Page 261 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

the doe pulls fur from her body and builds up a nest in the nest box for protection of
the young ones.

Activity 11.3
Perform the following tasks:
1. Visit your school farm or a livestock institute farm or any nearby farm raising
animals for meat production to practise managerial operations with respect to
breeding, management of pregnant and lactating animals, culling and selection
of replacement stock.

2. After the visit, share to your class what you have learnt from the field.

Management practices of young animals raised for meat production

The general management of the newly born young animals that are calves, kids, lambs
and piglets follow the same principles. The dams should be prepared and subjected to

hygienic environments during the process of parturition. The preparations required
for these animals vary from one type of animal to another. For example, sows have
to be placed in farrowing crates; rabbit does have to be provided with nest boxes
while cattle, sheep and goats may need to or not to be confined in isolation pens
depending on the management system.

Colostrum feeding: Colostrum is the first milk secreted from mammary glands of
a dam after parturition. Within the first 24 hours of the young’s life, the intestinal
membrane is quite active in absorption of the nutrients from colostrum. This

secretion changes gradually into normal milk after 4 days. During this period, it is
very important for the young animals to feed enough colostrum. In case there is a
need for artificial colostrum, the procedures of making it are indicated in Chapter
Ten of this book. The importance of colostrum to newly born animals include:
(a) Colostrum has high nutritive value rich in vitamins, minerals and high fat
content that acts as the main source of energy for growth and protection for the
young animal.

(b) It contains immunoglobulins that are important for the immune system;
protecting young animals against diseases.

(c) It provides rapid assimilation of foods containing vitamins A, D and E for the
young animal to store in its liver.

(d) It acts as a laxative and enables the young animal to pass its first faeces called
meconium.

Student’s Book Form Three
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AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 250 10/01/2025 12:32