Conclusions

This FAAST Review was Meant to:

1. Discuss the importance of neonatal management to prevent disease and optimize growth and production
2. Discuss management of late gestation animals to prevent illness and injury to neonatal animals during labour
3. Help to explain the importance of management of late gestation animals to improve neonatal health and immune system development
4. Explain the importance of brooding strategies and egg/fry management and youngstock in non-mammalian species

After this FAAST Review, You Should Now Know:

Section 1:

• The importance of using best management practices when caring for neonatal farmed animal species
• The potentially harmful effects of hypothermia
• Care of late gestation animals
• Prevention of neonatal illness and injuries

Section 2:

• Cow nutrition and care in late gestation to prevent dystocia or complications with labour
• How and when to provide interventions for safe calvings for both calf and cow
• The importance of feeding high-quality colostrum soon after birth, or providing a supplement when necessary
• The importance of reducing bacteria levels that calves may be exposed to
• Calf nutrition for health, growth, and vigour

 Section 3:

• The importance of egg care to hatch healthy larvae
• Management of larval stages of fish to ensure minimal losses
• Fry management for optimal growth, nutrition, and early detection of disease

Section 4:

• Management of late gestation ewes and does, including monitoring for pregnancy toxemia
• Monitoring labouring animals for timely interventions
• Prevention of rejection of lambs and kids
• The importance of ensuring kids and lambs receive sufficient colostrum, and ensuring that housing and feeding areas reduce bacterial exposure to these young animals

Section 5:

• Ensuring proper sow management and body condition to reduce complications with farrowing, and to prevent stillbirths
• Providing adequate and appropriate supplemental heating to piglets to ensure their continued suckling
• Colostrum management to help develop immunity
• Ensuring clean housing to prevent diarrhea in piglets
• Preventing crushing of piglets by the sow

Section 6:

• The importance of employing optimal brooding practices to ensure chick health from placement, including close monitoring of ventilation, humidity, temperature in the housing area
• Ensuring chicks are eating and drinking soon after placement to avoid issues with gut health and growth
• Management of hatching and breeding to prevent egg yolk sac infections and improve chick quality

Section 7:

• Ensuring vaccination and appropriate body condition of the mare to prevent issues during foaling
• Colostrum management for the foal to prevent failed passive transfer of immunity
• The importance of preventing meconium impactions after birth
• Managing the umbilicus after birth to prevent septicemia
• Preventing and/or managing neonatal maladjustment syndrome