COURSE                            Animal Production  (AS 301)

STUDENTS                          B.Sc. (Hons Agric) Part III

COURSE CO-ORDINATOR               Dr S Sibanda

OBJECTIVES

The first two years of the B.Sc. (Agric) degree emphasizes biological  theories and principles. This course is intended to demonstrate the  application of these principles in farm situations. The course comprises  a series of lectures and tutorials on the main forms of animal production in Zimbabwe, i.e. beef, dairy, small ruminants, pigs and  poultry. Additionally, an important component of this course is a series of field classes where students are taken to visit representative  production units, in both large and small scale sectors, for each of the  major types of livestock.   The objective of these classes is to relate the principles of livestock production to actual practice.   Students
evaluate the enterprises which they visit both analytically and
critically and have to present a written report on each field visit.  These reports are marked and the grades used in continuous assessment.   The course includes a series of seminars where students write essays and  present talks on each of the types of livestock production.

COURSE ORGANIZATION

Lectures                            48 x 1 h (Semester 2)

Tutorials/field classes  12 x 3 h (Semester 2)

Assignments                         Field class reports, essays/seminars

Seminar presentation                During tutorials, one on each        section

Tests                               One at the end of every section
                                    (Pig, Poultry, Small ruminant, Beef       and Dairy Production)

Final Examination                   1 x 3 h written

GRADING

Continuous assessment                 30%
     Field Class Reports     5%
     Essays/ Seminars        5%
     Tests                        20%
Final written examination               70%

COURSE OUTLINE

PIG PRODUCTION    (8 x 1 h lectures; 2 x 3 h tutorials/field classes).
Semester 2: Weeks 1-2 (18-29  August 1997)

Lecturer: Dr J Kusina

 Global pig meat production situation
 Pig production in developing countries with special reference to
           Africa
 Review of pig industry in Zimbabwe
 Pig production systems
           Intensive, semi-extensive, extensive/subsistence etc
 Integrated pig production systems:
           Pig-fish
           Poultry-pig-fish
           Vegetable-duck-pig-fish
 Pig breeds with special reference to developing countries:
           Adapted exotic breeds
           Indigenous breeds- valuable characteristics
 Review of pig reproduction and growth processes
 Management:
           Piglets from birth to mating
           Pregnant sow, nursing sow, dry sow
           Boar
 Pig Nutrition
           Review of pig nutrition
           Feeding of different classes of pigs
           Modification of growth through nutrition
           Pig feeds in Zimbabwe
           Non-cor.ventional pig feeds in developing countries
 Housing
           Micro-climate  and  temperature  requirements  of  different
                    classes of pigs
           Stocking density
           Specialised accommodation for breeding, farrowing, weaning
           etc
 Health programme
           Common diseases of pigs in Zimbabwe
          Control of common diseases
 Pig products in Zimbabwe
           Pork, bacon and heavy hog
           Carcass grading and meat quality
 Pig breeding and genetic improvement
           Important traits
           National pig selection scheme of Zimbabwe
           Crossbreeding of pigs to exploit heterosis

POULTRY PRODUCTION    (8 x 1 h lectures; 2 x 3 h tutorial/field
                        classes; 1 x 6 h. Semester 2: Weeks 3-4
                        (1-12 Sept 1997)
                        Lecturer: Dr J Kusina

The poultry industry in Zimbabwe
Breeds and systems of breeding

Incubation and hatchery practices:
     Factors influencing incubation and hatchability
     Sexing
     Production of day-old chicks
 Brooding management:
     Influence of environment on-poultry production:
         temperature, humidity, lighting, ventilation
     Heat stress
     Production in the tropics
 Pullet rearing management systems:
     Intensive and extensive systems
     Housing
 Egg production
     Criteria for selecting stock
     Egg laying tests
     Delaying sexual maturity
     Egg production cycle:  production goals, egg quality, culling, housing layers, feeding layers
 Broiler production
     Selecting stock
     Broiler production systems
     Production periods
     Feeding
     Broiler meat processing and yields
     Broiler performance criteria- production standards
     Meat quality

SMALL RUMINANT PRODUCTION (8 x 1 h lectures; 2 x 3 h tutorial
                             /field  classes). Semester 2: Weeks 3-4
                             Lecturer: Dr N T Kusina

