HomeMy WebLinkAboutRural Defense for Idaho Poultryman 1964 C ( 7‘
RURAL DEFENSE FOR •
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IDAHO POULTRYMAN
H. C. Tankersley, Rull. Civil Defense Leader - University of Idaho,
AglJcultural Extension Service
Black, Extzion Poultry Specialist - University of Idaho,
Agrioultural Extension Service
In t'sa event of nucl( disaster or overt attack on the United States, the poultry
industry:would be a number one source of food for human consumption. This would be
especially- ,during recovery phase of the disaster. The food production capacity
of the natin wollid be sesly affected and the time to recover production capacity
for mav types. of Too sn. as food crops, would necessarily be as much as two or more
growing seasons. The livestock and poultry industries will have heavy demands made on
them to feed our nation during•the interim.
There ,are a -nuaber,of reasons why the poultry industry will be a major source of
food. , • ,
10 Both meat and eggs are produced simultaneously.
2. The period of time, from birth to production for poultry is much shorter
,ithan for -livestock. Increases in poultry numbers and production would
, require much shorter time to accomplish than increased production in other
livestock or agronomic operations.
3 Poultry is the m.Ft resistant of domestic livestock to radiation. They have
more chance to st27rive and continue production.
** 4. 'Very little of ay radioactive isotope would be deposited in the eggs or
meat. Strontium c,4:) in laying hens is primarily deposited in the shells
of theeggs.
5v Poultry is the mott easily handled of domestic livestock.
6. Poultry is generally raised in buildings which can be tightly closed to
•afford good. prptetion from fallout.
7;: iou1tr7 t5 generally fed from covered, and therefore uncontaminated, feed
supplies.
8. It is generally much easier to supply adequate water to keep poultry in
production for the duration of the emergency than for other types of live-
stock,
9. It is relatively easy to maintain production during a period of emergency,
in terms of time and labor requirements.
** HOW DOES RADIATION AFFECT POULTRY?
According to such research as is available, poultry can take more radiation
without damage or fatality than any other of our domestic livestock. The lethal
dose for 100% fatality of all birds exposed is 1200 roentgens as compared to about
600 roentgens for cows. We must recognize, however, that some birds will die with
less exposure than this.
Up to 500 to 600 roentgens exposure is required to affect egg production. At
these exposure levels egg production drops. The minimal levels are reached during
the second and third weeks following exposure. Near normal production returns by
about the ninth week in those that survive. The rate of recovery is apparently
directly related to the level of exposure. Exposure levels below 500 roentgens
apparently have some affect on egg production but not enough to be significant in
the research studies conducted. At exposures up to 200 roentgens there is no drop
in egg production.
In flocks of birds exposed to fatal levels of radiation, over a short period
of time (a few hours) deaths begin to occur about the eighth day and continue for
about 27 dam. The higher the dose, the sooner symptoms of radiation sickness
appear.
Initially there is a shaking of the head. Depression develops within a few
days and the birds crouch in a sleeping position for hours at a time. At this time
they extend their necks forward and downward over the feed and water troughs, rarely
moving for long periods of time. Combs and wattles develop a pendulous edema. Diff-
iculty in breathing and a serious discharge are prominent. Droppings become green
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at this time and death follows shortly.
7r birds that survive for longer than 35 days after exposure there is often a
loss of feathers.
It is the belief of the Subcommittee on Livestock Damage of the Advisory Committee
on Civil Defense, National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, that those
birds survivieg 30 days or longer will be the ones to survive six months or longer.
This information taken from Publication No, 1078, National Academy of Sciences,
National Research Council, "Damage to Livestock From Radioactive Fallout in Event of
Nuclear War". A Report of the Sub emir t.t s on Livestock Damage of the Advisory
Committee on Civil Defense.
PLAN TO PROTECT YOUR POULTRY
Poultry is unique in the livestock industry in that laying hens either produce
or they dongt. There is no stopping prech otion temporarily and then starting again.
Therefore pit is most important that poultrymen plan to provide protection from fall-
out and feed and water for their birds during the period of an emergency.
Inventory
Inventory your farm to determine what buildings offer the best protection. This
will probably be the building which can. be shut up tightest and has water supplies
in it. It should also be close to the source of feed for your birds. In most in-
stances it will probably be the poultry house. Determine how many days feed you
have under cover. Determine how much water storage you have in the buildings which
will house your poultry in event of s disaster.
Plan.for Shelter
After inventorying your facilities, feed and water supplies, plan for protect-
ing your birds. Plan which building or buildings you are going to keep them in
and be certain that you figure adequate space requirements per bird. These build-
ings will be shut up as tightly as possible during a nuclear emergency. Con-
sequently the space requirement per bird will be higher than for housing under
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normal conditions. You must figure on providing at least three sq. ft, per bird for
hens in production and 2 sgofto for broilers.
If you find that you do not have enough space for all of your birds, plan which
you intend to protect first and where you will put them, which you intend to protect
second and where they will be put, and so ono You will want to protect the most
valuable first." It is- better to be certain that the :number of birds placed in a
shelter can survive than to place too many in a shelter and have them suffocate.
Place your most valuable birds. in the best shelter with the best access to feed and
water.
The following table, taken from USDA Agricultural Handbook No., 234, illustrates
the effects of shielding of farm poultry in barns.
