Livestock
Management
Farm S
By: NC Philip
Subject: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
W.A.L.T
• discuss the management of pig and
cattle;
• explain the systems of rearing
livestocks;
• identify common diseases and
parasites of pig and cattle.
MANAGEMENT OF A
MONOGASTRIC ANIMAL (PIGS)
Pigs are non-ruminant animals in the genus sus, within even-toed
ungulate family suidae. They are primarily reared for meat.
TERMS USED IN PIGS MANAGEMENT
Boar: a mature male pig Sow: a mature female pig
Piglet: young or baby pig farrowed Barrow: a castrated male pig
Pork: pig’s meat In-sow: pregnant sow
Dry sow: a sow that is not pregnant Fatheners: pigs reared for meat
Farrowing: act of parturition in pigs Lard: pig fat
Gilt: mature female pig that has not reproduced or has only reproduced
once
BREEDS OF PIGS
Hampshire Yorkshire (Largewhite) Poland china Landrace
Berkshire Large black West African dwarf Duroc
CHARACTERISTICS OF PIGS
i. Pork is a good source of protein
ii. It has a short gestation period of 114 days ( 3 months, 3 weeks, 3
days)
iii. Pigs are prolific animals, it farrows twice a year with 8-14 piglets
per litter.
iv. Have excellent dressing percentage (the ratio of meat to bone is
very high)
v. Excellently converts feed to meat
vi. Matures quickly (6 – 9 months)
vii. They are polyestrus (they can breed at any time of the year)
Assignment
Research the systems of rearing farm animals
(livestocks).
i. Extensive
ii. Semi- intensive
iii. Intensive
FEEDING
Balanced diet should be offered to pigs. They
should be well fed but not over fed to prevent
excessive fat deposition. Breeders mash should
be fed to breeders. Flushing which is the intake
HOUSING OF PIGS of the gilt or sow to produce more eggs should
be done 7-10 days before breeding and
Pigs are housed in pens. Pens should be sited maintained until the animal is bred. Pregnant or
far from residential areas because of their odor in-sow should not be over fed so as to prevent
and noises. The house should be made of low excessive deposition leading to small litter size.
walls with concrete floors which allow for free
flow of air. The floor should be hard and slope Laxative diet should be given to pregnant
towards the drain for easy cleaning. The floor animals to aid easy parturition and lactation.
should be slightly rough to prevent slippery of Creep feed should be given to piglets as from
pigs. The roof should be made of asbestos for two weeks of age to promote rapid growth.
easy absorption of heat. Feed trough, water
trough and water bath should be provided. Creep feeding is feeding piglet separate from the
dam (the feed is either pelleted or crumbled).
Weaners diet should be given to weaners from
about 14 weeks at the rate of 1kg / pig / day and
2.5litres of water. During fattening stage,
fatteners mash should be given to pigs until they
reach market weight of 60-90kg at 7months.
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HEALTH/HYGIENE
i. The pens should be regularly
cleaned by scrubbing the floor.
ii. The pens should be regularly
disinfected to prevent germs.
iii. The feeding and water trough
should be cleaned to prevent
contamination.
iv. They should be de-wormed at
regular interval.
v. They should be vaccinated against
diseases.
MANAGEMENT OF PIGS
The management of pigs from breeding to finishing is discussed under 3 headings.
BREEDING TO FARROWING: breeders are housed in the breeders’ house. Boar and gilt
should be at least 8months old before they are bred. The gilt must have at least 12
spaced functional teats. Gilt or sow is made to mate in the second day of heat and the next
mating done 24 hours later. The gilt should be taken to farrowing house 3 to 4 days before
parturition.
BIRTH TO WEANING: heat is provided for the piglets to prevent cold. The middle tooth is
cut off to prevent injury to the mother’s teats and other piglets while fighting. The first
dose of iron dextian injection is given to piglets at 2-3 days of age while the second dose is
given 2-3 weeks later to prevent baby pig anaemia. Male piglets not needed for breeding
are castrated at 2 weeks of age. They are ear-notched for the purpose of identification and
weaned at 42 days.
WEANING TO FINISHING: weaner’s are fed with weaner’s mash and fattener’s mash few
weeks later. Drugs and vaccines should be provided. They should be allowed to exercise
their body to prevent fat build up. Wallow place should be provided since they are non-
sweating animals. Fatteners reach market weight at about 5-6 months of age depending on
management and nutrition.
Common disease of
pigs
AFRICAN SWINE FEVER: this is a highly contagious disease caused by virus and likely
transmitted by tick. It is characterized by high fever, loss of appetite, depression, weak
and uncoordinated movement, reddening of skin around ears, nose, and hind legs,
abortion in pregnant sow, respiratory disorder (labored breathing, nasal and ocular
discharge), and death within 48 hours.
This disease has no treatment yet but can be avoided by obtaining stock from ASF free
farms, slaughter infected pigs and disinfect pig houses thoroughly with 10% solution of
caustic soda and keep the pen empty for about 2months
SWINE ERYSIPELAS: also referred to as diamond skin disease is caused by bacteria
(Erysipelothrixrhusiopathiae) that could come in contact with healthy animals via infected
soil or feaces from infected animals. It manifests through fever (pyrexia), unwillingness to
stand, swellings in joints, lameness. It can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin.
HYPOGLYCAEMIA: also known as baby pig disease manifests mostly in piglets and could
be very deadly. Symptoms include shivering, standing hairs, weakness, and fall in
temperature, twisted neck and uncoordinated eye balls. Death could occur within 2days.
