I just arrived from running an errand. When I pull into the driveway I can see the feed room, my stomach sank. The door is open! How did that happen? This is what I found.
The sheep and goats are eating away. Anyone who has raised sheep and goats knows that this can be a death sentence. Overeating can cause bloat, which is where the stomach fills with gas and can cause the animal to die. It puts pressure on their lungs and basically causes asphyxiation. It is a horrible way to lose an animal. Death can happen in 24 hours or less unless treated.
Basically ruminates don’t belch really well and the gas builds up. I have treated them with baking soda which helps break down the gases. If necessary I will administer some olive oil to break up the surface tension of the gas bubbles, and wait. There are more drastic measures I can take but I will save you the gory details. I will keep a close eye on them, and we should be fine.
How did this happen?!?
Well, let me tell you. This has happened before, Pudd’n our pig is famous for breaking into the feed room. I have moved her to a pen that should have kept her locked up. This has been going well she hasn’t had access to the room for many months now. So when I saw that she was in the feed room with the goats I was perplexed.
The perimeter of her pen was intact, with no signs that the gate was left open. Crazy! Then I found it.
This pig found a weak spot in the pig panel and pushed her way through. Not under the panel, but through and she had to climb up to get to the hole.
Sing it with me now. “Spider pig, Spider pig, does whatever a spider can”
When I confronted her asking if she was the problem. She knew she was a bad pig, wouldn’t even look at me..
Normally she comes right up to me for a scratch. She knew…boy pigs are smart. They are the smartest animal on the farm. Is the pig really at fault? Pigs will be piggy, ultimately, when these things happen it is my fault. The farmer’s job is to keep his livestock safe.
Whelp, I guess I am welding a fence tomorrow.
Thanks for letting me share.
1 thought on “A sight that will sink a farmer’s stomach.”
This is such an important topic, especially for someone just getting into livestock! We’ve spent a pretty penny saving a horse from bloat. We’ve had it happen to goats a number of times too.