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Heat Lamp Use for Newborn Livestock

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It’s that time of year when we hear in the news of barn fires as a result of heat lamps being used for lambing, kidding, and even calving.  As temperatures get colder, livestock producers raising young animals need to make conditions favorable for rearing newborns in adverse conditions. Adding heat lamps to livestock pens should be done with caution.  With any electrical appliance or heating source, precautions need to be taken.

If you must use a heat lamp, best management practices recommend the following tips:

  1. Purchase a high-quality heat lamp. Use lamps that are enclosed with a heat lamp guard (wire or otherwise). If using a lamp outdoors, make sure the lamp is labeled for outdoor use.
  2. Use high- quality bulbs. Low quality bulbs such as thin glass can shatter.
  3. Regularly inspect to make sure that the bulb is tightly secured, and wiring is not exposed, is sealed, and is secured.
  4. Avoid using bulbs over 250W.
  5. Many lamps are used over numerous years. Remove any dust, cobwebs, or dead insects before use.
  6. Secure the lamp to a panel using a non-flammable chain or a heat lamp clamp.  Do not use twine or rope.
  7. Make sure the lamp is secured high enough that adult livestock cannot tamper or abuse the fixture (with head butts, kicks, or bashing).
  8. Keep the lamp away from the ground, combustible bedding (like straw and blankets), and the newborn livestock at a minimum distance of 20”.  Never lay a heat lamp on a flammable surface.
  9. Plug your heat lamp into an Arc Fault Interrupter breaker which will trip if the fixture sparks.  Best practice is to plug directly into an outlet and not an extension cord.
  10. Keep a 10-pound, ABC multipurpose fire extinguisher in the barn for incipient fires.
  11. Install a loud smoke detector that can be heard at the house that will help to alert you of a fire.
  12. A barn temperature monitoring system or fire monitoring system is ideal, but barn cameras will help monitor conditions when use of alternate heat methods are necessary.  This will help keep an eye on barn conditions and potential problems.
  13. Never leave a heat lamp unattended, especially overnight.

Heat lamps pose a significant fire risk, as they are designed to warm the area they are heating. There will be cases where you cannot avoid using a heat lamp, and in those situations, it is important to continuously check on the livestock and monitor the pen area for signs of overheating or dryness of the bedding material. Once the animal is warmed, turn off the light.

 

This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team, https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Sabrina Schirtzinger, ANR Educator Knox County, can be reached at 740-397-0401 or Schirtzinger.55@osu.edu.

Wayne Dellinger, ANR Educator Union County, can be reached at 937-644-8117 or Dellinger.6@osu.edu.

Dee Jepsen, Ag Safety and Health Specialist, can be reached at 614-292-6008 or Jepsen.4@osu.edu.

 

Poultry Exhibitors: New ODA Exhibition Guidelines for 2025

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Market chickens and market turkeys bought from an NPIP source do NOT have to be tested before exhibition

NPIP hatcheries and flocks continue to be a part of a testing program to ensure pullorum free status. Even if an individual brings those market poultry to their property where they have other birds present (layers, fancy birds, etc.), they do NOT need to be retested.

The above exemption is for market poultry projects (turkeys, chickens) only. If individuals are showing in a fancy or breeding poultry show (typically these projects are multi-year projects), those birds MAY be subject to pullorum testing.

Source: Ohio Poultry Association January Newsletter

Rising HPAI Cases in Ohio: A Critical Reminder of Biosecurity Measures

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As cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continue to rise in Ohio, the poultry industry faces increasing challenges in protecting flocks from this highly contagious and deadly virus. In recent weeks/days, several commercial poultry farms have reported confirmed HPAI detections, underscoring the urgent need for heightened vigilance across the state.

HPAI poses a serious threat to both poultry health and the economy, with the potential to cause devastating losses in infected flocks. The virus spreads rapidly through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated materials, such as feed, equipment, and even personnel.

