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Exploring the Learning and Development Farm

Today, I’m at our Learning and Development Farm in Suhum, located in Ghana’s Eastern Region. The farm is bustling as we temporarily house some farmers’ animals. Some of these animals were meant for Nigeria, but due to current protests, it isn’t safe to transport them at the moment.

Reducing Livestock Mortality Rate

Our main focus today is on reducing the mortality rate in livestock. At Farming in Africa, we emphasize five fundamental pillars for a sustainable and profitable livestock agribusiness:

1. Breeds and Genetics

Selecting the right breeds and understanding their genetic makeup is crucial for success.

2. Nutrition

Remember: garbage in, garbage out. Quality feed leads to quality livestock.

3. Animal Health

Regular medication and vaccination are essential to maintain animal health.

4. Farm Management Practices

Effective management practices significantly impact your livestock’s well-being.

5. Infrastructure

Proper infrastructure can help reduce mortality rates among your livestock.

Focus on Good Farm Management Practices

Importance of Biosecurity Measures

Biosecurity measures are critical in preventing infections. I learned their importance during a visit to a pig farm in South Africa, where strict disinfection protocols were enforced. At our farm, we have a foot bath filled with water and disinfectant to minimize the risk of carrying infections into the animal area.

Regular Health Checks

How often do you check the health of your flock? We weigh our animals weekly to monitor progress and adjust nutrition as needed. For example, we once sold a Kalahari Red goat at 65 kg, only to see it drop to 25 kg within a month, prompting immediate corrective measures.

Record Keeping

Keeping detailed records of each animal’s age, health, and breeding history is essential. If you’re not yet using electronic records, even a simple notepad can work. Train your workers to record these details during their daily inspections.

Observation and Monitoring

Regularly observing your animals helps you spot any changes in behavior or health early. This simple step can be the key to timely interventions and reducing losses.

Conclusion

Implementing effective farm management practices can significantly reduce livestock mortality rates. Remember, protecting your offspring is an investment in your farm’s future. Thank you for joining me today—if you have any questions or contributions, please comment below. Don’t forget to like and share this video to help others learn too!

Until next time, goodbye from our beautiful Learning and Development Farm. See you in our next video!