Page 208 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

daylight. Farmers should be able to check animals easily for injuries or signs of
sickness. It should also protect the cattle from direct sunlight, heavy rain or cold
winds. Even where cattle graze freely, adding a simple roofed shelter is required
for animal comfort and better growth.
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Activity 10.3

Visit your school or a nearby beef cattle farm and carry out the following tasks:

(a) Observe and identify the different types of housing structures used for beef
cattle production;

(b) Analyse the strengths and challenges of each type of housing you have
observed;
(c) Suggest practical improvements that could be made to improve the house
for animal comfort, health and productivity; then, write a brief report in your
portfolio.

Exercise 10.2
1. Your school wants to start a small beef cattle project. Based on what you have
learnt, design a simple and low-cost housing structure that would suit your
area. Briefly describe its key features and explain why your design is the most
suitable.

2. You visit a farm where cattle housing lacks good ventilation and access to
clean water. What problems might arise from this, and what practical solutions
would you suggest to improve the situation?

3. Suppose your community receives heavy rainfall throughout the year. What
type of housing would you recommend for beef cattle in this area? Why?
4. Informed by the strengths and weaknesses of a traditional kraal and a shed
in a paddock housing system, suggest how you would combine their best
features to build better housing for your beef cattle.

5. Some people believe beef cattle do not need shelter because they graze freely
during the day. Using knowledge and skills learnt, create a list of reasons you
will use to convince them to invest in a simple housing system as shelter for
their animals.

Student’s Book Form Three 199

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AGRICULTURE F3.indd 199