Henry Stud

14/10/2025

We are in the business of supplying elite bloodlines.

13/10/2025

HENRY STUD
Stud breeding business

13/10/2025

🩺 How To Identify Sick Animals Early On Your Livestock Farm 🐐🐄

Early detection saves lives, reduces losses, and keeps your farm running efficiently. A healthy animal is active, alert, and eats well — but when something’s off, the signs usually show quickly if you’re observant. 👀

Here’s how to spot sickness early before it spreads or gets worse:

1️⃣ WATCH THEIR BEHAVIOR
🐾 If an animal becomes quiet, weak, or unusually still, it could be unwell.
😡 Sudden aggression, isolation, or restlessness are also red flags.

2️⃣ CHECK THEIR FEED INTAKE
🍽️ A sick animal often eats or drinks less.
🥛 If feed or water remains untouched, act immediately.

3️⃣ INSPECT THEIR BODY CLOSELY
👃 Runny nose, coughs, or watery eyes signal infection.
💥 Swelling, wounds, or strange lumps are warning signs.
💩 Dirty tails or diarrhea stains indicate digestive issues.

4️⃣ OBSERVE THEIR DROPPINGS
✅ Normal droppings are firm and consistent.
⚠️ Watery, bloody, or foul-smelling stool means something’s wrong.

5️⃣ FEEL THEIR TEMPERATURE
🌡️ Use a thermometer regularly.
🔥 Hot body, shivering, or cold ears may indicate fever or infection.

6️⃣ EXAMINE THEIR SKIN AND COAT
🐑 Dull, rough, or falling hair could mean parasites or poor nutrition.
✨ A healthy coat is shiny and smooth — just like a well-fed animal should look!

💡 FARMER’S TIP:
Your eyes are your greatest tool. Inspect your animals daily, know what “normal” looks like for each one, and take action as soon as you spot changes. Early attention = healthy animals + profitable farming. 🌾

13/10/2025

13/10/2025

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗧𝗦 🐐⚠️

Abortion in goats is one of the most frustrating problems a farmer can face. It not only leads to the loss of unborn kids but can also affect the health and productivity of the entire herd. Understanding the causes is the first step toward prevention and better management.

Here’s a breakdown of the major causes 👇🏽

🦠 1. Infectious Diseases (Most Common Cause)

These are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that attack the reproductive system:

Brucellosis: Caused by Brucella bacteria; leads to late-term abortions and can spread easily.

Chlamydiosis: Bacterial infection that causes abortions and weak kids.

Leptospirosis: Caused by Leptospira bacteria; spreads through contaminated water or urine.

Toxoplasmosis: Caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite found in cat f***s; leads to stillbirths.

Campylobacteriosis: Causes late-term abortions and weak or dead kids.

Border Disease Virus: Affects fetal development and causes deformities or abortions.

🧼 Prevention Tip: Practice strict biosecurity — isolate new animals, control rodents and cats, and maintain good hygiene in pens.

🌾 2. Non-Infectious Causes

Sometimes, abortions occur due to poor management or environmental conditions:

Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of selenium, vitamin E, or other essential nutrients weakens pregnancy.

Toxins: Eating moldy feed or toxic plants (like some weeds) can cause abortion.

Stress: Overcrowding, transport, heat, or loud noises can cause pregnant goats to abort.

Hormonal Imbalance: Can disrupt pregnancy and result in fetal loss.

🥕 Prevention Tip: Provide balanced feed, clean water, and a stress-free environment.

🧬 3. Genetic Factors

Sometimes, defects or genetic abnormalities in the fetus can lead to abortion.

🩹 4. Mechanical Causes

Rough handling, fighting among goats, or trauma from accidents can cause pregnancy loss.

🧑🏽‍⚕️ 5. Poor Herd Management

Inadequate sanitation, lack of vaccination, and poor record-keeping increase the risk of abortion outbreaks.

🩺 Prevention Tip: Schedule routine vet checks and follow a proper vaccination and deworming program.

✅ Final Advice:
If you notice multiple abortions in your herd, don’t ignore it — isolate affected goats and contact a veterinarian immediately for lab testing and treatment guidance.

👉🏽 Healthy goats mean a productive farm — prevention is always cheaper than cure.

13/10/2025

11/10/2025

HENRY STUD first

30/09/2025

Sun-Baked Nutrition

Walk into many animal feed stores and you will often find an all-too-familiar sight: bales of lucerne and grass stacked high in the open, directly under the scorching sun. At first glance, the green hues and neat stacks may look reassuring, but beneath the surface lies a concerning reality—exposure to extreme heat and sunlight can quietly strip away the very nutrients farmers are paying for.

The Science Behind Feed Quality

Lucerne (alfalfa) and grasses are prized by livestock farmers for their protein, fiber, vitamins, and mineral content. However, these nutrients are not indestructible. Direct exposure to sun and heat leads to:

Vitamin degradation – Vitamins A and E are especially sensitive to UV radiation and high temperatures.

Protein loss – Heat accelerates oxidation and lowers digestibility of proteins.

Dry matter decline – Excessive drying reduces palatability, making animals less willing to consume the feed.

Mold and dust risk – Uneven heating followed by cool nights creates conditions for mold spores and dust contamination.

The end result? What looks like “premium lucerne” may, in reality, be little more than roughage with significantly reduced nutritional value.

The Marketing Illusion

Despite this degradation, many stores continue to market these sun-baked bales as “nutritious” or “high-quality”. This not only misleads farmers but also inflates costs on feed that no longer delivers the promised benefits. In production systems—especially intensive ones such as dairy or zero-grazing sheep farming—every gram of protein and vitamin matters. A decline in feed quality directly affects animal growth, milk yields, reproduction, and overall profitability.

Why Does It Happen?

Several factors contribute to this widespread practice:

1. Storage convenience – Outdoor stacking saves space inside warehouses.

2. Cost cutting – Shade structures and proper ventilation require investment.

3. Perception gap – Many farmers assume “green-looking bales” equal good nutrition, without questioning the handling process.

4. Weak regulation – There are no enforceable feed storage standards.

Conclusion

It is surprising—and disappointing—that feed stores continue to expose valuable lucerne and grass to destructive sunlight, only to market them as nutritious. Farmers deserve better. With proper storage, awareness, and accountability, the promise of “nutritious feed” can truly match what reaches the animals’ troughs. Until then, a bale in the sun may not be the bargain it appears to be—it may be an invisible cost to animal health and farm productivity.

30/09/2025

30/09/2025

🇧🇼✨ Happy 59th Independence Day, Botswana! ✨🇧🇼

Today we celebrate the spirit of unity, resilience, and progress that defines our beautiful nation. At Henry Stud, we are proud to be part of a Botswana that continues to rise and inspire.

May this Independence Day remind us of our strength, heritage, and limitless potential. 💙🤍🖤

Happy Independence, Botswana! 🎉