Hurricane Katrina taught us much about our need to be prepared for the unthinkable. We had to learn – the disaster cost over $1 billion in losses to the agriculture, forestry, and fishery industries, according to figures presented by the Louisiana State University AgCenter.

For livestock and dairy producers, the challenge is to prepare for recovery once a disaster strikes. Things to consider prior to a disaster:

 - Do you have ample food for your animals? Will that food be safe from storm damage?

- Where is your water supply? Do you have a secondary source should your primary water source be contaminated?

- Do you know how much food and water your animals need per day to remain healthy?

- Check with your local agricultural agency for information on how to remove salt contamination from water supplies.

- Immunize your animals prior to a disaster to lower pneumonia and other health risks to your herds. Dairy cattle especially should be immunized against mastitis should milking routines be upset.

- Plan for the potential evacuation of your herds. Have veterinary papers for your animals should you need to move them to a safer location.

- Inspect your livestock for injuries or respiratory ailments soon after the emergency and regularly until conditions on your property are back to normal.

- Take care to remove downed trees and foreign objects from grazing areas quickly to avoid accidental poisoning livestock.

- Watch for outbreaks of West Nile virus, encephalitis, water-borne illnesses, botulism, and food-borne illnesses.

- Reduce the potential for blackleg by ensuring animals have dry ground to stand on.

- Treat all injured animals for tetanus.

- Make sure your animals have adequate shelter from the sun and the environment. Sun stroke and heat stroke are a threat should trees be downed and animals are forced outdoors with no shelter.

 Talk with your insurance broker for help in devising a disaster prevention and recovery plan for your livestock. Preparing well before an event can save the lives of your herds, and lower your losses.  

Flickr photo credit: Benjamin-Erin    [technorati code: 5ev7qtbhwm]

Filed under: Agribusiness by afis blogger