Released July 22, 2008

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Livestock owners should "hurricane-ize" their livestock each year, Texas AgriLife Extension Service officials advise.

"With the right preparation, you can protect livestock from injury should a hurricane occur," said Joe Paschal, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Corpus Christi.

"Most damage to buildings, pens and animals comes from wind and flying objects," Paschal said. "So the ability to protect them in advance from these dangers greatly reduces the chance of injury to livestock."

Begin preparations by making sure the livestock are current on their vaccinations, he said.

Stockpile feed, hay and water in case these items are not available after a hurricane, Paschal said. Have enough feed on hand for at least a week, and the same amount of water – up to 150 gallons per horse or bovine. Feed should be dry and free from mold or moisture.

"Also stock up on basic veterinary supplies," he said. "These include bandages (and) topical antibiotics, and have restraint equipment (ropes and halters) ready for restraining injured animals that need veterinary assistance."

Loose boards or sheets of tin on barns or pens need to be replaced or nailed down, Paschal said. Remove wire, fence posts and other loose items from barns, pens and pastures to reduce the chance of injury to livestock. Equipment should be placed under cover if possible, he said. Immediately before the hurricane's landfall, turn off electrical power and water in the barn. "It's best to evacuate livestock well in advance of a storm," Paschal said. "Make sure your trailer is safe for hauling and equipped with good floor mats, safe tires, a spare tire and working lights. Take along extra feed, hay, water and veterinary supplies.

"Don't plan to return until the storm has passed and it is safe to do so," he said. If large livestock can't be evacuated, turn them loose in larger pastures or pens on high ground with some solid shelter or tall brush and large trees for cover, Paschal said. Animals will instinctively seek shelter during severe weather. "Livestock should never remain in a closed barn," said Dr. Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in College Station. "If the barn is damaged by wind, the animals could be injured or killed. Turning livestock loose is not as safe as evacuating them, but it is preferable to leaving them in small pens or barns."

The greatest danger livestock face from hurricanes is flooding that can occur as the storm makes landfall, Cleere said. Make preparations to move cattle from low-lying areas prior to landfall. Smaller livestock (sheep, goats, swine and rabbits) can be brought indoors if necessary, Paschal said. Use wooden pallets to build temporary pens in a garage. "Make sure feed and hay are well protected from wind and water," he said. "Move hay bales to high ground or stack them on posts or tires. Cover bales to prevent water damage." Livestock owners should not put themselves at risk by checking on livestock during a storm, Paschal said, but do check on them immediately after the storm. "Most animals are used to being outside in bad weather and will simply need clean feed, a dry place to stand, and water to help them recover from stress," he said. "Electrolytes and vitamins may also help them return to normal. However, you should be prepared for the worst. If animals are injured, be ready to render first aid."

Animals with minor injuries (small cuts or abrasions) might be easily restrained and treated, but those with more severe cuts or broken bones need professional veterinary assistance as soon as possible, Paschal said. Young animals are more susceptible to stress than older animals and may need more care, he said. Also, bad weather often causes pregnant females near term to give birth. "Watch for the little ones," Paschal said. Take pictures of animals without ear tags, and post them on Web sites or at feed stores to help with owner recovery efforts after the storm, he said. This will also assist the Texas Emergency Response Team, working in partnership with the Texas Animal Health Commission http://www.tahc.state.tx.us , in recovery efforts.

For more information, contact a local Extension agent. A list of offices can be found at http://county-tx.tamu.edu .

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http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=594

Contacts: Dave Mayes, 979-845-2802, d-mayes@tamu.edu

Jason Cleere, 979-845-6931, jjcleere@ag.tamu.edu

Joe Paschal, 361-946-1103, joepaschal@yahoo.com