DIPPING of Animals at Farm Level

DIPPING of Animals at Farm Level

Dipping sheep and goats in an appropriate insecticide containing liquid will kill external parasites and pests and prevent the damage they cause to sheep and goats and the diseases they carry. The frequency of dipping depends on the disease risk. Immersing sheep and goats is more effective than spraying. Since they are not keen to jump into a dip bath therefore they will have to be forced. The construction of bath must not allow the animals to jump out or through the bath without getting thoroughly soaked.

A simple design for a dip is given in Figure __. It has small pens so that small groups of sheep and goats can be handled. The animals are forced towards dip bath where an operator catches each animal and puts it in the dip. Another person pushes the animal’s head under as it swims by to ensure that it is totally immersed. He can use a forked stick to avoid the chemical getting on his hands. The sheep/goat swims to the end of the bath and climbs up the steps to the draining area, having slope towards the dip bath. In this way much of the liquid is returned to the bath for reuse. Extra insecticide must be added for each 80 to 100 animals so that the dip remains strong enough to kill parasites and the dip is deep enough to cover each sheep/goat. A small dipping vat may be used as a dip bath when the number of animals in small.

Precautions

●             Dipping of sheep should be carried out on a sunny day.

●             Instructions of the manufacturers of insecticides to prepare the dipping liquid should be strictly followed.

●             Each animal should be totally immersed in the dipping lotion.

●             Extra insecticide should be added to the dipping liquid after dipping of each 80 to 100 animals so that proper strength of the liquid can be maintained.

●             Do not allow the animals to lick each other after dipping.

●             Dipped animals must be kept in the draining area for at least 20 minutes.

●             Dipping needs to be repeated depending upon the disease risk.

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