2. Breeds of Livestock Livestock Production Systems Livestock
Breeding and Reproduction Livestock Housing Health and Hygiene Good
Management Practices Management of waste and environment. Basic
Principle of Economics in Farming. Processing of Marketing of
Livestock and Livestock products.
3. Cattle -Beef minimum 200 heads of cattle -Dairy 100 litres
per day in peak lactation -Dual purpose 50-200 heads of cattle.
-Zero grazing 1-3 Cows Goats/Sheep 50 goats. Pigs 4 sows Birds 500
layers; 1000 broilers ; 100 Locals.
4. Hardy Animals. Hash Conditions Feeds Marginal agricultural
areas. Easy to handle by women and children.
5. A breed is a group of animals that have a common origin and
certain similar physical characteristics ,which are
distinguishable. Origin Body size Colour Coat type Ear shape and
length Function Height of withers
6. Tethering. Extensive grazing systems Zero grazing systems
Semi-intensive systems A number of factors including
culture,traditions,land size and number of livestock. Water Mineral
Salts Common feeds, grasses legumes and supplementary feeding.
7. Cattle 1 Head of cattle per acre Goats 40 Goats per acre
Pigs Poultry Full deep litter Layers Growers Broilers per sq meter
4-6 6-8 10-15 birds
8. Pastures ,fodders and legumes. Supplementary feeding.
Nutrients requirements. Water requirements. Domestic food wastes.
Hay and silage. Mineral Supplements.
9. It is important that farmers get adequate knowledge and
control over selection and reproductive processes of the male and
female livestock. Selection of desirable good qualities are
selected. Bad qualities are eliminated by culling.ie removing of
poor parents and their offspring Breeding options: -Close breeding
.In breeding and line breeding. Out breeding: -Cross breeding and
Back crossing.
10. Goats 40 female to 1 Pigs 20 female to 1 Cocks 1 female 20
Cows 40 to 1 Bulls Guinea Fowl Ducks
11. Profitable farming is aimed at maximizing production and
productivity through efficient utilization of available resources
and minimizing the outside inputs. Considerations: -Suitable
environment for best performance -Ability to adjust and perform
well in the new environment. -Production potential -Cost of the
breeding stock Cost-benefit analysis of the enterprise or gross
margin.
12. Individual data Lifetime performance Pedigree information
Progeny Performance No. of offspring. Number of offspring weaned.
Weight of offsprings at birth. Weaning weight. Growth rate Milk
yield over lactation period. Slaughter weight.
13. Reduced performance of flock Deformities which may include:
-Undershort or overshort jaws. -Male with one testicles -Female
with long pendulus udders/hard udders. -Hermaphrodites or psuedo
hermaphrodites -Infertile females and males.
14. Time of year when there is plenty of feeds. Right age for
breeding. Signs of heat period. Keeping of records during
breeding.
15. Extra care in terms of nutrition and protection. A good
plane (level) of nutrition will improve fertility and chances of
twinning. Flushing in the last days of pregnancy will improve
chances of normal delivery. Signs of giving births: -Enlarge udder
Fluids from the teats Softened muscles of the hip joints. Swollen
vulva ,red and white discharges. Restless.
16. Withdraw from feeds Rapid breathing Turns and gazes at her
flank Straining in labour Abdominal muscle contract Water bag
protrudes Rush of water Appearance of two legs of the young.
Appearance of the head resting on the front legs The rest of the
body is pushed out. Incase of twins or triplets other kids come out
at 10-20 minutes interval.
17. Check for breathing by removing mucus. Swing if lifeless by
the hind legs. Press the sides of the new born until it shows life.
Apply tincture iodine on the umbilical cord. If the mother does not
have milk use foster mother. Assist the kid to suckle by holding it
and guiding its mouth to the teat. Check that teats are not
blocked. If all this fail ;feed the young using feeding bottle The
young must get colostrums within the first 12-14 hours.
18. Appropriate and adequate housing is an absolute necessity
for livestock farming. Protection from adverse weather. Hygiene
Predators Thieves.
19. The type of houses and size varies with: Farming system
Size of herd Resources available Different groups of animals have
varying housing requirements. Breeding males, Pregnant females,
Young ones and the sick. Principals features of a house. -Siting
-Design -Type of roof -Roof
20. Animal health is important factor in production . High
economic losses range from death of more than 50% of flock,
mortalities and morbidities . Weak vet. services and farmer
ignorance. Predisposing factors to diseases are: -Husbandry
practices -Breeding -Nutrition and -Stress.
21. Time spent on obtaining an accurate description of the
problem or disease infection . Indicators of ill health.
Consequences of ill health Causes of diseases: Viruses Protozoa
Bacteria Fungi Helminthes External parasites Poisons Physical
injuries Nutritional disorders Genetics.
22. General animal care which include :good
feeding,shelter,breeding,c are of hooves, treatment and prevention
of diseases is necessary. Bad health leads reduced growth rate in
the young and productivity in adults which in turn increases
production costs as well as veterinary costs. Failure of the young
one to feed ,poor sanitation and poor feeding makes the animals
more susceptible to diseases/infections. Identify and isolate the
sick animals and give them special care until recovery.
23. Release the sick animal to join the rest of the animals
,only after its feeding has returned to normal and signs of disease
have subsided. Routine health care including good management
practices must be practiced and these include among others
treatment against diseases ,Deworming and vaccinations.
24. Good management practices and procedure is an essential
tool in livestock farming like any other business. Record
management. -Identification -Reproduction -Production Health
records Expenditure and income. Flock numbers.
25. Identification of animals Hoof trimming Dehorning
Castration Drenching of animals Taking temperature Aging animals
Estimation of weight.
26. Death of the young in the first three months. Respiratory
problems. Pneumonia Mastitis Diarrhea Internal parasites. Mange
Lice Orf Tick borne diseases Brucellosis Bloat NCD Fowl pox ASF
Fowl Pox NB: For purposes of diagnosis ,it is important that a
veterinary scout or a veterinary surgeon be consulted.
27. Livestock may degrade the environment if not properly
managed. Stray animals e.g. Pigs Animal waste may be used as:
-Manure -Fertilizers -Fish pond fertilizer
28. Farmers must understand why they should opt for livestock
farming. Informed of what is involved in an efficient and effective
livestock farming system. Informed of what must guide them in
decision making Undertake a simple economic analysis of livestock
farming. Efficiency of production: Is the production per unit of
food eaten by the animal. I1. Meat = live weight before slaughter.
Determined by lean meat. Is determined by growth rate. 2.Milk=
quantity and quantity. 3. Flock performance. 4. Feed conversion
rate.
29. Reproductive Efficiency=Reproducti ve Performance.
Reproductive rate of individual and flock.
30. Value increases with demand. Popularized products. Excess
from family requirements should prepared for market. Handling,
processing and marketing skills required. Milk and Milk derivatives
e.g.. Yorghut,skimmed milk ,butter and cheese. Meat Skins Fibre
Horns
31. Direct selling to local consumers. Individual or single
marketing Selling under environmental and climatic pressures like
drought. When they have urgent needs of cash i.e. school fees
medical. Market Interventions: -Direct collection. -Promotional
sale -Collective transport. Assistance to farmers: Formation of
Producer groups, associations and cooperatives. Contract supplies
Support from Government Agencies .e.g. NAADS,DDA,NUSAF.
32. NAADS Goat Production Manual- 2005. NAADS Pig Production
Manual-2005 NAADS User guide on Dairy husbandry Practises-2011.
NAADS User guide on poultry rearing-2011.