The Rural Voice, 1989-06, Page 58ADVICE
FENCING IMPROVES
ANIMAL HEALTH
Fencing to keep livestock away from
watercourses has direct benefits for
livestock producers:
• decreases the nutrients from ma-
nure entering streams, ponds and lakes
• improves water quality for drinking
and wildlife habitat
• enhances aesthetic value
• reduces livestock mortality rate
• reduces maintenance requirements
• increases recreation potential
Farmers who rely on a watercourse
where unrestricted access occurs risk
poor herd performance, disease, and
even the death of animals.
Animals prefer clear, clean water
and will reduce their intake of water that
is dirty or has an off -taste or odour.
Reduced water consumption in turn
reduces feed intake and performance.
Water must be considered a critical
component of a feed program. If your
stock relies on a watercourse for a major
portion of its water supply, you may be
losing out on production potential.
Water need not always be dirty or
foul-smelling to reduce herd perform-
ance. What you can't see in the water —
bacteria, viruses, and parasites — may
be your worst enemy. Salmonellosis,
brucellosis, and Leptospirosis are a few
of the diseases that are transmitted in
watercourses. E. coli, a bacteria respon-
sible for environmental mastitis, can
also be transmitted in watercourses.
The widespread use of antibiotics in
rearing livestock has increased the anti-
biotic-resistant bacteria in the environ-
ment. These bacteria can spread down-
stream through fecal contamination by
livestock treated with antibiotics.
E. coli and salmonella sp., which are
resistant to several common antibiotics,
have been isolated from rural water-
courses in Ontario. Antibiotic-resistant
bacteria complicate the ti.atment of
animals by reducing the effectiveness
and choice of veterinary medicines.
Even if the water is of good quality,
the watercourse itself may be a safety
risk to livestock. Drownings or injuries
can be caused by unstable slopes and
bank failures.0
Peter Roberts
Soil Conservation Advisor
•
CULROSS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
EST. 1871
Teeswater, Ontario
For quotations on FARM and HOME INSURANCE
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Ronald Hewitt, R. R. 2, Kincardine
Gerald Murray, Holyrood
David Grant, R. R. 1, Formosa
John A. Ross, R.R. 1, Formosa
Robert Ferris, R. R. 2, Cargill
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JUNE 1989 57