Page 158 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Activity 9.4
1. Use your knowledge of dairy cattle housing to design a simple shed by doing
the following tasks:

(a) Choose a suitable site in your school or local area.
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
(b) Sketch a simple, labelled layout of a dairy shed (include space for animals
to rest, feed, and drink). Also includes other important structures such as
an isolation pen, feed storage, and a milking area.
2. Briefly explain how your design supports animal health, the production of
clean milk, and productivity.

Exercise 9.3

Read each situation and answer the question that follows:

1. A farmer built a dairy cattle shed. After heavy rain, water collects on the
floor, and animals stand in dirty water. What mistake did the farmer make in
selecting the site? Suggest at least one way to fix the problem.
2. A school is implementing a dairy project, but there is only one small shed for
all the cattle. Calves often fall sick, and milking is difficult. What housing
changes should the school make to improve animal health and daily work?
3. A student visited a farm where she observed cows tied very close together.
The shed was dark, had a bad smell, and had no drainage system in place. The
animals seemed stressed, and flies were everywhere. Identify three housing
problems on this farm. For each problem, explain how it could reduce milk
production or affect animal health. Suggest ways to fix the problem.

4. A youth dairy group stores bran and hay together in one shed. After some
weeks, the bran smells bad and is full of insects. The hay also becomes
mouldy and damp. What storage mistakes did the group make? Suggest at
least two ways to manage those mistakes.

Breeding management for dairy cattle
Successful dairy farming depends on good breeding practices. These practices
help to ensure regular calving, strong calves, and high milk production. When
done well, they reduce losses, improve herd quality, and support long-term
income. The most important parts of breeding management include detecting
animals on heat, choosing the right mating method, caring for the breeding bull,
feeding during pregnancy, and managing calving. It also includes drying off,

Student’s Book Form Three 149

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AGRICULTURE F3.indd 149