Methods
of disease prevention will vary according to the particular causal agent and in
some cases he species of animal but there are some few measures which have
general application.
Quarantine
All
newly purchased animals should be isolated and kept separately under
observation for a period of 10days. During this period nay sign of ill health should
be noticed and treated appropriately before the animal is introduce to the
herd. This is important because it prevents the introduction of disease from
outside. While in isolation the animal should be deqormed deticked and given a
broad spectrum antibiotics.
Vaccination
Animals
should be vaccinated against preventable diseases such as at the right time and
age.
Avoid overcrowding
Animals
should be overcrowded in a pen or house. Overcrowding allows for easy spread of
disease particularly contagious disease such as disease cause by parasites and
fungi.
Separate sick from
healthy animals
One
an animal shows any sign of ill health
be separated from the healthy ones and treated in isolation. This is to prevent
it spreading the disease to others. When the animal is considered fully
recovered it should then be reintroduced. Young animals should be housed
separately adult animals may have infection agents to which they acquired resistance
and do not therefore suffer from the disease but young animals are susceptible and may catch and
develop disease.
Toxic materials
This
should be kept away from animal certain chemical compounds and plants are
poisonous and may cause disorder water. Animals grazing on good pasture tend to
avoid poisonous plants.
Avoid under nutrition
Under
nutrition is a major disease causing error in a farm particularly seen in
animals entirely dependent on grazing bare pasture or those under confinement
but not properly feed. This apart from causing a disease problem of its own
lowers the resistance of the animal to other diseases.
Regular dipping/
spraying
Animals
should be dipped or sprayed regularly against external parasites such as ticks
and flees. This should be done more often during the rainy season. External
parasite causes irritation on the animal and some are agents of disease when
external parasites are left unchecked they have the overall effect of
decreasing productivity.
Regular deworming
Deworm
animals with broad spectrum anthelminthic once a month during the rainy season
and less frequently during the dry season.