07/25/2024
Yesterday, we shared information from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Today, we'd like to share additional information about livestock and poor air quality.
What can you do to help large animals in a prolonged period of smoke and haze?
⚠️Limit exercise when smoke is visible. Animals should not be required to perform activities that substantively increase airflow into and out of the lungs.
⚠️Provide plenty of fresh water near feeding areas.
⚠️Limit dust exposure by feeding low-dust or dust-free feeds and sprinkling or misting the livestock holding area.
⚠️Plan to give livestock 4 to 6 weeks to recuperate after the air quality returns to normal. Attempting to handle, move, or transport livestock may delay healing and compromise your animals’ performance.
⚠️Have a livestock evacuation plan ready in advance. If you don't have enough trailers to transport all of your animals quickly, contact neighbors, local haulers, farmers, producers, or other transportation providers to establish a network of reliable resources that can provide transportation in the event you need to evacuate your animals.
⚠️Good barn and field maintenance can reduce fire danger for horses and other livestock. Ensure barns and other structures are stable, promptly remove dead trees, clear away brush, and maintain a defensible space around structures.
