All of our livestock could live without bathing in a commercial situation. They were built to live outdoors without the need for baths. Cattle can roll in the dust. Pigs have their mud baths. Lanolin on sheep's wool keeps dirt at bay. For show animals bathing is necessary, especially for proper appearance. There are some dos and don'ts to remember.
DOs
- Bathe animals in a safe location. This includes a good footing for you and the animal to stand on when it is wet. There is enough room for you and your animal. The location drains well.
- Use appropriate bathing products. Use soaps and shampoos made for livestock to prevent skin irritations. Or use mild general detergents like Dawn® soap (not a product endorsement). If it is safe for use on animals after an oil spill, it is okay for yours.
- Use the appropriate water pressure. Would you want to be hosed off at full pressure? Turn on enough pressure to wash you animal, but not so much that it is uncomfortable.
- Be quick about it. Stop texting, spookychat, insta-whatever and put the phone down. Wet, soap up, rinse and dry your animals without taking a break.
- Remove the caked on stuff. Mud and manure crusty hard on the hair is damaging. Get it off with water, some gentle scrubbing and elbow grease.
- Dry with clean towels. It is tempting to use, let dry and use again the same towel, but it can create problems. Fungus like ringworm and wool fungus can be on the towel and you may unknowingly spread it all over your animal.
- Do moisturize. Soap and shampoos remove natural oils from the skin and hair. After washing use a conditioner appropriate for your animal to help replace lost natural oils to keep hair and skin healthy.
- Do not spray hot animals down with cold water. It causes them to stress by suddenly cooling their body. If an animal is hot and needs a bath, start by spraying their feet and slowly work up legs. Once they do not seem as hot (stopped panting, breathing heavy and feel cooler to the touch) then work up the body.
- "Not the Face!" Do not spray animals in the face. I prefer to use a wet rag on the face. And be careful using soaps and shampoos around the eyes. It is uncomfortable and can be harmful if it gets in their eyes. If it does, be sure you get the soap out of the eyes.
- Do not bathe every day. If you have cattle and you are trying to work hair, just rinse if you need to wet them down every day. Soaps and shampoos remove oils on the hair which keep it healthy. If you use soaps and shampoos, you are removing the natural oils and making the hairs dry and brittle. Then it will begin to fall and comb out, defeating the purpose of trying to work hair. With sheep, you are removing the lanolin which protects the wool. I suggest you only wash sheep before a trimming or a show.
- Don't wash in a dangerous situation. If you do not have a good safe spot to wash, just don't. There is no reason to put yourself and animal at risk just to be clean.
- Do not fight with your animals. Some just do not like being bathed. If the wash rack is stressful once, it will be stressful every time for your animal. Make it as pleasant as possible.
I hope you get those animal washed up and looking good. And one more Don't. Don't forget to take pictures in the wash rack for the record books!
Scott Stinnett
Area Extension Agent
Kit Carson County
Golden Plains Area
Colorado State University Extension
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