General
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UNIT 8:Animals
1. Study the picture below.
2. What is happening in the picture?
3. Is it good to graze many cows in a small piece of land?
8.1 Characteristics of a good cowshed or goat shelter
Find out1. How a cowshed or goat shelter should look like.
Activity 8.1 Investigating the characteristics of a
good cowshed
1. Observe and write the characteristics of good cowshed/goat shelter to a farmer during school trip.
a) Where is the location of the shelter or cowshed?
b) What is it made of?
c) Do young ones share the same shelter as the older ones?
Why?d) How does the floor of the shelter look like? Why?
A good cowshed should have the following characteristics:
• It should be fenced to avoid predators.
• The floor should be made in an inclined manner for easy
flowing of water during runoff in order to drain easily.
• It should be roofed.
• It should have proper ventilation.
• It should have concrete rough floors that are easy to clean
and to prevent the cows from slipping.
• It should have both clean feeding and watering troughs at
designated points.
• There should be another part reserved for calves.
• It should have an isolation box to accommodate animals that
are on treatment.
• There should also be a crush to be used for spraying the cowsand a milking shed.
8.2 Types of cattle and goat breeds
Find out
The different types of cattle and goat breeds.
Activity 8.2 Identifying breeds of cattle/goats to rear
1. Make a trip to a cattle farm to observe the various types ofcattle kept. Write down their characteristics.
Types of cattle/goat breeds
The term ‘breed’ means a group of animals with similar characteristics.
There are two main types of cattle breeds namely.
• Local (indigenous) breeds
• Foreign (exotic) breeds
a) Local (indigenous) cattle breeds
These are cattle breeds that are found locally in Rwanda. They are
native cattle that can withstand hostile climatic conditions and are also
resistant to tropical diseases. They have long legs and they can walk
over long distances looking for food and pasture. Their productivity is
generally low and they are small in size. Examples of indigenous cattle
breeds include:
i. Zebu cattle – They are small in size and have short humps. Dairycattle of this breed have the ability to resist tick-borne diseases.
ii. The long – horned cattle (Inyambo) -These are fairly large in size
and have well developed horns
iii. The boran cattle – They are large in size than the zebu, have short
horns and big humps. They produce good quality beef.
b) Foreign (exotic) cattle breeds
They were introduced in Rwanda from foreign countries and can be
beef or dairy cattle.
Dairy cattle breeds
These are mainly kept for production
of milk. They include: Friesian, Jersey,
Guernsey and Ayrshire.
i) Friesian
• Originated from Holland.
• Produces the largest amount of milk.
ii) Ayrshire
• Originated from Scotland.• Produces 20 litres of milk per day.
iii) Guernsey
• Its origin is Guernsey island
(coast of France).
• Produces about 17 litres of milk
per day.
iv) Jersey
• Originated from England.
• Produces about 14 litres of milk perday.
Beef cattle breeds
These are purposely kept for meat production.
They include:Aberdeen angus, Hereford, Charolais, Shorthorns and Galloway.
i) Aberdeen Angus
• Originated from the counties
of Aberdeenshire and Angus
in North-Eastern Scotland.• Best in quality beef.
ii) Hereford
• Originated from England.
• Bulls weigh 1000 kg and areexcellent grazers.
iii) Charolais
• Its origin is France.
• Bulls weigh 1200 kg withhigh quality meat.
iv) Short horns
• Originated from England.• Bulls weigh 800 kg.
v) Galloway
• Originated from Scotland.
• Are black with brownish tinge.
• Bulls weigh 1000 kg.
• They have long earlaps which
droop.
• They weigh between 60-75 kg.• They lack horns (are hornless).
Remember!
Some cattle are kept for both milk and meat. They are called dual purposecattle. Examples are Sahiwal, Red poll and Simmental.
Breeds of goats
Goats can be kept either for milk or meat.
Main types of goat breeds.
a) Local (indigenous) breeds of goats
• They are the native goats of Rwanda.
They are kept mainly for meat and
are more resistant to diseases. e.g:
East African small goats and Nubiangoat.
b) Foreign (exotic) breeds of goats
They can be dual propose e.g Boer goat and Galla goat.
Goat breeds for mutton/ meat production
i) Boer
• Originated from South Africa.
• They are fast maturing.
• Are ideal for cross-breeding withlocal breeds.
ii) Galla
• Its origin is Northern Kenya.
iii) Nubian goat
• Its origin is Sudan.
• It is white in colour with brown patchesor vice verse.
Dairy goat breeds
Examples toggenburg, saanen and
alpine goat.
i) Toggenburg
• Originated from Switzerland.• Produce 3-4 litres of milk per day.
ii) Saanen goat
• Originated from Switzerland.• It Produces 2-3 litres of milk per day.
iii) Alpine goat
• Its origin is France.
• It produces between 3-4 litres of milkper day.
Remember!
Goats can also be kept for fibre /mohair production. e.g Angora goat.
Characteristics of cattle and goat breeds to rear
Goats and cattle to rear should have the following characteristics.
• Growth rate – they should grow fast.
• Resistance – they should resist against common diseases found inthe area such as anthrax and foot and mouth disease.
• They should be good producers of milk and meat.
• They should be able to survive a range of climatic conditionsavailable.
8.3 Feeding of cows and goats
Find outHow farm animals especially cows and goats are fed.