 Population and trends- World, Zimbabwe

 Characteristics of the sheep and goat industries in Zimbabwe
     Small scale sector
     Large scale sector
 Breeds and genetic improvement:
     Breeds available in Zimbabwe
     Factors affecting choice of breed
     Genetic improvement of small ruminants:
         Production traits
         Selection
         Culling
     Breeding systems
         Pure breeding
         Crossbreeding
         Stratification
 Reproductive physiology
     General ewe/doe physiology
     Ram/buck physiology
 Routine management procedures:
     Choice of breeding seasons
     Flushing
     Management of breeding females and offspring at parturition

 Docking
     Castration
     Identification (ear tagging and notching)
 Nutrition of small ruminants:
     Principles of nutrition (see beef section)
     The breeding female
     The ram/buck
     Growing animals
     Fattening -- feedlot and off grass
 Grazing management:
     Principles of grazing management (see beef section)
     Importance of grazing management in parasite control
     Environmental impact
 Health programme:
     Control of ecto-parasites
     Control of internal parasites
     Vaccination programme:
          Essential vaccinations
          Occasional vaccinations
 Wool and mohair production
 Marketing of sheep and goats:
     On the hoof
     Slaughter stock:
          Marketing channels

BEEF PRODUCTION   (12 x 1, h lectures; 3 x 3 tutorials/field
                  classes. Semester 2: Week 8-10 (6-24 Oct 1997)
                  Lecturer Dr S Sibaada

 The World beef industry: production statistics, trade  (imports
                         and exports)
 The beef industry in Zimbabwe:
     Contribution to economy
     Population trends- commercial and communal herds
     Offtake- commercial and communal sectors
 Breeding in beef cattle:
     Breeds and their classification in Zimbabwe
     Choice of breed
     Genetic improvement of beef cattle:
          Production traits
          Selection
          Culling
     Breeding systems:
          Pure breeding
          Crossbreeding
 Cow productivity:
     Cow physiology
     Factors affecting cow productivity
 Routine herd management:
     Breeding season
     Bulling and mating management
     Cow and calf management at calving
     Dehorning
     Castration
     Weaning

 Pregnancy diagnosis
      Weighing of cattle
      Identification of cattle- ear tags/notches, brands etc
      Records of performance
 Handling cattle:
      Designing of pens, crushes, spray races, dip tanks etc
 Nutrition of beef cattle:
      Place of ruminants in the food chain
      Structure and development of the ruminant digestive sy-tern
      Ruminant digestion of different nutrients
      Animal requirements for different nutrients
      Nutritive value of veld grazing
      Supplementary feeding of different classes of cattle
      Cattle fattening- feedlot and off grass
 Herd health programme:
      Tick control
      Essential and occasional vaccinations
      Control of internal parasites
 Veld and pasture management:
      Principles of veld management
      Veld management systems
      Planted pastures
 Production systems and herd composition
      Types of production systems
      Choice of production system- factors to consider
      Herd composition in different systems
 Marketing of beef cattle:,
      Growing immature stock
      Breeding stock- females and bulls
      Slaughter stock:
          Marketing channels
          Domestic and export markets

DAIRY PRODUCTION   (12 x 1 h lectures; 3 x 3 h tutorials/field
                   classes). Semester 2: Weeks 11-13 (27 Oct-14 Nov
                   1997)
                   Lecturer: Dr M Titterton

 History and development of dairying- world and Zimbabwe

 The dairy industry in Zimbabwe- large and smail scale sectors

 Milk marketing and quality premium scheme

 Breeds and genetic improvement of dairy cattle:
      Dairy cattle breeds- history and importance
      Principles of genetics (see beef section)
      Factors affecting genetic progress in dairy herd:
           Accuracy of selection- cow and sire evaluation
           Selection intensity- management factors
           Generation  interval-  management  and  age  at  first
                breeding, calving interval and heat detection
  Dairy herd cycle:
      Lactation and reproduction
      Calf rearing

