UNIT 2: Animal production

Lesson 2.1: Animal production practices in South Africa

ACTIVITY 2.1

1.1 Feedlot: A plot of ground or building where animals are fattened for the market. Sustainable: To manage and use natural resources  such as vegetation and soil in such a way that they will not deteriorate,  thereby ensuring their continued use into the future.  (4)

1.2 Agriculture is important for the South African economy.  It contributes only 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP).  Large areas of South Africa are suited only for extensive livestock production.  Livestock income in South Africa can be divided into: Poultry (42 – 48%)  Beef (16 – 28%)  Dairy (13 – 19%)  Small stock (8 – 10%)  Pigs (4%)  (8)

1.3 Management  Housing  Climate  Diseases  Topography  Pollution  (6)

1.4 Cows should not be herded without reason  Never hit animals.  Animals must be handled in a calm way.  Animals should be allowed to suckle their young in peace.  Noise make animals nervous.  (5)

1.5 A clean and hygienic area ensures healthy animals.  Food and water troughs must be clean.  There must be efficient light.  The floor should slope slightly so that it is easy to clean.  There should be sufficient floor space.  (5)

1.6 Regular treatment of animals is essential. Animals should be dipped regularly against parasites. Grazing rotation is important to prevent infections. Treatment against internal parasites is important. Infected animals should be removed from the herd and then treated for a disease.

1.7 A clean and hygienic area ensures healthy animals.  Food and water troughs must be clean.  There must be efficient light.  The floor should slope slightly so that it is easy to clean.  There should be sufficient floor space.  (5)

(5)

1.8 Animals excrete faeces which increase the organic fraction of the soil,  improve soil structure and supply nutrients.  (2)

TOTAL: 40

Lesson 2.2: Main production areas in South Africa

ACTIVITY 2.2

1.1 Subsistence farming: Crops and animals are produced by a farmer to feed his family, rather than to take to the market.  Commercial farming: When crops and animals are produced to sell at market for a profit.  Extensive farming: Involves a relatively low input of materials and labour, relative to the area of land farmed.  Intensive farming: An agricultural production system characterised by high inputs of capital, labour and technology.  (8)

1.2 Subsistence farming is a form of farming where nearly all the crops or livestock raised used to maintain the farmer and the farmer’s family, leaving little, if any, surplus.  These types of farms usually consists of only a few hectares and very little technology or relatively primitive technology is used.  The yields of animals are usually low.  (4)

In commercial farming crops and animals are produced on a larger scale to sell at the market for a profit.  The main objective is to earn as much profit as possible for inputs.  The productivity on this type of farming is normally very high.  To achieve high productivity, modern technology and both synthetic and natural resources are applied.  (4)

1.3

EXSTENSIVE FARMING

Low input  Low to moderate output  • All-animal production that is adapted to the existing environment  • Minimal human input  • No or few purchased inputs such as food  • Animal products being available only during certain seasons  • Much lower yields than for intensive farming in the short term 

INTENSIVE FARMING

High input  High output  • The animal’s environment being modified for optimal production according to animal’s genetis make-up  • An emphasis on productivity  • Usually low labour input and high automation  • Animal products being available throughout the year. • Cereals being grownspecifically for livestock feed 

(15)

1.4 Semi-intensive systems are commonly used by small scale farmers producers  and are characterised by having one or more pens in which chickens can forage on natural vegetation and insects to supplement the feed supplied.  This system is low in cost,  but growth of the birds and egg production are likely to be less than with systems offering closer confinement and better feed.  The poultry run requires a considerable amount of fencing.  (6)

A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock.  Historically, documentation of the breeding’s that occur on a stud farm leads to the development of a stud book.  Male animals made available for breeding to outside female animals  are said to be "standing at stud", or at "stud service", referencing the relatively high probability that they are kept at a stud farm.  The word stud is often restricted to larger farm animals, such as cattle and horses. The owner of the female brings the animal to the stud farm for breeding.  (6)

1.5 With artificial insemination and the ability to ship semen,  combined with the availability of DNA testing for parentage verification,  many breed registries allow semen to be shipped from the stud farm  to the location of the female animal,  thus reducing or eliminating the need for animals to travel.  (5)

1.6 It is a source of income,  it has an overall effect of improving the quality of animals.  (2)

TOTAL: 50

Lesson 2.3: General classification of farm animals

ACTIVITY 2.3

1.1

MEATBREEDS

Afrkaner:  Colour is typical red, quiet temperament, good resistant to heat. Drakensberger:  Smooth black skin colour, calm temperament, can tolerate wide temperature range. Bonsmara:  Smooth, dark coat. Good walking ability and easy to handle. High fertility.  Angus: Black or red colour. Calm temperament. Cows are fertile. Been bred exclusively for their beef. Adaptable to all weather conditions.  Charolais:  Cream coloured. Minimum fat. Ideal for cross-breeding. Excellent temperament. Hereford:  Colour dark red to red. Cows are fertile. Fast-growing cattle with good beef quality. Very adaptable to environmental conditions.  Brahman:  Colour from grey to red to black. Has a hump on top and pendulous ears. Excellent for cross-breeding. Able to perform despite extrem environmental conditions.

(21)

DAIRY COWS

Ayrshire:  High milk yield. Good grazers.  Holstein:  Black and white colour. High milk yield. Prefer cooler, more humid climate.  Jersey:  Light brown colour. High milk yield. Tolerant to heat. Prefer cooler climate.  Guernsey:  White with brown or red spots. Average milk production. Good grazers. 

(12)

MUTTON BREEDS

Fat-tailed breeds: Round-ribbed

Afrikaner: White coat with shiny hair. Fat-tailed sheep. High fertility. Well adapted. 

Fat-ramped breeds:

Van Rooy: 

Fat upper tail with a thin switch. Good mothering ability. Highly fertile. Very hardy breed. Good mothering ability.  Non-wool-bearing White sheep with either black or white heads. Good Sheep: Dorper:  mothering abilities. Easy-care breed. Hardy breed.  Wool-bearing Breeds:  Dormer, Afrino, Vandor 

(12)

PIG BREEDS

Large white pig  White hair, pink skin and upright ears. Sows are prolific and have large litters. Excellent mothers. Docile temperament. Most popular breed in South Africa. 

South African

landrace:  White hair, pink skin and ears that hung forward. Sows are prolific and have large litters. Excellent mothers. Docile temperament. 

Minnesota:  Sows are prolific and excellent mothers. Fast maturing pigs. Breed with rapid growth. Very hardy. Tamworth:  Red coat. Have a long head and erect ears. Excellent mothers. Docile temperament. Excellent for crossbreeding. Very hardy 

1.5 Synthetic breeds were developed by means of cross-breeding  to obtain characteristics such as  high production under certain climatic conditions.  (12)

(3)

TOTAL: 60