I can't emphasize enough the importance of proper immunizations and worming for all animals.

Horses: Our horses all get a 5 way vaccine which is Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis, Influenza, and rhinopneumonitis. Plus we give them intranasal strangles vaccine. Plus they get West Nile vaccine. Our horses are wormed using ivermectin paste every 3-4 months per directions on the box. We will also use a different paste (febendazole usually) to kill anthing the ivermectin might miss. 

Cows: 7 way vaccine plus a scours vaccine for pregnant cows. Calves get scours vaccine and pneumonia vaccine. We use a Masterject immunization system, which I purchased from Wales. Since we don't yet have a squeeze chute, we can use the Masterject and inject them all just using a small pen. We give our shots in the neck or the hip, however it's best to refrain from giving shots in the hip in the animals you want to put in the freezer (steers). For worming, we use Dectomax injection. The big advantage in this over ivermectin is Dectomax can be given IM, whereas ivermectin should be given SQ. We also give the cattle a Safe Guard worming block a couple times of year to kill anything the Dectomax might not cover. 

Swine: Rhinishield X4 every 6 months. Piglets get iron shots at 3 days as well. We use a SlapShot to give the adults pigs their shots. It is easy to use, less stressful for us and for them. Imjections should be given in the neck.For worming, we use Dectomax IM per directions. Worming pigs is very important! People can actually get hookworms from pigs simply by walking thru a pen barefoot that has been contaminted. 

Goats: CDT vaccine. 

All of our animals also receive diatomaceous earth (DE) in their feed three times a week. This is a completely safe and natural wormer. People can even consume it! This product can also be used externally on all animals for ticks and fleas. It works great on dogs too. I have recommended it to people to use in their houses to treat horrible flea infestations, and it has worked very time!! 

BIOSECURITY is a crucial part of disease prevention on a farm.

We quarantine any new animal at least two weeks. If we are not sure if they have received any immunaztions, we do that during this time. And we worm them. 

Some visitors to our farm are surprised when we ask them to use hand sanitizer before touching one of the animals. This can certainly help prevent  transferring any disease causing organisms from their hands to our stock. Visitors are not allowed to go out into the pig enclosures in case they might be carrying anything on their shoes or boots. Maybe we are too protective, but I feel that there is a higher possibility of transferral of diease to the pigs than to the other animals. We bring any sale pigs into the barn into pens for visitors to see. We do not show our pigs! We do not breed anyone else's sows to our boars. 

Follow manufacturer directions on all products, or consult a veterinarian for help.

Buyuers should always ask if the animals they are buying have been vaccinated, and how to keep up on the schedule. Do not believe some of the things you may hear or read about "home" wormers like black walnut tea, etc. Again, people can get worms from animals by skin contact. The only way to confirm a herd is worm free is to have fecal samples checked by a vet. I understand how people want to raise "natural" animals for consumption. Since we do not milk our animals, I don't worry about any withdrawals with using wormers etc however those instructions are on the literature that comes with the product. I would rather raise an animal that stays happy and healthy and control what they eat than risk them using "home" remedies. Any animal that displays signs of illness or injury is attended by a licensed veterinarian.