order tasks so employees work
with younger animals before
working with older
animals. Young animals
are susceptible to diseases
carried by older animals.
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Equipment Sanitation
● Always clean and disinfect equipment
● Clean and disinfect hoof knives, clippers, tattoo pliers, ear taggers,
ear notchers and dehorners between uses.
● Use the farm's own halters and clippers whenever possible.
● Sanitize nursing bottles and buckets before each feeding.
● Don’t use equipment that has handled manure for transporting or
delivering feed.

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Boot Cleaning
Scrub properly Use Disinfectant Disposable boots
Scrub off any visible Soak boots in a clean Provide disposable
dirt before solution of disinfectant booties for visitors
thoroughly mixed according to the and dispose on site.
disinfecting boots. product's directions

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Vehicle (Transport) Sanitation
● Don’t drive over feed delivery or manure handling routes.
● Locate holding pens for animal pickups away from the herd and
barn areas.
● Keep visitor vehicles out of areas that are accessible to livestock.

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Vehicle (Transport) Sanitation
● Have visitors move from younger to older animal groups when
touring the farm.
● Ensure that bedding in trucks is clean and ample when moving
livestock to prevent both injuries and disease.
● Wash and disinfect the outside, inside, and especially the tires
of vehicles that transport livestock to other farms.

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 3

Housing and Space

Management
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 Air
Quality

Structure
Bedding
Area
Adequate
Factors to be Shelter
considered Water
Source Feed

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Cattle Housing
● Must take into consideration the weather, topography, and the
availability of feed and pasture..
● It is important to know all the rules and regulations with respect to
location, design, and type of operation
● t is important to choose a location for buildings and handling
facilities that is on well-drained soil with water drainage away from
bodies of water and population centers.

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Open-sided, single slope roof shed
most typical of structures used and is suitable for all cattle on the farm

Open-sided, clear span pole shed

more space for equipment to remove manure, any side of the building can
be open to the environment.

Former Dairy Barns

renovation costs are usually less than the cost of a new structure, lighting
and ventilation usually adequate

Hoop Barns
One of the least expensive structures similar to a green house.

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Pig Housing
● The pigsty should be comfortable for the pigs: good ventilation and
ample shade, no overheating, no smells, no draft and no dampness.
● The pig building needs to be divided into different pens for each
phase of the production cycle.
● The costs of constructing the pigsty should fit the pig production
systems. An efficient pig production is required to cover high
construction costs.

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Three types of pigsty buildings

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Pig Housing

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Thanks! 
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