One of the best ways to make sure your cattle is at its best quality is by ensuring its health. And what better to start than making sure they’re free from diseases, internal and external parasites and fleas? And how do you do all that you may ask? Well, simply with the help of cattle drench!
Cattle drench is a preventative used to manage the health of livestock. There are different kinds of cattle drenches to consider such as Anthelmintic drenches, nutritional drenches, antibiotic drenches, oral rehydration drenches and so much more.
So depending on the needs of your cattle, consider using a drench that best suits your cattle’s issue and situation. Once you’ve figured out what drenching your cattle needs, below is a step-by-step guide on how to properly drench your cattle:
Step 1: Get advice from a vet
It is vital that you speak with a veterinarian before drenching your cattle, especially if this is your first time. In order to guarantee that the procedure is carried out properly and successfully, it is imperative to obtain expert help when delivering drugs or supplements orally, as part of the drench process.
Veterinarians may give insightful advice on the unique requirements of your herd, suggest suitable drench products, and provide direction on dose, frequency, and acceptable delivery methods.
Step 2: Prepare your drenching solution
The age and breed of your cattle, the particular health concern, and any other pertinent aspects will all be taken into account by your veterinarian when determining the best product. It’s critical to carefully adhere to their advice in order to optimise therapy efficacy and prevent any problems.
It’s critical to properly prepare the drench for administration after selecting the right one. This might entail combining or diluting the solution by your veterinarian’s recommendations or the directions on the package.
An optimal dosage and concentration of the drug are ensured by proper preparation, which also reduces the possibility of overdosing or underdosing and maximises its effectiveness. Also, it is important to verify that the solution is precisely dosed according to the weight of your cattle. The animals’ weight and age might affect the dose needs, thus it’s critical to weigh them precisely and determine the right dosage.
Step 3: Ready any equipment that might be necessary
Get a drenching bottle or a drenching gun. Most people choose a drenching pistol because of its precision and simplicity of usage. To securely bind the animal while it is being drenched, use a halter or head gate. Put on the proper safety equipment, such as gloves, to keep both the animal and yourself safe.
Step 4: Gather and secure your cattle
When getting ready to drench your cattle, you need to set up an environment of control that will allow for safe and efficient handling. The first stage in this method is to lead the animal into a chute, pen, or dedicated drenching area. This creates a safe environment where the treatment may be performed effectively and with the least amount of stress to the animal and the handler.
To protect the safety of the animal and the handler, it is crucial to use the proper restraining techniques after the animal has entered the specified area. One popular way to properly hold cattle during the soaking process is to use a halter or head gate. With the use of these instruments, the animal’s head is immobilised, avoiding abrupt movements or efforts to break free that might jeopardise the administration procedure or put the animal or handler in danger of harm.
Step 5: Know how to position yourself properly
It is important to position yourself correctly throughout the drenching procedure in order to keep your cattle under control and ensure that the medicine or supplement is administered to them without incident. Positioning oneself beside the horse, preferably close to its shoulder, offers several benefits for manoeuvrability and control.
You can have more influence over the animal’s movements, especially its head, by taking a position that is better next to it. This gives you quick entry to the animal’s mouth so you can provide the drenching solution while still keeping a firm hold on the halter or head gate.
Step 6: Administer the drench
With one hand, hold the soaking gun or bottle, and use the other to carefully open the animal’s mouth. Aim towards the rear of the animal’s throat as you carefully place the drenching gun or bottle’s nozzle into the side of its mouth. Pour the solution into the animal’s mouth gradually, letting it swallow on its own. Take care not to give the animal the solution too soon to prevent choking.
Take away
These 6 steps will help you properly and efficiently drench your cattle. Also, while applying the drench, look for signs of distress– this is to prevent the drench from spillage. Afterwards, treat your cattle with some extra feeds to encourage positive behaviour when drenching. + make sure to record all your drenches, including the date, drench used, the dosage and any important notes you’d like to add.