Biosecurity Remains Key to Protection

The importance of robust biosecurity protocols cannot be overstated. These measures, designed to prevent the introduction and spread of disease, are the first line of defense in safeguarding poultry populations. Poultry owners must be proactive in enforcing strict biosecurity practices on their farms, including:

  1. Access Control: Restricting visitors to your poultry areas and limiting contact with other animals and birds.
  2. Personal Hygiene: Ensuring clean clothing and disinfect footwear before entering poultry access areas.
  3. Environmental Sanitation: Regular cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, vehicles, and poultry housing, particularly after contact with potentially contaminated animals or materials.
  4. Wild Bird Control: Preventing wild birds from entering poultry facilities or coming into contact with your flock.
  5. Surveillance and Monitoring: Regular health checks and early detection of symptoms can prevent outbreaks from spreading further.

As Ohio’s poultry industry continues to battle the spread of HPAI, it is crucial that all poultry producers, large and small, review their efforts in maintaining these essential biosecurity measures. The risks associated with HPAI are significant, but through vigilance, preparedness, and collaboration, we can work to protect Ohio’s poultry industry and mitigate the broader impact of this disease.

Stay informed, stay prepared, and prioritize biosecurity on your farm. Every step taken today can help prevent the spread of HPAI tomorrow.

For helpful Biosecurity resources, please visit these websites:

Source: Ohio Poultry Association January Newsletter

Poultry Producers – Catch the Backyard Flock Biosecurity Webinar Recording

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Thank you to those able to attend OPA’s webinar on Backyard Flock Biosecurity. OPA partnered with Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio state University Extension to go over an HPAI update, signs and symptoms of AI and biosecurity tips for your flock. If you missed the webinar, you may watch the recording at the link below.

Recording Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/FSbbJWROqvLE845lyQYCVa-2bpIVbfpxi8xWn_g77oceOn2k5-7DGZtdoFUNCmrm.PNKcUUWIpdmvA9Ua

Passcode: V!8BYZ=H

Source: Ohio Poultry Association January Newsletter

Mandatory Horse Exhibitor Safety Training (EquiSTEP) is open! Must complete by June 1st

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EquiSTEP is an annual statewide requirement for all youth participating in Ohio 4-H Horse Program activities and/or enrolled in a 4-H horse project.  EquiSTEP replaces the statewide requirement of reading the Horses, Safety, and You (191R) resource and viewing the Every Time, Every Ride and Horses, Kids, and Ethics videos for youth and their families who are new to the   4-H horse program.

The EquiSTEP curriculum follows the 4’Hs and focuses on head (helmet safety), hands (equine safety & handling), health (equine health & nutrition), and heart (sportsmanship) and is designed to rotate topics every year.

EquiSTEP is designed to be completed online by each participant individually through Scarlet Canvas or administered in a group setting by a county 4-H educator to their participants, similar to QA for livestock market projects.

Here is the link to enroll in/access this year’s EquiSTEP: https://cfaesosu.catalog.instructure.com/courses/equistep-2025 (This link is also available at the bottom of the home page for horse.osu.edu.)   The course opened at the beginning of February and must be completed by Fairfield County 4-H and FFA exhibitors by June 1st.

To complete EquiSTEP individually, a participant must enroll using their own unique email address.  (Participants should not use their school email addresses as the course enrollment invitation will be blocked by the school’s email system.)  Participants must view all five videos (introduction and STEPS 1-4) which last approximately one hour in total.  Once the videos are completed, participants will be able to access the 10-question quiz.  Participants must complete the quiz associated with the training and achieve a minimum score of 7 (out of 10) in order to pass the training.  Once the quiz is successfully completed, participants will need to complete the course survey to trigger a certificate of completion.  The certificate will be emailed to the participant’s email address as well as their county’s 4-H email address.  The participant must select Fairfield County to trigger the email to the correct email address and they must click on the submit button at the end of the survey to trigger the email.

