If your fields, pastures or farmyards were recently flooded, you need to be aware of some possible associated health risks to livestock, according to Jim Paulson, University of Minnesota Extension educator in dairy.
Paulson offers the following safety tips for livestock producers:
- Make sure all animals have a source of clean, uncontaminated water. Animals on pasture may need a different source of water until ponds or creeks clean up.
- Check all sources of feeds and forages for spoiling and contamination. Flood waters can contaminate feeds, forages and fields. Watch for molds in the field and in stored feed and forages. Feeding of moldy feeds is risky and unhealthy for all animals.
- Standing water may have ruined some pastures or parts of pastures. This may have isolated animals and limited forage supply. Hungry animals may then eat contaminated or poisonous plants.
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