Management Requirements/Practices in Animal Husbandry

1. Housing: This the provision of houses/shelter for the animals to protect them against harsh weather as well as to provide proper hygienic conditions required to maintain healthy growth of the animals and proper management.
2. Feeding: Giving the animals adequate and balanced ration enhances the productivity and health of the animals.
3. Hygiene and Medication: These involve good sanitation and administration of drugs and vaccines to improve and maintain the health status of the animals.
4. Weaning: This is the separation of young animals from the mother at a certain age to allow them feed on normal feed supplements rather than milk.
5. Deworming: This is the removal of worms with drugs.
6. Dipping: It is the process of removing ecto-parasites from the animals body by dipping it or allowing it to pass through a drench containing chemical solutions.
7. Drenching: This is the process of administering drugs to animals.
8. Identification: This is the process of naming or identifying animals using ear tags , ear notching, skin branding , horn branding, neck chain etc.
9. Dehorning: This is the removal of horn.
10. Castration : This is the removal of testis of male animals so that the animals will not be able to produce spermatozoa for reproduction.
11. Flushing : This is the act of giving quality feed to female animals before mating to increase the number of eggs shed at ovulation.
12. Steaming up: It is the process of giving quality feed to female animals before parturition so as to increase milk production for lactation and to prepare the organs for easy parturition.

Definition Of Some Terms Associated With Animal Husbandry.

1. Colostrum: This is the first milk produced by the female animal immediately after parturition within the first five days. It is very rich in food nutrients and gives natural immunity to young animals.
2. Lactation: This is the process of milk secretion in animals.
3. Parturition: This is the act of giving birth to young ones in animals.
4. Gestation: This is the period of pregnancy (I.e the period between conception and birth in animals). This period varies from one animal to another and the table below shows the gestation period of some farm animals.

• Heat Period: This is the period when the female animal is willing and ready to mate with the male animal.
• Sire: This is the general name for the father in farm animals.
• Dam: This is the general name for the mother in farm animals.
• Paddock: This is the rangeland that has been divided into sections to enhance rotational grazing.

Revision Questions

• List and explain five management requirements/ practices in animal husbandry.
• Define the following terms in animal husbandry;
• Colostrum
• Paddock
• Gestation
• Sire
• Lactation
• Parturition
• Draw a table showing the gestation period and range of gestation of any 3 farm animals you know.