Sovereignty Module: Heal the Herd
Heal the Herd
Complete Veterinary Medicine, Livestock Health, and Animal Surgery Guide
Complete Veterinary Medicine, Livestock Health, and Animal Surgery Guide
Livestock are the engines of a rebuilding community: they plow fields, provide milk, eggs, meat, leather, and wool. Losing animals to preventable disease is losing wealth and food security. This campaign covers diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and preventive care for common livestock.
Chapter 1: Vital Signs by Species
| Species | Heart Rate (bpm) | Respiratory Rate (breaths/min) | Temperature (F) | Rumen/Gut Sounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horse | 28-44 | 8-16 | 99.5-101.5 | Gut sounds all 4 quadrants |
| Cattle | 40-80 | 12-36 | 100.5-102.5 | 1-2 rumen contractions/min |
| Sheep/Goat | 60-90 | 12-25 | 101.5-103.5 | 1-2 rumen contractions/min |
| Pig | 60-100 | 8-18 | 101.5-103.5 | Gut sounds present |
| Chicken | 250-350 | 15-30 | 105-107 | N/A |
| Dog | 60-140 | 10-30 | 100.5-102.5 | Gut sounds present |
Take temperature rectally with thermometer. Count heart rate at jaw (horse), chest wall, or femoral artery. Count breaths by watching flank movement.
Chapter 2: Common Diseases and Treatment
| Disease | Species | Symptoms | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloat (ruminal tympany) | Cattle, sheep, goats | Distended left flank, difficulty breathing | Pass stomach tube to release gas; trocar if emergency |
| Colic | Horses | Pawing, rolling, looking at flank, no gut sounds | Walk horse, pain relief (banamine), check for impaction |
| Mastitis | Cattle, goats, sheep | Hot, swollen udder, abnormal milk | Antibiotics (intramammary), hot compresses, frequent milking |
| Foot rot | Cattle, sheep, goats | Lameness, swollen foot, foul smell | Trim hoof, clean, copper sulfate foot bath, antibiotics |
| Pneumonia | All species | Cough, nasal discharge, fever, labored breathing | Antibiotics, shelter from cold/wet, anti-inflammatory |
| Scours (diarrhea) | Calves, lambs, piglets | Watery diarrhea, dehydration | Oral rehydration (electrolytes), identify cause, antibiotics if bacterial |
| Parasites (worms) | All species | Weight loss, poor coat, anemia, diarrhea | Dewormers, rotational grazing, fecal egg counts |
| Retained placenta | Cattle, horses | Placenta not passed within 12 hours (cattle) or 3 hours (horse) | Do NOT pull; antibiotics, oxytocin, wait for natural expulsion |
| Milk fever (hypocalcemia) | Cattle, goats | Weakness, recumbency, cold ears, dilated pupils | IV calcium gluconate (slowly), oral calcium drench |
| Tetanus | All species | Stiff muscles, rigid jaw, sensitivity to stimuli | Antitoxin, wound cleaning, penicillin, dark quiet environment |
Chapter 3: Emergency Procedures
| Procedure | Indication | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Trocarization | Life-threatening bloat (cattle) | Insert trocar through left flank into rumen (highest point of distension) |
| Nasogastric tube | Bloat, colic, medication delivery | Lubricate tube, pass through nostril to stomach |
| Wound closure | Deep lacerations | Clean, debride, suture (simple interrupted) or staple |
| Splinting | Fractures (lower limb) | Pad limb, apply rigid splint (wood, PVC), wrap securely |
| Castration | Male livestock management | Surgical (knife), banding (elastrator), or Burdizzo (crush) |
| Dehorning | Horn removal (cattle, goats) | Hot iron (cautery) for calves; saw/wire for adults |
| Cesarean section | Dystocia (obstructed birth) | Left flank incision (cattle), extract calf, suture uterus then body wall |
Chapter 4: Birthing Assistance (Dystocia)
| Presentation | Action | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| Normal (front feet + nose first) | Monitor, assist only if needed | Gentle traction during contractions |
| One leg back | Reposition | Push calf back, bring leg forward (cup hoof in hand) |
| Head back | Reposition | Push calf back, bring head around (rope on lower jaw) |
| Breech (tail first) | Reposition or extract quickly | Bring hind legs into birth canal, extract rapidly (calf cannot breathe) |
| Twins tangled | Identify which legs belong to which | Push one back, deliver the other first |
| Too large | Assess fit | If calf will not pass, cesarean section required |
Lubrication is critical: use obstetric lubricant, vegetable oil, or soap solution. Clean hands and arms thoroughly. Work gently but decisively.
Chapter 5: Wound Care and Surgery
| Principle | Application |
|---|---|
| Clean the wound | Flush with clean water or saline (1 tsp salt per quart water) |
| Remove dead tissue (debride) | Cut away dead, contaminated, or crushed tissue |
| Control bleeding | Direct pressure, clamp vessels, ligate (tie off) with suture |
| Close if clean (within 6 hours) | Suture with simple interrupted stitches |
| Leave open if contaminated | Pack with wet gauze, allow healing from inside out |
| Antibiotics | Penicillin (most livestock infections), oxytetracycline (broad spectrum) |
| Tetanus prevention | Antitoxin at time of injury if vaccination status unknown |
| Bandage | Protect wound, change daily |
Suture materials: Gut (absorbable, for internal), nylon or silk (non-absorbable, for skin). Suture needle: curved cutting needle for skin.
Chapter 6: Preventive Medicine
| Practice | Frequency | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccination | Annual (species-specific) | Prevent common fatal diseases |
| Deworming | 2-4x per year (based on fecal counts) | Control internal parasites |
| Hoof trimming | Every 6-8 weeks (horses), 2-3x/year (cattle/goats) | Prevent lameness |
| Dental floating (horses) | Annual | Smooth sharp tooth edges |
| Nutrition (balanced ration) | Daily | Prevent deficiency diseases |
| Clean water | Always available | Prevent dehydration and water-borne disease |
| Quarantine new animals | 2-4 weeks | Prevent introducing disease to herd |
| Rotational grazing | Ongoing | Break parasite cycles, improve pasture |
| Fly control | Seasonal | Prevent fly-borne disease and irritation |
| Record keeping | Ongoing | Track health, breeding, treatment history |
Chapter 7: Herbal Veterinary Remedies
| Herb | Use | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Garlic | Internal parasites, immune support | Crushed in feed |
| Comfrey | Wound healing, bone healing | Poultice on wounds |
| Chamomile | Digestive upset, calming | Tea added to water |
| Aloe vera | Burns, skin conditions | Gel applied topically |
| Willow bark | Pain, fever (contains salicin) | Tea or decoction |
| Oregano | Antiparasitic, antimicrobial | Oil or dried herb in feed |
| Pumpkin seeds | Intestinal parasites | Ground seeds in feed |
| Turmeric | Anti-inflammatory | Powder in feed |
Reference Card
- Take temperature rectally: cattle 100.5-102.5F, horse 99.5-101.5F, sheep/goat 101.5-103.5F
- Bloat emergency: pass stomach tube first; trocar through left flank only if tube fails
- Colic in horses: walk the horse, do not let it roll, administer pain relief
- Dystocia: lubricate generously, reposition gently, pull only during contractions
- Clean all wounds with saline or clean water; suture within 6 hours if clean
- Penicillin is the first-choice antibiotic for most livestock infections
- Quarantine new animals for 2-4 weeks before introducing to the herd
- Rotational grazing breaks parasite life cycles better than any dewormer
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