Each animal should have a permanent and individual I.D. number. Methods can vary but include: freeze or heat brand, tag, collar, or permanent color dye.

Individual animal records should include: birthdate, sex, pedigree, origin, and location of pen or pasture. It depends on the research or teaching project, but records of production values, veterinary care and nutritional history may also be necessary.

Federal law requires that each animal have enough space to allow for normal postural movements no matter what might be the production goals or experimental constraints (enough space to lie down, get up, and stand without crouching). There are published guidelines for space which vary according to species, size or weight, and the special needs of the experiment. Consult with the Farm Animal Veterinarian.

Waste needs to be removed as often as necessary to keep animals dry, and living in clean, healthful surroundings. Animals should not be sprayed with hoses used to clean the pens unless you are intentionally providing relief from hot temperatures, or you are intentionally bathing the animal. To keep down the volume of wastes in pastures, and thereby to reduce the parasite load, pastures should be rotated as to use. When pastures are vacant, the normal forces of nature degrade the animal waste into soil.

Flies, lice, mites, ticks and rodents are problems and need to be controlled. Flies are a particular problem in the summer. Keep manure cleaned up and make sure water doesn't drip to attract breeding insects. Use only approved pesticides and obey withholding time periods to avoid illegal residues.

Temperature extremes are a serious problem in Arizona.  There should be a written, planned response to emergency weather conditions for all animals.  Ask the unit supervisor where copies of this plan are kept.

Remember that temperature, humidity and ventilation work together and that all factors need to be considered when evaluating the stress to an animal.

Every day, be certain to monitor equipment such as heaters, coolers, misters, etc.  (It doesn't do any good to have a mist system if the pipes are clogged shut! 

Minimum temperature should not be lower than 4EC (40E F).  A minimum of 4 air changes per hour in winter and 15 air changes per hour in summer is desirable.  In areas of extremely high ambient temperatures, air conditioning may be necessary if temperature in facility cannot be maintained lower than ambient temperature.  

Indoor animals must have sufficient ventilation.  The general rule is that if you feel uncomfortable when you FIRST enter the area, there IS a ventilation problem.  Remember, your nose quickly adapts to odors so an assessment must be made in the first few seconds of entering an area.  The gases which cause the most serious problems include:  NH4, HS, CO, CH4 and dust. 

Adequate ventilation to control moisture and odor must be provided.  A ventilation system exhausting 100 CFM per 1,000 lbs.  per animal is recommended.   

Even during the hot summer months, drafts for all animals should be avoided, but particularly in the case of  newborn or sick animals.

Each species responds differently to being handled, know the normal and abnormal behaviors for your species. Plan ahead. Have proper equipment for handling animals and make sure it works before you use it. Check lanes, fences and chutes before moving animals. Try for minimum restraint time and use minimum force to move animals. Be confident and in control. Avoid yelling, loud noises and the do not routinely use electric prods. More animals are injured from improper handling than from any disease outbreak!

Do not ship sick and healthy animals together. Use non-slip flooring and have proper ventilation. Rough handling and crowding of animals results in injury. Animals should be checked during transport for heat stress.

Horses are covered under interstate transport regulations and may require health certificates. Intrastate movement may be covered by brand inspection or other regulations. Contact the Farm Animal Veterinarian if you have any questions.

Observe FDA withdrawal times to prevent contamination of animal products by drugs. Follow label directions! NO EXTRA LABEL DRUG USE!!!  Consult the Farm Animal Veterinarian if any questions arise regarding drugs or dosages.

New drug investigations require absolute observance of the approved protocol. No deviations are allowed.

Important Link: IACUC Approved Analgesics, Anesthetics & Sedatives

The laws currently allow properly trained animal handlers and farm personnel to perform "routine husbandry" procedures such as: feet trimming; vaccinations and parasite treatments. An animal handler is considered to be "properly trained" when the Farm Animal Veterinarian and the unit supervisor agree that the handler has had sufficient one-on-one training to perform the procedure. Please notice that castration of horses requires the Farm Animal Veterinarian's supervision.

General anesthesia of horses should be undertaken only by the Veterinarian or unit supervisor.  Not only can nerve and muscle damage occur to the horse which is improperly monitored during anesthesia, but many anesthetic recoveries are "stormy" and leg fractures can occur.

No matter who performs a surgery or where a survival surgery is performed, aseptic techniques must be observed. At minimum, the site must be free of hair, cleaned with a surgical scrub solution and sterile instruments must be used.

If using a cold solution sterilant (such as novalsan), be certain to allow adequate time for the instruments to be immersed in the sterilant solution. Read the directions, most solutions require 10-20 minutes of contact before the item is sterilized. Also be certain to change the solution if contaminated with blood, tissue or dirt.

Contact the Farm Animal Veterinarian before you submit your protocol to review anesthetic procedures and dosages, and the proposed surgery.

For confinement systems, it is optimal to observe an "all in, all out" procedure for groups of animals.