Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.

WEEK 6: ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Animal production systems

Figure 17: Intensive production system Extensive production system

 Intensive production system is where crops and animals are enclosed and
environmental conditions are controlled.
 Extensive production system is where animals roam around, with minimal or
no environmental control.
Comparison of intensive and extensive production system

INTENSIVE EXTESIVE PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION
Productivity High productivity Low productivity
Input cost High input cost Low input cost
Capital investment High capital investment Low capital investment
Area needed Small area needed Large area needed
Human input High human input Less human input
Environmental control High environmental control Less environmental control
Mechanisation High mechanisation Less mechanisation
Pollution High pollution Less pollution

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Farming systems

 Subsistence / small scale farming is when crops and animals are produced by
farmers to feed their families.
 Commercial / large scale farming is when crops and animals are produced for
money and profit.

Figure 18: Subsistence / small scale farming Commercial / large scale farming

The difference between subsistence (small scale) farming and Commercial (large
scale) farming

Commercial farming Subsistence farming

(large scale farming) (small scale farming)
Productivity High productivity Low productivity
Input cost High input cost Low input cost
Capital investment High capital investment Low capital investment
Area needed Large area needed Small area needed
Human input High human input Less human input
Environmental control High environmental control Less environmental control
Mechanisation High mechanisation Less mechanisation
Pollution High pollution Less pollution

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Examples of INTENSIVE production system

1. Battery cage system

 Battery cage system – is keeping chickens to produce eggs.
Design feature of battery cage

 Small wire blocks where no movement can occur.

 Pick up area that receives eggs.
Disadvantages of using a battery cage system

 Stress / cannibalism
 Difficult to control diseases
Measures to control diseases in battery cages

 Good hygiene
 Good quality feeds
 Limit movement of people in and out

Figure 19: battery cage system

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

2. Backyard system
Backyard system – is keeping animals in home based enclosures.

Figure 20: backyard system

3. Free range system

Free rage system – is keeping animals in the open, and allow them to move freely.

Figure 21: free range system

Advantages of Backyard and Free range systems

 Cheaper
 Environmentally friendly
 Easy to manage

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Disadvantages / problems of Backyard and Free range systems

 Risk towards predators

 Risk towards theft
 Easy to contact diseases
Semi-intensive system animals are kept partly outdoors on pastures.

FACTORS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION UNDER INTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE

PRODUCTION

 Nutrition / feeding
 Environment
 Reproduction / breeding
 General management

Factors to be considered when planning a broiler house

 Insulated roofing
 Good ventilation
 Well-orientated lighting
WEEK 7: ANIMAL SHELTER
Importance or reasons for shelter/housing

 Reduce heat stress.

 Improves production.
 Protect against solar radiation.
 Modifies the climate.

Different ways in which animals lose body heat

 Evaporation is the loss of heat when sweat dries out of the skin.
 Heat radiation is the loss of heat from a warm body to the colder surrounding
atmosphere.
 Conduction is the loss of heat when an animal’s body is in contact with a colder
surface.

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

 Convection is the upward movement of warm air and downward movement of cold
air.
 Excretion loss of heat when urine and faeces leave the body.

Conduction

Figure 22 : ways in which animals lose heat

Management strategies to reduce heat loss through heat radiation

 Provide shelter
 Provide drinking water
 Breeding heat adapting animals
Signs of heat stress in animals

 Excessive salivation
 Loss of appetite
 Restlessness

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

DIFFERENT STRUCTURES USED FOR SHELTERING LIVESTOCK

Facilities for housing animals

Facilities for housing for pigs

Figure 23: Backyard system farrowing pen

Facilities for housing chickens

Figure 24: Backyard housing for chickens

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Figure 25: fold unit system battery cages

Figure 26: Deep litter house

THE BASIC HOUSING OR SHELTER REQUIREMENTS

(Guidelines for an intensive production system)

Requirements for a pig house

 Good ventilation
 Plenty of drinking water
 Sleeping area and dung area

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Requirements for a chicken shelter

Figure 27: chicken shelter

 Good ventilation
 Roof which is at least 2m high
 Floor covered with dry grass
Requirements for a cow pen

 Good ventilation
 Clean, dry and warm building
 Buildings should be constructed of durable materials
Milking shed

Milking shed is a place where animals are milked.

