UNIT -FOUR
Introduction to Farm Animals
4.1. Farm animal species
• Farm animal species are raised for human use either for food or
work functions.
• Domestication is the conversion of wild animals to domestic use.
• A species is a largest group of animals that is capable of
interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
• A breed is a specific group of animals within a species that are
visibly similar in most characteristics, which distinguish it from
other breeds of the same species.
• A species is often composed of several breeds.
4.1.1. Farm Animals in Ethiopia and Their Description
Ethiopia has a huge resource of farm animals.
They are composed of the mammalian, avian and honeybee species.
Cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses and mules are the major
farm animals in the mammalian category.
The Avian category includes chicken, ostrich and turkey.
Ostrich and turkey are not widely used in Ethiopia.
Stinging honeybees are the most important bee species in the country.
Nearly all of the livestock population of the country is local breed.
Some are hybrid, and others are exotic breeds.
1. Cattle (Bos indicus/Bos taurus)
• Cattle are hoofed animals belong to the family Bovidae and
genus Bos.
• The genus Bos has several species, two of the most common
in Ethiopia are Bos indicus and Bos taurus.
• Bos indicus are humped cattle.
• They are commonly found in tropical countries.
• Bos taurus do not usually have humps and commonly found
in temperate zones.
Contd.
Figure 4.1. Cattle: a) Bos indicus, b) Bos taurus
Contd.
• Cattle are raised all over the world.
• There are over 1000 cattle breeds in the world.
• Cattle breeds serve multiple purposes. They are reared for meat,
milk and use as draft animals.
• Their hides are processed into leather and manure is a by-
products of cattle production.
• Cattle are ruminant.
• Their feeding habit is herbivore.
• Primarily, they feed on pasture, in modern farming, pasture is
usually supplemented with industrially manufactured feeds.
2. Sheep (Ovis aries)
• Sheep (Ovis aries) belong to the family Bovidae and
genus Ovis.
• Today,over 200 breeds of sheep are recognized
worldwide.
• Sheep are raised for their meat, wool and skin.
• Some farmers also keep sheep for milk.
• Like cattle, sheep are ruminant and herbivores.
Contd.
Figure 4.2. Sheep
3. Goat (Capra hircus)
• Goat (Capra hircus) is a hollow-horned mammal that belongs
to the family Bovidae and genus Capra.
• There are over 300 distinct breeds of goats.
• Goats are raised for their milk, meat and skins across much of
the world.
• The Angora breed of goat is raised for its hair, which is used
to make fabric or yarn called mohair.
• Goats are ruminant and herbivores.
• They browse on shoots, twigs and leaves of brush plants.
Contd.
Figure 4.3. Goat Figure 4.3.1 Angora breed of goat
[Link] (Camelus dromedary/Camelus bactrianus)
Camels are even-toed ungulate animals.
They belong to the family Camelidae and genus
Camelus.
There are two types of camels: the Dromedary and the
Bactrian.
The Dromedary camel (Camelus dromedary) has a
single hump on its back.
The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus L.) has two
separate humps.
Contd.
• Camels have peculiar characteristics that help them
adapt to the drier parts of the world (ships of the
desert).
• They are recognized as pack or saddle animals.
• Camels provide us with milk, meat, wool and hides.
• Camels are pseudo-ruminant animals.
• Camels have thick and tough lips, this is why they can
easily feed on thorny bushes.
Contd.
Figure 4.4. Camels: a) Camelus dromedary, b) Camelus bactrianus
[Link] (Gallus domesticus)
• Chicken/fowl, duck, guinea fowl, turkey and geese are common
types of poultry.
• Chicken is the most common type of poultry in many countries of the
world.
• There are two types of domestic chickens, these are layers and
broilers.
• Layers are raised for egg production.
• Broilers are kept for meat (usually slaughtered at 6-8 weeks).
• Chicken are omnivorous in feeding habit.
• Poultry in general are monogastric animals.
• This means that they have single compartment of stomach.
• They are dependent on less fibrous feeds; mostly grinded grains and
mixed rations.
Contd.
Figure 4.5. Chicken: a) Layer type, b) Broiler type
[Link] bee (Apis)
• Honey bees (Mellis apifera) are known for pollination and
honey production.
• A honey bee colony is composed of three types of bees, these
are the worker, queen and drone.
• Each type has its own specific duty to perform in a colony.
• The workers and the queen are female.
• Queens are reproductive and are larger than the workers .
• The drones are male, have much larger compound eyes, and
do not have stingers.
• Bees rely on the pollen and nectar of flowers as sources of
their food.
Contd.
Worker Queen Drone
Figure 4.6. Three types of honey bees
Fish
• Fish have served as important sources of food
worldwide.
• In fish farming industry, fish are raised in
enclosures and used for food.
• Fish farming is the fastest growing area of
animal food production.
Contd.
