GPP 1 - Accurate Record Keeping & GPP 4 - Proper Care and Handling Dean Fish Arizona Cooperative Extension Santa Cruz County

Good Production Practice #1 Keeping Accurate Records

Keeping records is an important part of any livestock operation/project. Accurate records let you identify specific animals for medication, analyze your efficiency, and find changes you could make to improve your operation/project. Any records kept are better than no records at all. Keeping Records

Animal Identification Proper identification is key to good management. If each animal is clearly identified, keeping records on treatments becomes a lot easier. Ear tag at county weight in Ear notch and/or tag – Swine Tattoo – Breeding Beef

Animal Identification

Keeping Accurate Records Three main areas of record keeping Individual Animal Records Process Verification Production Records

Lets you know which animal belongs to whom. Allows you compare performance of these animals: Selecting replacement females Selecting animals for your project Determining rate of gain Individual Animal Records

Process Verification Any time you use medications or growth promotants in your livestock project, it is important identify the individual animal and their treatments. Animal ID Date Product Dosage Method of treatment (I.M., S.Q., I.V.) Location of injection (neck) Who administered it Withdrawal times (label)

Feed Records It is very important to read your feed labels and keep copies of your feed labels. Keep records on how much you feed an individual animal. (production records)

Production Records Production records let you measure animal and business performance. Examples: Average daily gain Weaning weights Litter weights Pounds of milk in dairy cattle

Production Records Business records can show how profitable the operation is. Records from different years can be compared to see how your livestock project has progressed.

Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care and Handling

The way you care for your animals can have a big impact on how they will grow and how they will behave. Care and Handling

Animal Needs Three basic needs all animals have. Feed Water Environment

Feed Feed will be covered in more detail a little later, but you need to be sure they have the proper ration for the kind of growth you expect.

Water Make sure water is clean and fresh. Would you rather drink clean or muddy water? Make sure they have enough water everyday. Water is critical for survival and growth.

Environment Animal Environment Includes: Space Temperature Cleanliness

Space Is there enough space for the animal to eat, sleep and exercise? Use space requirement tables to determine how much space an animal needs. references upon request Environment

Temperature Different animals prefer different temperatures, this is called their comfort zone. Production variables can decline if an animal is outside it’s comfort zone for too long. Environment

Ways To Control Temperature Heat Heat Misting systems Sprinkle area (evaporative cooling) Fans (air movement) Shade (prevents radiation) Cold Cold Deeper bedding (insulation) Shelter (prevent drafts) House animals together to increase body heat exchange.

Cleanliness Clean environment reduces the amount and spread of disease organisms. Regular removal of waste doesn’t allow for the growth of microorganisms which may lead to digestive or respiratory problems. Manure build up also provides an environment for fly populations to multiply. Environment

Handling Handling animals carefully is another way to prevent injury or physical contamination of meat (bruising,etc.). Animals two main instincts are fight or flight. Slow quiet movements. Reduce the use of buzzers and prods. Interaction at feeding time.

The Flight Zone

Stress Heat, cold or excitement can all cause stress. Changes in feed, illness or movement can also cause stress. Stress can ultimately reduce appetite, production and also effect the quality of meat they produce.

Reducing Stress Have animal well broke to reduce excitement of the show. Keep animals on regular feeding and exercise schedule. Get animals accustomed to strange or flavored water. Try not to mix animals at shows to avoid fighting.

1. Accurate records are essential for tracking medications given and performance characteristics in livestock projects. 2. Proper care and handling of livestock animals ensures the safety and well being of both you and your animal. Conclusion