Figure 28: milking shed

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Requirements for Milking shed

 Rough concrete floor

 Sloppy floors
 The roof must be at least 2m high
Utility room is the administration room in the milking shed where paper work is done.

Holding pen

Holding pen is the equipment used to restrain animals.

Figure 29: holding pen

Requirements for holding pen

 Shade
 Drinking water
 Soil or concrete floors
Feed shed

Feed shed is a facility where feed is stored

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Figure 30: feed shed

Requirements for feed shed

 Door that can lock properly

 Protection against rats
 Closer to the milking shed
Equipment or tools for intensive housing system

Feeding troughs

Feeding troughs are containers used to give feeds to animals.

Automated feeder

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Figure 31: feeding troughs

Drinking troughs

Drinking troughs are equipment that animals use to drink water

Nipple drinker for pigs

Figure 32: drinking troughs

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

Bedding

Materials used as bedding

 Wood shavings
 Straw
 Saw dust

COMMON BEHAVIOUR OF VARIOUS ANIMALS

Common behaviour of Cattle and Sheep

 Flight
 Form a group when frightened
 Develops hierarchies and follow a leader
Common behaviour of Pigs

 Frightened easily
 Poor eyesight
Common behaviour of Poultry

 Territorial
 Pecking order of dominance

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

FLIGHT ZONE

 Flight zone is the distance that animals like to keep between themselves and threat
of danger.

Figure 33: flight zone

SIGNS OF CATTLE THAT ARE IN DISTRESS

Figure 34: signs of distress

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 Pawing
 Snorting
 Raised ears
 Rapid tail movements

HANDLING OF FARM ANIMALS

Reasons / importance for handling farm animals

 Dosing
 Marketing
 Vaccination
 Selection
Effects of incorrect handling of farm animals

 Damage of the skin and meat

 Agitation of animals
 Injuries to the animal or handler
Ways in which animals may be incorrectly handled

 Shouting and yelling animals

 Kicking animals
 Catching animals around the tail or neck
BASIC GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING CATTLE, SHEEP AND POULTRY

Guidelines for handling cattle / large ruminants

 Announce your approach through touch

 Avoid kicking region
 Avoid movement in the blind spot
 Use proper handling facilities

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES, TOOLS AND AIDS UTILISED TO HANDLE FARM

ANIMALS

Tools for handling cattle

Figure 35: Loading ramp

Requirements for a crush

 High solid sides

 No sharp corners
 It must be wide

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

APPARATUSES TO PERFORM LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Tool Name Function

Whip  Encourage movement

Prodder  Encourage movement

Nose ring plier  Control the animal

Halter  Tie up animals

 Lead animals

Head gate  To make an animal

stand still

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Tool Name Function

Castration pliers  Castration

Burdizzo  Castration

Elastrator  Castration

Dehorning iron  Removal of horns

Electrical sheep  Remove wool

clipper

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Tool Name Function

Hoof trimmer  To clip hooves

Ear tag plier  To clip ear tags

Electric hot knife  Castration

 Docking

Crush  Direct animals

Casting harnes  Make an animal lie down

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Electric hot knife

Figure 36: electric hot knife

Advantages of electric hot knife

 Safe
 Easy to use
 Fast

Plywood board

Figure 37: plywood board

Functions of plywood board

 Used to move pigs

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Tool Name Function

Branding iron Branding of animals

Injection Intravinous administration of

animals

Scissor Crutching wool

Drenching gun Oral administration of liquid

medication

Balling gun Oral administration of pills

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Mambane Secondary School Agricultural Sciences Production (‘’24) Compiled by: Mr Mashaba F.S

BASIC GUIDELINES / REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSPORTING FARM ANIMALS

Figure 38: transport of farm animals

Important aspects for moving animals on a public road

 Red flag
 Permit
 Move on the side of the road
Information that must appear on the permit

 Personal details of the owner

 Types of animals
 Number of animals
 Date
Basic guidelines for vehicles transporting animals

 Must be clean
 Well ventilated

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Guidelines to be taken into consideration when transporting animals

 The floor of the truck must not be slippery

 Group animals before transport
 Keep animals calm
Guidelines when moving cows with calves

 Move them slowly

 avoid being too close
Treatment of animals before transport

 Group farm animals

 Feed animals 12 hours before transporting them
 Sides must be high and strong

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