RADA Urges Livestock Farmers to Implement Hurricane Safeguards

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is urging livestock farmers to implement protective measures to safeguard their livelihoods during the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which started on June 1.

Senior RADA Livestock Specialist, Maxine Brown, tells JIS News that the first priority for farmers at the onset of a storm or hurricane should be to check on their animals.

“You want to make sure they are tagged because, just in case they get loose, you’d have information on them. Also, because you’ll be documenting information on your animals, you want to know how many vulnerable animals you have [as] you may have some younger animals that may need particular attention. You also want to see which animals are your prized animals, so you want to make sure you have data on them,” she says.

Ms. Brown adds that farmers without livestock tags may invariably take photographs of their animals for identification and recommends using temporary markers as a precaution in case the animals get loose.

“If you have your information that is digital, you want to back it up into the cloud or have extra copies of it. So, you just want to make sure that your animals are in the best health before the storm occurs,” she further states.

The Senior Livestock Specialist also recommends that farmers keep essential medications on hand to treat their animals.

“You want to have a first-aid kit on hand, because you want to make sure that after the hurricane when you’re assessing your animals, if you see any cuts, any bruises, et cetera, you can treat it right away so you do not have problems with screw worms, or sometimes where pneumonia might set in,” she added.

Ms. Brown advises farmers to stock up on essential medications, especially for animals already undergoing treatment, to ensure continuity of care during a storm or hurricane.

She also recommends that steps be taken to ensure animal housing is sturdy enough to withstand storm conditions.

Meanwhile, farmers should be prepared to move their animals to higher ground in case of flooding, and if this occurs, to release them so they can swim to safety.

“Remember, if flooding is occurring, you don’t want to be out there, as well, at that time. So that is why you have to have a plan for your farm, in terms of your evacuation. So, for animals that you used to tie in low-lying areas, you want to move them to a higher elevation,” Ms. Brown says.

“For animals that you have in a structure, you want to check the structure. So, for your poultry farmers, you want to make sure that there is no loose zinc. You also want to make sure that you have enough tarpaulin to cover the mesh… as wind and rain will be blowing in,” she further states.

Additionally, persons can use hurricane straps to secure roofs as best as possible.

Farmers are also encouraged to stock at least a week’s supply of livestock feed and water to ensure continuity of care during and after a storm.

They should also take precaution to secure the feed, to prevent it from getting wet and developing mould.

“You [also] want to secure it from rodents, so make sure that it’s secured properly. If you have your generator, make sure [it] is up and running, because you want to make sure that you can still continue production after the hurricane. You also want to make sure that the tools that you use for your husbandry practices, like your hoof trimmers, your milking cans for dairy farmers, et cetera, you want to take those out and to secure them elsewhere,” Ms. Brown says.

She emphasises the need to closely monitor vulnerable animals, including those that are pregnant or very young, as they are more susceptible to stress and injury during storms.

“After the hurricane, you have to be monitoring these animals because, sometimes, the impact is not seen immediately. We have what they call hoof rot; if they are standing in water for too long, then it gets soft, then they start to have foot issues. So, these are some of the things that we have to pay attention to,” Ms. Brown states.

For further information, farmers may contact their Agricultural Extension Officer, visit their RADA Parish Office, or call the toll-free number 1-888-ASK-RADA (1-888-275-7232).