i. Course Title: AS 101-INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH
ii. Course Aim
To equip knowledge on basic routines in husbandry and health care of farm animals.
iii. Course Expected Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the student shall be able to:
• Identify various classes and breeds of farm stocks.
• Properly handle/restrain all farm stocks.
• Perform routine husbandry practices for farm stock (milking, ear tagging, castration, dehorning, dipping, young stock rearing etc).
• Identify feed resources commonly used in the farm.
• Estimate livestock weights from linear body measurements and age by dentition.
• Identify sick animals.
iv. Course Status: Core
v. Credit rating: 8 Credits
vi. Total hours spent: 80 hours
vii. Course content:
Animal Production: Zoological classification of domestic animals. Domestication of farm animals. Types and breeds of farm animals. Aims and purpose of livestock production. Livestock population and production trends. Livestock production systems. Interrelationship between animal and crop agriculture. Factors limiting livestock production in the Tropics. Introduction to husbandry practices for different livestock species: dairy, beef, pig, small ruminant and poultry. Introduction to Animal Feeds and Feeding.
Animal Health: Definition of common terms and description in animal health. Handling of farm animals. Methods in animal treatment. Health in domestic animals: normal Health parameters and signs and appearance of healthy animal. Animal identification and Age determination.
Animal Behaviour: Scope and importance of Animal Behaviour. Fundamentals of Animal behaviour. Animal social behaviour. Behavioural systems in domestic Animals.
Practical: Handling and restraining of animals, farm sanitation and waste disposal. Identification of various breeds of farm animals, methods of individual animal identification, estimation of body weight, assessment of body condition and estimation of age by dentition. Various tools for livestock handling, types of structures for farm stock. Identification of Animal Feeds. Identification and handling of different types of animal products, Common farm machineries related to livestock management. Introductory Clinical routines, sample collection.
viii. Teaching and learning activities
Teaching activities
Lectures, laboratory practical, field work practical and tutorials will be the main teaching methods.
Learning activities
Students will learn through independent study by reading relevant reference books, teaching manuals, scientific papers and other learning materials. Also students will learn through problem-solving and group discussions. Students will acquire practical skills through hands-on approach during laboratory practical, field practical and preparation of practical reports. These will be supported by visits to livestock farms to perform field work.
ix. Assessment methods
Assessment methods will included coursework assessment and end of semester examinations. Coursework assessment will include a variety of tasks given at appropriate time during each semester. These will include take home assignments, case studies, practical reports, seminar presentations and practical and/or oral examinations given at appropriate time during the semester. There shall be an end of semester University examination.
x. Reading list:
– Payne W.J.A. and Wilson R.T. (1999). An introduction to animal husbandry in the tropics, 5th edition. Wiley-Blackwell. Longman Scientific and Technical; John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, USA.
– Pagot J. and Wilding J. (1992). Animal production in the tropics. Macmillian education.
– Banerjee, G.G. (1998). Animal Husbandry. Oxford & IBH Publishing Company Pvt. Limited,
– Animal Health Handbook for extension Field Staff.- Technical Handbook No.5 Department of Training Institutes Instructional Material Development/ASPS – ISBN-9987-674-06-2
-Steele M. (1996). The tropical agriculturalist: Goats. CTA & Macmillan. Oxford, UK.
-Gatenby R.M. (1996). The tropical agriculturalist: Sheep. CTA & Macmillan. Oxford, UK.