Dust can either be created on-farm or, as has happened with these recent weather events, blown in from elsewhere. There are many techniques that can help reduce dust produced on your own farm, including minimum tillage, ground cover conservation and wetting yards before yarding livestock.

Dust reduction when yarding stock is particularly important, because many of the common diseases associated with dust occur when stock are in confinement. Respiratory disease and pinkeye are very common in young cattle.

Vaccination can play a role in prevention and should be considered when planning to feed weaners in confinement. Similar conditions also occur in sheep, however, vaccines are not available. Monitoring, management and early treatment are important in sheep and cattle.

Well-designed confinement yards reduce dust by creating a hard layer, and many resources are available to aid confinement yard design.

It is important to regularly clean water troughs in dusty conditions, as dirty water will reduce intake and production, and potentially cause outbreaks of bacterial infection. Ensure stock are fully vaccinated for clostridial diseases and consider other less common vaccines in dry conditions as well.

Another important disease to be aware of is Q fever. This is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can also infect people, and dry, windy and dusty conditions increase the risk of it occurring. People can protect themselves by wearing masks and washing hands thoroughly. A vaccine is available for people over 15 years, with farmers considered an important risk group. As children cannot be vaccinated, it is important to reduce their risk and protect them through good hygiene.

While we can’t make it rain (and fingers crossed we get more after this week!), there are ways to combat some of the effects of the dry conditions. If you can bust the dust at your place, that’s one less thing to worry about.