(a) Name three management systems in farm animal production.
(b) State three ways in which housing is important in the management of farm animals.
(c) Mention four advantages associated with each of the following systems of keeping animals: (i) deep litter (i i) battery cage
(d) State three features of a suitable housing unit for rearing each of the following animals: (a) snails (ii) grasscutter
Explanation
(a) Management systems in farm animal production: (i) Extensive system (ii) Intensive system (iii) Semi-intensive system
(b) Importance of housing for farm animals: (i) Protection from unfavourable weather conditions (ii) Confinement of animals is to ease management/feeding/water sup-ply/sanitation/vaccination (iii) It gives comfort to animals for optimal production (iv) Protection from vermin, e.g snakes, rats/predators/wild animals (v) Limit spread of contagious diseases/ensures biosecurity (vi) Protection from theft (vii) Facilitates record keeping.
(c) (i) Advantages of deep litter system: (i) Used litter materials can be used as organic manure,
(ii) Suitable for fertile egg production/breeding purposes (iii) Droppings as absorbed and easier to remove
(iv) wood shaving act as insulator and so controls floor temperature (v) Birds are protected from bad weather (vi) There is room for birds to exercise (vii) Less capital intensive.
(ii) Advantages of battery cage system: (i) Birds do not have direct contact with droppings thereby avoiding infections
(ii) Egg pecking is reduced (iii) Egg collection is less stressful (iv) Birds conserve energy (v) Better feed utilization (vi) Record keeping is easy (vii) Labour use is minimal (viii) Clean eggs are obtained (ix) It eliminates cannibalism/feather pecking
(x) It reduces spread of contagious diseases (xi) Easy identification of sick birds (xii) Less space/land is required
(d) Features of a suitable housing unit: (i) Snails: (i) High humidity (ii) Adequate shade (iii) Suitable temperature
(iv) Soil should be sandy/loam/moist environment/leaf litter (v) Letted cages/pit (vi) Spacious enclosures (vii) Separate apartments for differents ages and breed
(viii) Must be fortified to prevent escape
(ii) Grass cutters: (i) Fortified hutches/cages/metal/concrete (ii) Fair illumination for rearing (iii) Adequate ventilation (iv) High wall
(v) Spacious enclosures (vi) Shaded compartments (vii) Easy to clean floors.