Mortality rate by nature of shelter
radiation exposure -- - _ .... - - _ -__
roentgens in 1 day no _ shelter tight wood barn G , 2 story barn Basement type
*(protection factor; loft full of G barn, loft
of 2) j hay - *(pro® full of hay -
i tection factor *(protection
w .of 5) factor of 10
or more)
___________. - -
500 roentgens Percent { Percent. ! Percent Percent
deaths ' j deaths II deaths deaths
30 0 I I 0 0
i I i
1,000 roentgens
exposure 6L 10 it 0 0
h I s
3,000 roentgens .H J
exposure 100 ;j 100 )0 li 0
*- Protection factor is the amount of reduction of radiation inside the shelter
from outside • A protection factor of 2 means that a person or animal would
receive one -half as much radiation inside the shelter as outside, a protect -
lon factor Of-5 means that a person or animal would receive one -fifth as
much radiation inside the shelter as outside and with a protection factor
of 10 a person or animal would get one- tenth as m 'icho
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Plan for Feed
Plan to use covered feed on the farm to your best advantage. Covered feed should
first be used for the most valuable birds, then for the less valuable. Feed that is
not covered will be contaminated by radioactive fallout and should be used only on
the least valuable birds or not used at all except to prevent starvation or loss of
production. Minimum survival requirements for hens in production is one - fourth pound
of feed per day and for broilers is one pound for each ten birds. You should plan so
that you can supply this amount with minimum time and labor requirements.
Plan for Water
Plan to provide the best source of water for your most valuable birds, if poss-
ible and consistent with providing them the best shelter. Hens in production and
broilers will require a minimum of 5 gallons of water for each 100 birds per day.
Remember that these birds will be tightly enclosed and the water requirement will
go up as does the space requirement.
If automatic waterers are used an alternate source of power must be provided
to operate the well pump in event of a power failure, This would be as necessary
for natural as for nuclear disaster. If you rely on storage you should compute
your water requirement for two weeks for each of the buildings containing birds
and be sure you have sufficient storage capacity in each building. Covered 50 gal.
drums in and around the building are good storage, and affords added farmstead fire
protection.
Work Schedules
Even during an early period following fallout, farm families may be faced with
doing certain farm chores. Radiation decays and becomes less intense with the pass-
age of time. Forty -nine hours after fallout descends radiation will be only about
one -one hundredth as great as at the start. It would be well for a family to plan
so that they would not have to leave their shelter during this period of time.
However, if absolutely necessary a person could be outside for brief periods of
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time while radioactivity is high. You will receive iy,structions over the Emergency
Broadcast System giving intensities and how long you corgi ".mod work outside during an
emergency. Various public agencies have radiological non toring assignments and
qualified personnel to accomplish this task. Information from these agencies will
be relayed to the public via the Emergency Broadcast Sysi:eq.
Do not go out of your shelter without knowing how long you can stay or the
intensity of radiation in your area. We must first he concerned with the preser-
vation of human lives and only secondly with the survival of our livestock.
Inventory Plus Planning Equals Protection
It has been determined that the majority of our rural people could survive a
nuclear disaster if all would simply inventory what they have on their farm, plan
to use to the best advantage what they have, learn to improve on these plans, and
improve their knowledge of civil defense, Have YOU made provisions to protect YOUR
family? For more information contact your County Agent or your local Director of
Civil Defense. 100 CAN :SuRvI`
References for your use
PA-578 Your Family Survival Plan
PA-583 Your Farm Preparedness Plan
G-77 Family Food Stockpile for Survival
PA -516 Your Livestock Can Survive Fallout
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RECONYENDLTIONS FOR MINUMUM
SURVIVAL REQUIREEENTS
OF LIVESTOCK
Animals Feed Per Day Water Per Day Space Required
Large breeds 20# hay 72 gal winter 20 cows or less - 30 sq.ft.
Dairy Cow in Production Small breeds 15# hay 9 gal summer 21 cows or more - 50 sq.ft.
Large breeds 20# hay 7i gal winter 5 cows or less - 20 sq.ft.
Dairy Cow Dry Small breeds 15# hay 9 gal summer
72 gal winter
Beef cow with calf 14# hay 9 gal summer 150 sq.ft.
5 gal winter
Beef cow dry 12# hay 72 gal summer 50 sq. ft.
3 gal winter
Weaning calves 8 -12# hay 6 41al summer 50 sq. ft.
Brood sow with litter 3 -4# grain 3 -4 gal 40 sq. ft.
Brood sow dry 1 -2# grain 1 gal 20 sq. ft.
Weaning pigs 1 -4# grain 1 qt. - 1 gal 12 sq. ft.
Hens in production 4# feed 5 gal for each 3 sq. ft.
100 hens
Broilers 1# for each 5 gal for each 2 sq. ft.
10 birds 100 birds
Ewe with lamb 4# hay 3 qts. 32 sq. ft.
Ewe dry 2# hay 2 qts, 16 sq. ft.
Weaning lamb 12 -2# hay 1 qt. 16 sq. ft.
You can substitute 1# of mixed grain for 2# of hay up to about 50% of the total
feed requirement.
These recommendations are minimum requirements for survival during an emergency
only and are to be used for no other purpose.
Developed by H. C. Tankersley, Rural Civil Defense Leader; Robert E. Black, Extension
Poultry Specialist; George W. Cleveland, Extension Dairyman; and Wade G. Wells,
Extension Animal Husbandman, University of Idaho, College of Agriculture, Agricultural
Extension Service.
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