COURSE: Principles of Animal Production (AS 208) Semester I
STUDENTS: B.S. Agric. Hons. Part II and B.Sc. Agricultural Engineering Hons. Part II.
COURSE CO-ORDINATOR: Dr. J. Kusina
OBJECTIVES:
This course is intended to give students an overview and appreciation of the factors which affect animal production and the management practices used to minimize the adverse effects of these factors. These factors include the physical environment, for instance temperature and humidity, nutrition, disease, etc. and these will be emphasized wherever they are a constraint to animal production. The course will cover management practices of the five main forms of animal production (beef and dairy cattle, small ruminants, pigs and poultry. The knowledge acquired in this course will enable students to understand the problems of and opportunities available in animal production. This will enable the students to make a meaningful contribution in solving of problems facing the livestock industry.
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Lectures 52 x 1 h
Tutorials 6 x 1 h (every fortnight)
Field Classes 7 x 4 h (every fortnight/when possible)
Assignments: Field class reports essays/seminars
Tests to be given at the end of every section as fit.
Mid semester test 1 x 3h written
Final Examination: 1 x 3 h written
LECTURERS:
Mr I. D. T. Mpofu
Dr N. T. Ngongoni
Dr H. Hamudikuwanda
Dr M. Titterton
Dr L. R. Ndlovu
Dr J. Kusina
Dr F. Mhlanga
GRADING
Continuous assessment
30%
Field Class Reports
15
Tests
15
Final written examination 70%
COURSE OUTLINE
SECTION 1: 4 lectures Dr. N.T. Ngongoni: Week 1 -- 2
Principles of Animal Niitritinn
(a) Classification of animal feedstuffs
(i) Chemical: Water
carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic acids, Vitamins,
Minerals.
(ii) Physical structure: Roughages, Concentrates.
(b) Pastures and fodder as main feedstuffs for ruminants
(i) Chemical composition and nutritive value
(ii) Principles of pasture and fodder conservation
(iii) Feed processing: milling; mixing; pelleting etc.
(c) The fate of food consumed by ruminants and non-ruminants
(i) Digestion of food in non-ruminants
(ii) Digestion of food in ruminants
(iii) Measurement of digestibility
(iv) Partition of food energy in the animal
SECTION 2: 1 lecture Mr I.D.T. Mpofu: Week 2
(a) The role of animal production in Agriculture and the Economy.
(b) Pastoral, Agropastoral, Ranching, Intensive Extensive;
(c) Subsistence versus commercial systems.
SECTION 3: Management Practices for Farm Livestock
(a) Beef Production 5 lectures Mr I.D.T. Mpofu: Week 2 - 3
(i) Distribution of beef cattle: World, Africa, Zimbabwe.
(ii) Beef Industry in Zimbabwe
*Reason for low off take from communal areas.
(iii) Systems of production:
Pastoral, Agro-pastoral, Ranching, Intensive, Extensive,
Commercial
vs Subsistences
(iv) Beef breeds, adaptability and breeding
(vii)Handling of
cattle
- Handling facilities -- races; crushes/bales;
pens
- Weighing of cattle -- scale etc
(viii) Nutrition
of beef cattle
- Feeding standards: maintenance;
growth; reproduction; lactation
- Water, food intake, energy, protein,
minerals, vitamins
- Supplementary feeding of cattle
on range
- Cattle fattening: feedlot and grass
fattening
(ix) Herd Health
Management
- Dipping, vaccination, dosing
(x) Veld and Pasture Management
(xi) Housing
(xii) Transporting live cattle
(xiii) Slaughter
of beef cattle
- Pre-slaughter treatment
- Slaughter procedure
- Meat quality and statutory requirements
- Slaughter facilities
SECTION 4: 4 Lectures Dr F Mhlanga: Week 4
Principles of Animal Breeding
(a) Genetic parameters
(i) Heritability
(ii) Repeatability
(iii) Genetic and Phenotypic
correlations
(b) Principles of selection
(i) Quantitative
traits
(ii) Genetic merit/
Breeding values
(iii) Individual/ Mass
selection
(iv) Family selection
(v) Pedigree selection
(c) Mating Systems
(i) Cross-breeding
(ii) In-breeding
(iii) Assortative mating
SECTION 5: 7 lectures Dr. H Hamudikuwanda: Week
5 - 6
Principles of Environmental Control and Micro-climate
(a) General climatic physiology of farm livestock
(i) Regulation of
body temperature
Heat production and loss
Effect of humidity
Air movement
The animal's surface
(ii) Climatic zones
Thermocomfort zone
Thermoneutral zone
Upper critical temperature
Lower critical temperature
Micro-environment
(iii) Adaptation to Thermal environment
(b) Environmental requirements of different species
Cattle
Calves
Adult cattle
Effect of thermal environment on production and reproduction
(ii) Sheep and goats
Newborn lambs and kids
Adult animals
Effect of thermal environment on production
(iii) Pigs
Piglets
Growers and fatteners-carcass quality; lighting;
Breeding pigs
Stocking density
(iv) Poultry
Temperature requirements
Brooding
Post-Brooding
Layers
Water cooling
Incubation
Humidity
Air movement
Light
Water requirements
Stocking density and unit size
(c) Types of housing
(i) Climatic house
(ii) Controlled environment
house
(iii) 'Kennel' accommodation
NB Housing for different types of livestock will be covered under management practices for each species.