 

Youth Opportunity: Minecraft Hour of Code – Generation AI

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Free Training Available: AI Literacy with Minecraft Education’s AI Foundations Program

4‑H has teamed up with Microsoft to help youth build AI skills through the blocky fun of Minecraft with Minecraft Hour of Code: Generation AI. Youth can learn how to code, explore the magic of responsible AI, and discover how it can solve real‑world problems, all within their favorite game.

Join us for a training course to learn more about how you can implement AI literacy into your 4‑H programming.

Dates:

  • Thursday, February 13 — 11: 00 AM CT
  • Tuesday, February 25 — 11:00 AM CT
  • Wednesday, March 19 — 11:00 AM CT

This program is offered to 4‑H at no charge, thanks to a generous partnership with Microsoft.

REGISTER NOW

Please reach out to Sara Hutches at shutches@4‑H.org with any questions.

Source: National 4-H Council Newsletter 2/7/2025

Teen Opportunity: Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board Applications due 3/12/2025

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Applications are open through March 12. The Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board is made up of our great state’s best and brightest young leaders, hand-picked to contribute to the success of the Ohio State Fair each year. These students come together for two weeks of hard work and team building while fostering professional relationships along the way.

What are the requirements for my organization members?

In addition to being an outstanding leader, prospective members should meet the following general criteria:

  • 16-20 years old
  • Currently a member of 4-H, FFA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or Farm Bureau, or any other career technical organization
  • Highly involved members in their organization
  • Significant accomplishments within the organization (i.e. competition at the state and/or national level, leadership experiences, community service/volunteer experiences, etc.)
  • Leadership experience with the potential and desire to continue to grow as a leader
  • Very responsible, respectful, and professional
  • Members are only eligible to serve one two year term on the JFB representing one organization

What is the time commitment?

Junior Fair Board members commit approximately two weeks of time to the Ohio State Fair, arriving the Monday prior to the Fair’s Wednesday opening. First year Junior Fair Board members are paid a flat-rate stipend for their service; returning members will receive a higher stipend for their second year of service.

How do my organization members apply?

All interested applicants should submit the official Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board application through the online application portal between February 1 and March 1. Interested students can also apply to serve as an at-large member if they represent one or more of these organizations.

Source: Ohio Expo Center & State Fair website

4-H Day Youth Volunteers – share your projects 4-Hers!

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4-H Day is coming up on Saturday, March 1st from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the AAA Building at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. We could not host this “open house” and 4-H kickoff event without the help of our 4-H volunteers, youth, and families. Here is what we need and are looking for:

  • Kids of all ages who want to show off their projects. All projects welcome – bring animals, project books, awards, displays, etc. Setup will begin at 12:00 p.m. and those kids who would like to have a display should contact 4-H Day Chairs, Jessica Scott and Bethany Miller, at fairfield.4hday23@gmail.com to let them know what they plan to bring.
    • Pens and cages will be available IF we know that they are bring an animal. If they bring an animal, they are responsible for feed, water, bedding, and cleaning up after their animal.
    • We will be limiting project displays to ONE per project so please let Jessica and Bethany know what you’d like to bring (i.e. we will not have 3 different members bring 3 pet rabbits!)
  • Adults (advisors….and parents are also welcome) to help with registration, answering general 4-H questions and club placement/check-out. Clubs looking to add members are strongly encouraged to attend and recruit at 4-H Day.

This is a great way for kids to engage in public speaking and add something to their Junior Achievement or Ohio 4-H Achievement Forms (4-H promotion/awareness at its finest!)

4-H School Enrichment – Looking for fertilized chicken eggs!

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4-H ChickQuest: Is a program that that we offer to Fairfield County Schools incubating about 100 dozen eggs each spring and reaching 2000 youth. We are currently looking to update our contact list of local families who may have fertilized chicken or duck eggs that they are willing to donate for this program or offer at a reasonable price. If you have anything available, please reach out to Leslie Cooksey by email (cooksey.25@osu.edu) or phone (740-653-5419) as soon as possible as we are working through scheduling schools as we speak and hope to get some schools/incubators started as early as late February.