From page 41
should be clearly marked.
Rules for visitor conduct and
safety should also be clearly
posted on signs near each
animal enclosure.
There are some diseases that
can spread from farm animals
to humans, and children are
particularly at risk. The
animals most likely to spread
disease are those that show
signs of ill-health, for example, animals with:
K Diarrhoea (salmonellosis,
colibacillosis etc)
K Signs of recent abortion
(yersiniosis, salmonellosis etc)
K Sores round their mouth
(scabby mouth)
K Hairless crusty skin lesions
(ringworm, mange)
K Blood-stained urine
(leptospirosis)
Take particular care with
hand-reared animals that
have diarrhoea.
K Infrastructure. Then you
BUSINESS
Your livestock should always be healthy,
but be particularly vigilant for outbreaks
of animal diseases that can be spread
to humans
be a given for anyone who
keeps animals anyway.
K Marketing. You will need
to get your message out
there. It is important to
market a petting farm to the
must consider your infrastruc- necessary to move animals
target audience: children and
ture. The facilities for the
and supplies. Larger parks
animals should include both
often offer trailer rides around their parents.
Continued on page 44
display areas (where animals
the park, towed by a tractor.
can interact with visitors) and You are not likely to be able
areas that are restricted from
to run this on your own. Will
public access. It is also
any of your family members
important to have areas
be willing to help and are
where you can quarantine
they knowledgeable enough?
any sick animals or those
Depending on the scale of
about to give birth.
your operation, you may
Adequate shade is another
need to hire additional full or
important feature for both the part time staff to clean up
animals and the patrons of
after the animals, give food
the farm.
and water, sell tickets, operate
a gift shop if you choose to
The facilities for visitors
have one, perform general
should include an entrance
park maintenance and
area, toilet facility, safe paths
for walking between exhibits, supervise guests as they
paved or gravel parking areas interact with the animals.
and seating areas.
You will need to have a good
Golf carts, trucks, trailers, and relationship with your
veterinarian – but that should
farm equipment will be
43
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