Livestock Management II

SUBJECT: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
CLASS: SS1
DATE:
TERM: 3RD TERM
REFERENCES
• Essential Agricultural Science for Senior Secondary Schools by O. A. Iwena
• Agricultural Science WAEC PQ
• Practical approach to animal production and health by Akinlade J. A. et al.
• General outlook to livestock production by Akinlade J. A. et al.
• Essential biology for Senior Secondary Schools by M. C. Michael
• Wikipedia
WEEK TEN
LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT II
CONTENT
MANAGEMENT OF RUMINANT [CATTLE]
Cattle
Breeds of cattle
Terms used in cattle management
Characteristics of cattle
System of rearing cattle
Feeding of cattle
Management of cattle
Cattle are ruminant animal (they have complex or complicated stomach structures). Cattle
have hollow horns and hoofs. They are reared for meat, milk, hide and skin, manure and
draught animals for farm work. They belong to the family bovidae and genus Bos; humped
cattle are Bosindicushumpless are Bostaurus.
BREEDS OF CATTLE
Breeds of cattle can be grouped into three. These are
Beef cattle: They can produce good quality meat

SokotoGudali, Red Bororo, Kuri, N’dama, Muturu, Keteku etc.
Dairy cattle: They are reared mainly to produce milk.
White Fulani, Jersey, Ayshere, etc.
Dual purpose cattle: They can produce meat and milk

Muturu, Wadara (Shuwa) etc.
TERMS USED IN CATTLE MANAGEMENT

Bull: an adult male cattle Cow: an adult female cattle
Calf: a young or baby cattle Heifer: a growing female cattle up to her first calving.
Serving: act of mating in cattle Calving: act of parturition in cattle
Herd: a group of cattle Beef: meat of cattle
EVALUATION
1. State five breeds of cattle
2. List five importance of cattle
CHARACTERISTICS OF CATTLE
1. They are large bodied animals.
2. Most male and female cattle have horns some are polled.
3. They are either humped or humpless.
4. They calf at least once in a year.
5. They have a gestation period of about 275-283 days (912 months).
6. The female produces a calf in one parturition.
SYSTEMS OF REARING CATTLE

EXTENSIVE SYSTEM
This is the system in which the herdsmen move about with their cattle from one place to
another in search of food and water. Movement is under the influence of rainfall,
availability of pasture and Tse-tse fly. No organized housing and health care provided. The
animals are exposed to natural hazards, thieves and wild animals attack and disease
outbreak cannot be easily controlled. It is a very cheap system of rearing cattle and the
animals enjoy feed of their choice and freedom of exercise.
SEMI-INTENSIVE SYSTEM
In this system, housing is provided and they are allowed to move about a fenced compound
with pasture. They spend more time outside their pens. The system needs low capital
investment but labour requirement is high. Diseases and parasites infestation are slightly
high.
INTENSIVE SYSTEM
In this system, the cattle are confined within a building with little access to grazing. Grasses
by zero-grazing, water and medication are supplied effectively to the cattle. Disease and
parasite infestation is very low.
EVALUATION
1. Outline five characteristics of cattle.
2. What are the disadvantages of extensive system of rearing cattle?
FEEDING
The feed for cattle must be a balanced diet; they are grazers.
Cattle feed mainly on roughages (grasses and legumes). Common grasses that can be fed on
by cattle include elephant grass, guinea grass and giant star grass etc.
Cattle should be fed on concentrate feed to supply the required nutrient in their diet.
Zero-grazing or rational grazing can be practiced.
1. Zero grazing grasses are cut and taken to the cattle in their pens.
2. Rational grazing-cattle are moved about in paddocks as they graze on the pasture.
Other feeds that can be fed to cattle include hay, silage, strawe.t.c.
Dairy cattle should be given more concentrate than the beef cattle
MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE
The management of cattle from breeding to market size can be grouped under three
headings which includes
BREEDING TO CALVING (BIRTH)

Breeders are housed in the breeders’ house. The house is made up of railed wall and
concrete
floors. Bulls and heifers should be at least 24 month before they are bred. The cow or
heifers should be proper fed on concentrate as well as roughages. The bull is introduced to
the cow when she is on heat. Gestation period is about 283 days. During gestation, the cow
is made to eat in the ranch so as to exercise its body. Special diet is given to cows 8 weeks
to calving for milk production after birth. This is called steaming up. The cow is taken to
calving.
BIRTH OF CALF TO WEANING