Activity 8.3 Visit to a goat and cattle farm
1. Make a trip to a goat and/or cattle farm and describe:
• Observe and describe what goats and cattle are feeding on.
• Identify nutrients of good animal diet and their sources.
Cattle / Goat should be fed on a balanced diet. A balanced diet contain
animal feeds with appropriate nutrients in their right amounts.
A balanced diet contains:
• carbohydrates e.g pastures, fodder crops, vegetables e.t.c
• proteins
• fat and oils
• minerals and vitamins
• roughages
Below is a summary of elements of good cattle/goat diet and their
sources.
• Carbohydrates e.g potato vines, maize grains, sorghum stalks,
cereals and molasses.
• Poteins e.g legumes, commercial seeds (concentrated).
• Minerals and vitamins e.g saltlicks and bone meal.
• Fats and oils e.g plant leaves and cotton seeds.• Roughages e.g green fodder, green pasture and vegetables.
Remember!
In addition to feed stuffs, farm animals should be provided with plentyof clean drinking water.
8.4 Cattle or goats health sanitation conditions
Find outWhich sanitation conditions are necessary in cattle or goat farms.
Activity 8.4 Field visit
• Visit a nearest farm of cattle / goat.
• Observe and discuss sanitation conditions on the farm.
• Compare sanitation of farm animals and have one at home.
Things that should be done to maintain proper sanitation in a goat or
cattle farm include:
• Keeping animals houses clean.
• Keeping feeding and drinking troughs clean.
• Clearing the bushes around the animals’ sheds.
• Keeping water sources clean.
• Cutting over growths from the feet of animals such as the goats.• Disposing off dead animals by burying them deep into the soil.
8.5 Common diseases of cattle and goats
Find out
What to do when animals become affected
Activity 8.5 Identifying common diseases of cattle
and goats and their prevention measures
1. Visit a cattle or goat farm/ google engine/ library.
2. Describe diseases, signs and symptoms that are observable
through the sick animals.
3. Make a summary of your findings (Diseases, animals affected
with signs and symptoms.
a) Identification of common disease of cattle and goat
Diseases that affect cattle and goats are grouped into two:
• Parasitic diseases - these are diseases that are caused by
parasites. Examples are East Coast Fever (ECF), anaplasmosis and
trypanosomiasis, pneumonia, Nagana.
• Infections - these are diseases that are caused by micro-organisms
such as viruses and bacteria. Examples are pneumonia, mastitis and
anthrax.
b) Prevention and control measures of cattle and goat diseases
General ways of controlling or preventing livestock diseases include:
• Vaccination
• Quarantine
• Isolation
• Use of drugs such as antibiotics to treat the disease
• Dipping or spraying to control external parasites that may cause
diseases among others
8.7 Importance of cattle or goat farming
Find out
1. How animals are helping families in Rwanda.2. The animal product we sell to get income.
Activity 8.6 Identifying various cow/ goat products
and their importance
Discuss the following questions:
1. Which are some of the products we get from goats or cows and
their importance? Fill the table below.
2. Think about other ways in which we benefit from cattle and goats.List them down in your notebook.
The following are some reasons why we keep cattle and goats:
a) Nutritional benefits
• Meat and milk that enriches our diet with proteins and fats.
b) Economic benefits
• Milk from cows and goats enriches man’s diet with vitamins, proteins,
carbohydrates and fats.
• Hides or skins provide leather which is used to make bags, wallets,
belts, shoes, jackets and sofa sets.
• Provides employment to various groups of people example include:
farmers, veterinary doctors, slaughterhouse workers, butcher men
and women, workers in dairies among others.• Source of income (selling milk and meat).
c) Social benefits
• Cattle and goats are used in social functions such as dowry.
d) Agricultural benefits
• Manure to be used in farms to grow crops.
Remember!
Animals are our heritage. We should avoid mistreating them. Instead,ensure that they are well taken care of.
UNIT TEST 8
1. Assume you want to start a project of keeping goats or cows
at home. Describe how you would construct the cowshed or the
goat shelter.
2. a) What is a breed?
b) Distinguish between indigenous breeds and the exotic breeds
of animals.
3. Give two reasons why an animal house should be fenced.
4. Akaliza is a primary 6 pupil. Everytime they go for field visit to
observe animals, she complains of bad smell. One day, she said
that she cannot become a farmer. In fact, she added that farming
is meant for boys alone. What advice can you give to Akaliza?
5. Which characteristics will you look for when selecting a cow for
a) Beef production? b) Milk production?
6. Fill the gaps in the table below.
7. What is the importance of keeping proper sanitation in animal
farms?
8. Which breed of cattle are those in the next page? Which aredairy cattle and which are beef cattle?
9. Why do you think it is an advantage to grow crops when you are
a cattle or goat farmer?
10. Why is the government of Rwanda emphasizing that there should
be at least a cow per family in Rwanda?
11. Why do you think people are advised NOT to drink milk that is
not boiled?
12. Write TRUE or FALSE for each statement.
a) Ayrshire, Holstein and brown Swiss are all dairy cattle breeds.
_________
b) The most important products of cattle are draft power and
milk and not meat. __________
c) Taking goat milk by human beings is NOT healthy.
___________
d) When animals die of diseases, they are supposed to be
slaughtered immediately and eaten. __________
13. Give a reason why the government of Rwanda is encouraging
Rwandans to practice ‘Gira inka munyarwanda’!