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Agriculture for Secondary Schools
Chapter
Eight
Handling and processing of livestock produce
Introduction
Livestock enterprises always aim at bringing to the market produce of acceptable
quality that would fetch good prices from the consumers. However, if not properly
handled and processed, many livestock products are easily perishable. In this
chapter, you will learn about the concept of handling and processing of livestock
products. You will also learn handling and processing of selected livestock produce;
namely live animals, milk, meat and poultry eggs as well as livestock by-products.
The competencies developed from this chapter will enable you to produce good
quality livestock products which will fetch good prices and hence maximise revenue
and profits from the enterprises.
The concept of handling and processing of livestock products
In livestock farming, live animals are also a product. Other main products are meat,
milk and eggs. To a livestock keeper who brings his/her animals to the market, his
or her produce is the live animal. There are also traders who deal with collection of
animals from remote areas and bring them to the markets. For all livestock dealers,
there are standard practices that must be followed while transporting the animal to
the market. Likewise, animal products have to be well handled in such a way that
they remain in the required quality. The products are processed in various ways
in order to maintain their quality and meet consumers’ interests. Handling and
processing of livestock products is important in four aspects. Firstly, to ensure safety
and protection of the product, secondly, to improve the shelf life of the products,
thirdly, to meet the market demand and interest and lastly, to ease transportation and
storage.
Handling of live animals
Before transporting animals for slaughter or further rearing, the following actions
should be undertaken.
(a) Ensuring safety to both animals and handlers during transportation
Animals sent to auctions or slaughter houses must not be rushed or roughed. Animals
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