  Dairy cattle nutrition:
         Principles of nutrition
             Maintenance, growth, pregnancy and lactation
             Importance  of  protein,   pro.tein  degradability  and
                    protein/energy balance
             Level  and  type  of  fibre-  butterfat  and  metabolic
                    disorders
         Feeding strategy:
             Physiological  changes  in  the  lactation  cycle  and
             relationship to feeding strategy
         Feeding for peak yields:
             Flat rate and challenge feeding
             Budget feeding vs feeding for production
             Group feeding
             Complete diets
             Balancing rations
         The role of forages
             Veld, planted pastures, legumes, hay and silage
 Herd health programme:
         Prophylaxis (see beef section)
         Metritis and mastitis control
         Calf housingThe Dairy Act:
         Legislation covering the siting and designing of dairies for
         registration
 Dairy parlour designs:
         Comparisons of systems of parlours in relation to efficiency
         of milking
 Machir.  milking:
         Importance of milk "let-down"
         Let-down flow movement factors
         Preparation of the cow
         Milking routine
         Stress factors (handling and operation of milking machine)

  SCHEDULE OF TUTORIALS AND FIELD CLASSES

  SEMESTER 2

Week      Date            Activity                         Lecturer
 1        19/08/97        Tutorial, Pig Erodn              Dr J Kusina
 2        26/08/97        Tutorial, Visit Pig farm             “
 3        02/09/97        Tutorial, Poultry Prodn              “
 4        09/09/97        Tutorial, Visit poultry farm         “
 5        16/09/97        Tutorial, Small ruminaiits Prod  Dr NT Kusina
 6        23/09/97        Tutorial, visit small rum farm       “
 7        30/09/97        Mid-semetsre exams                   “
 8        07/10/97        Tutorial, Beef Prodn             Dr S Sibanda
 9        14/10/97        Tutorial, Beef Prodn                 “
 10       21/10/97        Visit Beef farm                      “
 11       28/10/97        Tutorial, Dairy Prodn           Dr M Titterton
 12       04/11/97        Tutorial, Dairy Prodn                “
 13       11/11/97        Visit dairy farm                     “

 Please note: Lecturers are expected to arrange field trips for
              their sections.

SEMINARS AND ESSAYS

 Seminar and/or essay topics will be handed out by the lecturer
 concerned at the beginning of each section. The topics will
 preferably be on subjects the lecturers feel would not have been
 adequately covered in class.

 Reading Materials

 Because of the nature of this course there is no prescribed text
 but the following may be helpful: --

 1.        Practical Poultry Management by Rice and Botsford (on
           reserve).
 2.        Principles of Dairy Science by Schmidt, van Vleck and Hutjens
           (Animal Science Res. Centre).
 3.        Dairy Handbook by National Ass. of Dairy Farmers (Animal
           Science Res. Centre).
 4.        Dairy Cattle Feeding and Management by Etgen and Reaves
           (Animal Science Res. Centre).
 5.        Beef Production Manual (published by Cattle Producers
           Association)(latest edition published late 1988).
 6.        Beef Cattle Production in The Tropics (1978), edited by
           Murray and Entwistle.
 7.        Beef Cattle Production, 2nd edition (1985) by Schmidt and
           Yeates.
 8.        The Science of Animal Husbandry by B. Blakely (on Reserve).
 9.        Scientific Animal Production by B. Taylor (on Reserve).
 10.       The Science of Animals that Serve Humanity -- by Campbell and
           Lasley (on Reserve).
 11.       Michigan Beef Production Manual (on Reserve).
 12.       Intensive Beef Production by Preston and Willis (on Reserve).
 13.       Intensive Animal Production in Developing Countries - British
           Society of Animal Production (on Reserve).
 14.       A course manual in tropical sheep and goat production (or.
           Reserve).
 15.       Sheep Production Manual - by Sheep Producers' Association.
           (on Resene)
 16.       Goat Development in Zimbabwe: Prospects and Constraints: I
           (L.R. Ndlovu, editor) (on Reserve; also Animal Science
           Res.Centre)
 17.       Goat Development in Zimbabwe: Prospects and Constraints: II
           (L M Sibanda, editor) (on Reserve)
 18.       Pig Production in the Tropics by Eusebio (on Reserve).
 19.       Pig  Production, The Scientific Principles (1980) by
           Whitemore
 20.       Swine Production and Nutrition (1984), by Pond. and Monner,
           AVI Publishing Co.
 21.       Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock. ARC, CAB.
           (on Reserve)

  Dr S Sibanda
  Room F25
  Dept of Animal Science