SEMI-INTENSIVE SYSTEM Most specialized dairy and beef farmers utilize this system. The cattle are reared both indoors and outdoors. Management, feeding, breeding and disease control practices are more economical and record keeping can be more efficient. Pasture grazing and/or zero grazing is practised by farmers and yields tend to be very good.
water trough
Figure 3-7 Semi-intensive system of rearing cattle
BREEDING AND REPRODUCTION Breeding and reproduction of cattle are done to increase the stock number, and for milk and meat production. Farmers are however, advised to breed for good genetic qualities in order to improve the quality of their stock and production. A good breeding programme therefore requires a careful selection of both cows and bulls for breeding. SELECTION OF BREEDING ANIMALS The cow or bull is selected on three factors:
conformation
pedigree
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