LFP 211: Livestock Farm Practice (0+1)

INTRODUCTION

Respiration

• Respiration includes inspiration and an expiration of air into and out of the lungs.
• This can be observed by raise and fall of chest or flank. It can also be recorded by feeling the breath at nostrils (expiration) with Back of the hand. Respiratory rate expressed as the number of respiration per minute.

Precautions

• When recording respiration, pulse and temperature it is desirable to be recorded in the following order.
• Stand quietly near the animal and count the respiration rate first before animal is handled.
• Then record the pulse rate and finally record the temperature.

Pulse

• Pulse is the impulse of heart felt thro’ an artery.
• In horses: External maxillary artery at the site of lower jaw and median artery at the elbow and digital artery along side of the cannon bone.
• In sheep, goat, dog, cats: Femoral artery inside the hind limb.
• Cattle: coccygeal artery at base of the tail
• In all animals pulse is recorded for atleast 1 – 2 min and pulse rate expressed in number of pulse per minute.

Rectal temperature

• Rectal temperature is the sum of total conserved heat produced in the body resulting from metabolic process in the body. Temperature is one of the basic signs of health which has to be maintained within normal limits. Eg. Increase in the body temperature is the sign of ill health.