During parturition, the cord from the navel breaks on its own. Iodine solution should be
applied to the navel stump to prevent infection. The animal should be helped to suck milk
from the mother’s udder. The first milk called colostrum is secreted by the mammary gland
and it gives young animals natural immunity against diseases. Calf should be vaccinated
against diseases and de-worm at intervals. Those not for breeding are castrated.
WEANING TO FINISHING
The weaned calf is fed with concentrate and roughages. The de-horning or dis-budding is
performed for easy handling of the cattle when they grow up. De-horning can be done by
using hot iron to burn out the horn bud or by applying caustic soda to the horn bud. Saw
can also be used to cut off the horn and later treated with iodine. Branding and tattooing is
later done for the purpose of identification of the calf. Ear notching can also be used for
identification.
COMMON PARASITE AND DISEASE OF CATTLE

DISEASE OF CATTLE
MANGE is caused by mites

Symptoms include skin irritation, alopecia due to scratching to get rid of mites, thick and
scaly skin.
It is transmitted by direct body contact. Treat all infected animals with insecticides and
repeat after 2weeks, maintain proper hygiene and sanitation in pig houses, administer
invermectin or ivomec injection.
Some effective insecticide again mange are diazuntol, malathione, benzyl benzoate,
benzene hexachloride etc.
TUBERCULLOSIS is caused by bacteria

This disease is zoonotic, poor sanitation and hygiene are major factors that causes this
disease.
It is transmitted via direct body contact, suckling infected milk, inhaling infected droplets
from a coughing or sneezing animal with the disease, inhaling infected dust particles etc.
Symptoms include frequent dry coughing with whitish or yellowish discharge, swelling of
lymph node on necks and front leg, hard lumpy and enlarged udder with pus
filled/yellowish milk droplets, emaciation and death.
Can be treated by administering 10mg/kg body weight of isonicotinichydracide for eight

weeks but does not guarantee 100% recovery. It can be prevented by avoiding
overcrowding, maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation, slaughtering of infected animals
etc.
COMMON PARASITE OF CATTLE

Worms of cattle includes roundworm, flat worms, liver fluke etc.
Ectoparasites include tick, mites, tsetse fly, lice.
GENERAL EVALUATION
List five breeds of cattle
List five products that can be obtained from cattle
Outline five characteristics of cattle
Discuss briefly the intensive system of rearing cattle
discuss briefly the management of cattle from
1. breeding to calving
2. birth to weaning
List four other feeds that can be fed to cattle apart from fresh grasses.
Discuss briefly the common parasite and disease of cattle.
READING ASSIGNMENT
• Essential Agricultural Science for Senior Secondary Schools by O.A. Iwena chapter 32
page 318 – 323
• Answer the following questions from WAEC PAQ 1992 question 7, 2012 theory
question 7, 2005 theory question 7 and 8, 2006 theory question 7, 2007 theory
question 7 and 8
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
1. The gestation period in days of a cow is A. 283 B. 114 C. 42 D. 823
2. The discontinuation of feeding young animals with milk is known as A. lactation B.
weaning C.suckling D. feeding
3. Natural immunity against diseases is conferred on the newly born young animals
through A. feeding of colostrumsB. vaccination C. Sanitation D. weaning
4. A young female cattle is referred to as a A. cow B. bull C. heifer D.vealer
5. The act of parturition in cow is known as A. kidding B. calving C. weaning D. sowing
THEORY
1. Define the following in cattle rearing a) tattooing b) zero-grazing c) rotational grazing.
2. Outline five economic importances of cattle.

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SUBJECT: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Beef cattle: They can produce good quality meat

Dual purpose cattle: They can produce meat and milk

TERMS USED IN CATTLE MANAGEMENT

SYSTEMS OF REARING CATTLE

BREEDING TO CALVING (BIRTH)

BIRTH OF CALF TO WEANING

COMMON PARASITE AND DISEASE OF CATTLE

MANGE is caused by mites

TUBERCULLOSIS is caused by bacteria

Can be treated by administering 10mg/kg body weight of isonicotinichydracide for eight

COMMON PARASITE OF CATTLE

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