Gut Health in Small Ruminants
How can I manage my herd’s gut health?
In order to properly manage your herd’s gut health, it helps to begin monitoring and tracking your data. Once you have conducted a health check on the current conditions at your facility, you can then begin taking steps to improve the digestive health of your animals.
Why is gut health important?
Gut health is the foundation of performance and profitability. Scientists believe that 90% of all diseases can be traced back to gut health and the microbiome. Establishing a healthy microbiome in young animals has a lifelong impact. Holistic nutrition and management practices provide the most optimal approach to understanding and managing your animals’ health and performance and, in turn, your business.
Major challenges that impact gut health in small ruminant animals
- Coccidiosis
- Clostridia
- Salmonella
- E. coli
- Heat stress
- Transportation stress
- Poor water consumption
- Improper nutrition
Signs of poor gut health in small ruminants
- Diarrhea
- Lesions
- Mortality
- Weight loss
- Efficiency loss
- Additional veterinary treatments and cost
5 ways to help enhance your animals’ gut health
1. Implement proactive, preventative solutions (such as probiotics) that will help build the integrity and microflora of the gut.
2. Ensure that animals are receiving the proper diet and achieving optimal nutrient absorption throughout each stage of life.
3. Properly manage the on-farm environment and the animals’ drinking water.
4. Enforce strict biosecurity protocols.
5. Monitor the health and performance of your animals.