(d) Ventilation
(i) Principles of
ventilation
(ii) Totally enclosed
intensive housing
(iii) Natural ventilation
(iv) Ventilation
by wind
(v) Gases in farm buildings
Sources of harmful gases
Types of gases Carbon dioxide; ammonia; hydrogen
sulphide; methane; carbon monoxide; disinfectants (Fumigation)
SECTION 3: Management Practices for Farm Livestock (Continued)
(b) Pig Production 5 Lectures Dr J. Kusina: Week
8
(i) Distribution and production: World, Africa,
Zimbabwe
(ii) Review of pig
industry in Zimbabwe
(iii) Production systems: intensive, semi-intensive,
extensive, commercial, subsistence, integrated production (e.g.
pig fish; poultry-pig-fish)
(iv) Breeds and breeding
(v) Reproduction
and growth processes
- Management of piglets from birth to mating
- Management of sow: pregnant, lactating and dry
- Management of boar
(vi) Nutrition
- Feeding standards-
- all age groups of pigs; manipulation of growth; non
conventional feeds
(vii) Pig housing and other facilities
(viii)Health management
(ix) Pig products and carcass grading in Zimbabwe;
(x) Slaughter procedure and facilities
(xi) Management of waste
(c) Poultry Production 5 Lectures Dr J. Kusina:
Week 9 -- 10
(i) Poultry industry
in Zimbabwe
(ii) Breeds and systems of breeding
(iii) Incubation, hatchery practices and facilities
(iv) Brooding management
(v) Pullet rearing management systems and facilities
(vi) Broiler production, housing and other facilities
(vii) Management of waste
(d) Draft Cattle 2 Lectures Dr L.R.Ndlovu: Week 10
(i) Conformation
(ii) Initial handling
(iii) Control
(iv) Breaking to work
(v) Yokes
(vi) Amount of work and feeding
(e) Sheep and Goat Production 5 Lectures Dr L.R. Ndlovu: Week 11-12
(i) Distribution in World, Africa, Zimbabwe
(ii) Breeds and breeding
(iii) Production systems
(iv) General management: breeding females, young stock, sires
(v) Nutrition:
- Feeding standards-
- lambs and kids, breeding females, growing stock, sires,
fattening
(vi) Grazing management
(vii) Health management
(viii)Housing
(ix) Wool and mohair production and technology
(x) Slaughter facilities and quality meat production
(f) Dairy Production 6 Lectures Dr M. Titterton: Week 12 - 13.
(i) History and development of dairying
(ii) Marketing and quality premium scheme
(iii) Breeds and breeding
(iv) Lactation and reproductive cycle
(v) Calf rearing: principles, housing and structures
(vi) Nutrition
Feeding standards-
calves, replacement
heifers, cows
(vii) Herd health management
(viii)Housing
(ix) Clean milk production- statutory requirements
(x) Milking parlour designs
(xi) Machine milking: principles and management of machines
(xii) Management of waste
SECTION 7: Field Classes
There will be one field class every fortnight/ when possible to farms or relevant institutions, depending on the section of the course being covered at that time. Students will be expected to write reports after each visit. Field visits are compulsory.
SECTION 8: Tests
Individual lecturers will give tests as they see fit after teaching their section(s).
SCHEDULE FOR AS 208 TERM 1
Week Date Staff Lecture_
1 24
March Dr N T Ngongoni
Lecture
25
March Dr N T Ngongoni
Lecture
27
March Dr N T Ngongoni
Lecture
28
March Easter
No Lecture
2 31 March
Dr N T Ngongoni Lecture
01
April Mr I D T Mpofu
Lecture
03
April Mr I D T Mpofu
Lecture
04
April Mr I D T Mpofu
Lecture
3 07 April
Mr I D T Mpofu Lecture
08
April Mr I D T Mpofu
Lecture
10
April Mr I D T Mpofu
Lecture
11 April Mr I D T Mpofu
Lecture
4 14 April
Dr F N Mhlanga Lecture
15
April Dr F N Mhlanga
Lecture
17
April Dr F N Mhlanga
Lecture
18
April Independence Holiday No Lecture
5 21 April
Dr H Hamudikuwanda Lecture
22
April Dr H Hamudikuwanda Lecture
24
April Dr H Hamudikuwanda Lecture
25
April Dr H Hamudikuwanda Lecture
6 28 April
Dr H Hamudikuwanda Lecture
29
April Dr H Hamudikuwanda Lecture
01
May Holiday
No Lecture
02
May Dr H Hamudikuwanda
Lecture
7 05 May
06
May MID - SEMESTER BREAK
08
May
09
May
8 12 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
13 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
15 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
16 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
9 19 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
20 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
22 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
23 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
10 26 May
Public Holiday No Lecture
27 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
29 May
Dr J Kusina Lecture
30 May
Dr L R Ndlovu Lecture
11 02 June Dr
L R Ndlovu Lecture
03 June
Dr L R Ndlovu Lecture
05 June
Dr L R Ndlovu Lecture
06 June
Dr L R Ndlovu Lecture
12 09 June Dr
L R Ndlovu Lecture
10 June
Dr L R Ndlovu Lecture
12 June
Dr M Titterton Lecture
13 June
Dr M Titterton Lecture
13 16 June
Dr M Titterton Lecture
17 June
Dr M Titterton Lecture
19 June
Dr M Titterton Lecture
20 June
Dr M Titterton Lecture
14 F R E E
15 EXAM WEEK
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