Figure 4.7. Fish (Tilapia)
Reading Assignment
[Link] difference between Ruminant and
Monogastric Animals
4.2. Importance of Animal Production
1. Food and nutrition supply
[Link] materials
• Skins and wool from goats and sheep are used as
raw materials for various traditional household
products in the cottage industry.
• Animal bones and hooves are used for adhesives.
• Fats are used for candles and soap making.
• Chemical or liquid extractions from the internal
organs of animals can also be used in the
pharmaceutical industries to manufacture
hormones and other kinds of drugs.
[Link] feed
• Residues from slaughtered farm animals are
used in the preparation of feed for mono-gastric
animals.
• For example, bone meal, fish meal, blood meal
and meat meal are good sources of protein and
amino acids for optimal animal feeding.
4.3. Constraints in Animal Production and Their Mitigation
Strategies
• Feed shortage
• Genetic factors
• Animal diseases and parasites
• Socio-economic constraints
• Traditional production system
Classwork
I. Define the following terms?
A. Ruminants
B. Herbivores
C. Pasture
D. Twigs
E. Thorn
F. Pseudo-ruminants
G. Omnivorous
H. Monogastric
I. pollination
4.4. Animal Production Systems
Contd.
• There are different types of livestock farming
systems that are differentiated by the production
processes.
• They are generally classified as extensive, semi-
intensive and intensive systems.
Extensive Production System
Extensive farming system is an animal production
system that uses small inputs of labour, fertilizers and
capital relative to the land area being used.
It includes cattle, sheep and goat farming in areas with
low agricultural productivity.
The feed depends on the condition of the climate.
Severe shortage of pasture and fodder during the dry
season.
Compared to intensive farming, productivity in
extensive farming tends to be much lower, growth rate
slower, and time to maturity much longer.
Forms of extensive production system
[Link] is an extreme example of extensive
farming where herders move their animals to get pastures
from occasional rainfall.
Pastoralism allows communities to feed themselves in
areas that do not support other forms of agriculture.
Pastoralism is a livelihood system and a way of life for
millions of citizens in Ethiopia.
Feed and water shortage (drought), poor market
outlet, disease and number oriented livestock
production are the major problems in the pastoral
production system.
Pastoralists are of two types.
Nomads: They have no permanent home, but move from place to
place with their herd and flocks in search of water and feed for their
animals.
• The production system is largely based on increasing animal
number.
Transhumance : they have a permanent home to which they
return each year, but some take the flocks and herds away from
their permanent settlement for some part of the year.
It is characterized by the seasonal and recurring movement of
livestock across regions.
The aim of this system is to make use of often distant pasture during
rainy season and what remain after harvest around farm houses.
Contd.
[Link]-pastoral system is a system in which livestock
are important components of the farming system.
• Crops are produced both for subsistence and market.
• Livestock are kept for draft, sale and generation of
other primary products (milk, meat and eggs).
Contd.
[Link] is the practice of raising large number of
animals on a fenced land or has fixed boundaries.
• Ranching is another form of extensive system.
• There is relatively little labor input compared to the
land and number of animals being farmed.
• Ranching is modern alternative to pastoralism.
• Ranchers commonly raise grazing animals such as
cattle and sheep.
• They are raised for meat, dairy or wool.
• Function of livestock and products is to provide cash
income and for making profit.
Contd.
4. Mixed farming is a system whereby both crops and
livestock are raised on the same farm.
• In a mixed farming system, the farmer may keep cow
for milk, goats and sheep for meat and wool, and grow
food crops and hay to feed animals.
• Equines (horse, mule and donkey) are used for
transport.
• While manure from the animal dungs serve as source
of manure to improve the soil fertility.
• Natural pasture and crop residues (e.g., teff, barley
and wheat straws) are the major feed resources.
• Mixed farming system is subsistence-oriented.
Semi-intensive System
• Semi-intensive system is a type of animal production system
that lies between the extensive and intensive systems.
• The system is characterized by high input and high output
relative to extensive production system.
• This systems is usually located around the periphery of large
towns.
• They are commonly practiced by small scale producers.
• In a semi-intensive system, animals are reared for family
consumption but the surplus can be sold for income
generation.
• This system can easily be intensified.
Intensive System
• Characterized by high inputs with high output.
• This is a modern farming system where livestock are raised at high
stocking density with a relatively high inputs and operations.
• The production systems are market-oriented.
• The system often located near highly populated urban centers.
• Feed type is grown forage which can be used in cut and carry
system.
• Feeding industrial by-products and balanced ration.
• The animals feed is usually supplemented with proteins, minerals
and vitamins.
• Examples of intensive farming are pig production, broiler
production, feedlot operations, and commercial dairy production.
• Meat, milk and eggs are the main products of the farms.
Homework
I. Define the following terms?
A. Cut and carry system
B. A balanced ration
C. Feedlot
The end
