The COVID-19 pandemic created real or perceived food insecurity issues for many Washingtonians. Some people decided to gain a degree of food autonomy by obtaining animals for meat production, and many had no previous experience with livestock.
To address that knowledge gap, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) created educational materials about various aspects of animal care and made this available on our website. These materials, grouped under the title of “A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Animals for Meat,” are available at agr.wa.gov by typing “raising animals for meat” in the search bar. The web pages address critical issues to consider before obtaining animals.
Topics covered include:
- Getting started: land issues and animal housing
- Animal selection and care
- Basics of animal health
- Biosecurity planning
- Processing meat
- Reliable resources
Additional materials are in development for new horse and poultry owners. We will make these available on our website when they are completed.
By Dr. Susan Kerr, WSDA Animal Services Educational Outreach Specialist
Posted May 21, 2021