Provide warmth to pigs farrowing in cold season to prevent this disease and give diseased
animal glucose injection.
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Common
parasite of
cattle:
External parasites include mange, mites, ticks,
lice, flea all these can be controlled by spraying
their post with pesticide regularly or dipping
them in insecticide solution.
Internal parasites are round worm
(ascarislumbricoides), whip worm (trichurissuis),
nodular worm (oesophagostomum app), kidney
worm (stepphanurusdentatus), lungworm
(metastrongylus app), tapeworm (taeniasolium).
They can be controlled by giving animals broad
spectrum anthelmintics and dewormers, timely
cleaning of graces from pig houses.
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MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE
Cattle are ruminant animal (they have complex or
complicated stomach structures). Cattle have
hollow horns and hoofs. They are reared for meat,
milk, hide and skin, manure and draught animals
for farm work. They belong to the family Bovidae
and genus Bos; humped cattle are
Bosindicushumpless are Bostaurus.
Breeds of cattle
Breeds of cattle can be grouped into three. These
are
Beef cattle: They can produce good quality meat.
Examples are SokotoGudali, Red Bororo, Kuri,
N’dama, Muturu, Keteku, etc.
Dairy cattle: They are reared mainly to produce
milk. Examples are White Fulani, Jersey, etc.
Dual-purpose cattle: They can produce meat and
milk. Examples are Muturu, Wadara (Shuwa) etc.
Terms used in cattle
management
Bull: an adult male cattle Cow: an adult female cattle
Calf: a young or baby cattle Heifer: a growing female cattle up to her
first calving.
Serving: the act of mating in cattle Calving: the act of parturition in cattle
Herd: a group of cattle Beef: meat of cattle
Characteristics of cattle Systems of rearing cattle
i. They are large-bodied animals.
ii. Most male and female cattle have horns some Extensive
are polled.
Semi- intensive
iii. They are either humped or humpless.
Intensive
iv. The calf at least once in a year.
v. They have a gestation period of about 275-283
days (9 months).
vi. The female produces a calf in one parturition.
Feeding
The feed for cattle must be a balanced diet; they are
grazers.
Cattle feed mainly on roughages (grasses and legumes).
Common grasses that can be fed on by cattle include
elephant grass, guinea grass and giant star grass etc.
Cattle should be fed on concentrate feed to supply the
required nutrient in their diet.
Zero-grazing or rational grazing can be practised.
Zero grazings: the grasses are cut and taken to the cattle
in their pens.
Rational grazing: cattle are moved about in paddocks as
they graze on the pasture.
Other feeds that can be fed to cattle include hay, silage,
straw, etc.
Dairy cattle should be given more concentrate than the
Management of
cattle
The management of cattle from breeding to market size can be grouped under three headings
which includes:
Breeding to calving (birth): breeders are housed in the breeders’ house. The house is made
up of the railed wall and concrete floors. Bulls and heifers should be at least 24 months before
they are bred. The cow or heifers should be properly fed on concentrate as well as roughages.
The bull is introduced to the cow when she is on heat. The gestation period is about 283 days.
During gestation, the cow is made to eat in the ranch to exercise its body. A special diet is given
to cows 8 weeks to calving for milk production after birth. This is called steaming up. The cow is
taken to calving.
Birth of calf to weaning: during parturition, the cord from the navel breaks on its own. Iodine
solution should be applied to the navel stump to prevent infection. The animal should be helped
to suck milk from the mother’s udder. The first milk called colostrum is secreted by the
mammary gland and it gives young animals natural immunity against diseases. The calf should
be vaccinated against diseases and de-worm at intervals. Those not for breeding are castrated.
Weaning to finishing: the weaned calf is fed with concentrate and roughages. The de-horning
or dis-budding is performed for easy handling of the cattle when they grow up. De-horning can
be done by using a hot iron to burn out the horn bud or by applying caustic soda to the horn
bud. The saw can also be used to cut off the horn and later treated with iodine. Branding and
tattooing are later done for identification of the calf. Ear notching can also be used for
identification.
Common disease of
cattle
Mange is caused by mites
Symptoms include skin irritation, alopecia due to scratching to get rid of mites, thick and scaly skin.
It is transmitted by direct body contact. Treat all infected animals with insecticides and repeat after
2weeks, maintain proper hygiene and sanitation in pig houses, administer ivermectin or ivomec injection.
Some effective insecticide again mange are diazuntol, malathione, benzyl benzoate, benzene
hexachloride, etc.
Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria
This disease is zoonotic, poor sanitation and hygiene are major factors that cause this disease.
It is transmitted via direct body contact, suckling infected milk, inhaling infected droplets from a coughing
or sneezing animal with the disease, inhaling infected dust particles etc.
Symptoms include frequent dry coughing with a whitish or yellowish discharge, swelling of the lymph
node on necks and front leg, hard lumpy and enlarged udder with pus-filled/yellowish milk droplets,
emaciation and death.
It can be treated by administering 10mg/kg bodyweight of isonicotinichydracide for eight weeks but does
not guarantee 100% recovery. It can be prevented by avoiding overcrowding, maintaining proper hygiene
and sanitation, slaughtering of infected animals etc.
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Common parasite of
cattle:
Worms of cattle include roundworm,
flatworms, liver fluke etc.
Ectoparasites include tick, mites,
tsetse fly, and lice.
