Page 68 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools
Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Housing in relation to livestock natural behaviours and environmental requirements
are going to be elaborated in next sections while other characteristics will be
integrated in housing of particular species of livestock.
Housing in relation to livestock natural behaviours
Every species of farm animal has its own natural behaviours which differ with others.
For housing to be appropriate, it has to be designed in such a way that it provides
freedom for an animal to exhibit its natural behaviours. For example, cattle normally
live in herds but when giving birth, the cow attempts to find a quiet, sheltered place
away from disturbance of other cows and humans. The cow needs to be alone with
her calf for some time after birth for the cow-calf bond to be established. A cow
that is approaching calving should be removed from the herd or any loose housing
system and put in an individual pen.

Similarly, hens spend a considerable time in the selection of a nest, which is on the
ground. Nesting is characterised by privacy and careful hiding. Hens in deep litter
systems sometimes lay eggs on the floor instead of in nest boxes, especially if the
litter is quite deep or there are dark corners in the pen. To avoid this, plenty of fresh
litter is provided in the nests and they are kept in semi-darkness. Also, laying nests
have to be designed with a rail in front so that birds can inspect the nests prior to
entry. An additional measure is to start with the nest boxes on the floor and slowly
raise them to the desired level over a period of days.

In pigs, sows are nest builders and should be transferred to clean farrowing pens one
to two weeks before parturition. They should be given some bedding so that they can
build a nest. Oestrus, especially in gilts, is increased by the smell, sight and physical
presence of a boar. Gilts and sows awaiting mating should be kept in pens adjoining
the boar pen. Housing in livestock keeping tends to facilitate feeding especially
those animals kept indoors.

Cattle prefer to be able to see each other and see what they drink while drinking,
therefore, more animals can drink at once from a long, narrow trough than from
a low round one. With cattle and hens, feeding is typically a group activity thus,
adequate space at the feed trough must be provided for all animals at one time. At
pasture, small sized troughs for feed and water, in relation to number of animals, can
result in an inadequate feeding and watering of animals considered as inferior. These
inferior animals are likely to be left aside when it comes to feeding and/or watering.

To prevent waste of feed, a trough should be designed to suit a particular behaviour
pattern each species exhibits while feeding. For example, pecking in poultry, rooting
with a forward and upward thrust in pigs, wrapping their tongue around the feed/
grass and jerking their head forward in cattle. In addition, artificially reared calves
tend to butt the bucket in the same way they do to their mother’s udder when suckling.

Student’s Book Form Twos Book Form Three
Student’
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