Salt and other trace minerals provide necessary elements and is important for the animals to stay healthy. A farmer provides food and shelter for the animals. At Oxon Hill Farm, farmers feed the animals twice a day and clean the barns every day. When the animals are sick, the farmer calls the veterinarian to check them. Usually, the farmer will keep the animal in isolation until it is well again.
Animals can eat too much and become sick.
For example, one of the sheep at Oxon Hill Farm became sick when she ate too much of the variety of food offered from visitors' hands. That is why we do not permit visitors to feed the animals. Some of the animals have to be groomed daily. Brushing horses, especially after they have been worked, is an important task because it cleans the sweat and salt from their pores and improves their blood circulation. Most animals keep themselves clean if the farmer keeps their pens and stalls clean.