Page 63 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Selection of suitable breed of livestock
When you plan to keep a particular type of livestock, it is important to select a suitable
breed. Choice of the breed depends on adaptation of the breed to the environment

and availability of the breed.
Choose the animal breed which is resistant or tolerant to some of the livestock
diseases and parasites which are present in your area. Also, select a breed which
can withstand the prevailing environmental conditions. A farmer may prefer to
keep a certain breed. His/her progress towards establishing farm enterprise will be
determined by the availability of that breed in a particular locality such as street/
village, division, ward, district, region or country.

Selection of suitable system of keeping livestock
Recall from the previous chapters in Form One. You have learned about major
livestock production systems which are intensive, semi-intensive and extensive
systems. Consider the strengths and challenges of each system and select a system
that best-fit your situation and conditions.

Provision of suitable houses and conducive environment

Livestock should be provided with good shelter or houses. Livestock need to be
protected from wind, sun, rain, predators and be kept in conditions where diseases
and parasites can be easily controlled. Shelter or house structure should be made
to meet requirements of livestock for their development, which include comfort,
feeding, watering, protection against bad weather conditions and predators, and
harvesting as well as storage of products. Moreover, livestock products stored for
either food or sale must be protected from spoilage by water, excessive temperature,
insects, fungi or animal themselves.

Good control of livestock diseases and parasites

The existence of diseases and parasites is a serious problem in many parts of the
world including Tanzania. Some regions in the country are dominated with tsetse
flies and ticks. Necessary measures for controlling diseases and parasites must be
taken to ensure that livestock are in good health.

Financial planning
Financial planning in livestock enterprises should always look into two elements of
investment. First, how much is required to set up and run the enterprise (production

costs), and second, what would be the expected returns from the enterprise (revenues).
For the enterprise to be profitable and sustainable, the net balance between costs of

Student’s Book Form Three
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