Page 71 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

The whole building should be cleaned and disinfected periodically and any pen that
is emptied should be thoroughly cleaned before other animals are transferred to it.
Rearing and fattening of young animals should be organised so that the building can
be emptied, cleaned and disinfected between batches. This is particularly beneficial
for disease control. Diseases are transmitted in many ways including direct contact
between animals, air-borne, microorganisms, parasites, manure, soil, contaminated
feed and water, birds and rodents as well as stockman’s boots. Direct contact between
animals can be reduced by decreasing the number of animals in each group and by
constructing solid partitions between pens. Solid walls may however obstruct air
movements thus contributing to heat-stress. Proper waste handling system prevents
animals of different groups coming into contact with each other’s manure. In
particular, young animals must be prevented from contact with manure from adult
animals.

In housing, good stockmanship is of great importance. It includes regular observation
of the animals to detect any change in behaviour, which could indicate disease or
ill heathy. Sick animals should immediately be separated from the herd to prevent
further spread of infectious disease and to allow the animal to rest. The sick animal
should be isolated in a pen kept specifically for this purpose and preferably in a
separate building. Likewise, newly acquired animals and animals returning from
a market or other place where they may have been exposed to the risk of infection
must be housed separately or quarantined for an adequate length of time to detect
any disease they may be carrying before they are allowed into the herd.
Other environmental factors important in livestock housing are those related
to sounds, dust as well as toxic and noxious gases. Although the factors related

to sounds will only have minor effects to animal’s development and production,
nervous animals may react adversely to irregular sudden noises. Soft radio music
in a milking parlour may have a smoothing effect on the cows. Dust can carry
microorganisms, which may cause an outbreak of diseases. Similarly, toxic and
noxious gases are produced by manure which accumulates in buildings or storages
thus releasing harmful amounts of gases. However, problems with gases are not
likely to arise in the open-sided buildings.
Generally, before constructing any livestock house, you need to have a farm design
that will indicate the position of the animal houses/buildings corresponding to their
uses. In positioning and construction of livestock house(s), you need to consider
animals’ natural behaviours and animals’ environmental requirements you have
learnt. Together with these characteristics, you should also consider topography
and drainage, soil type, exposure to the sun and protection from wind and rain,

Student’s Book Form Three
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AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 60 10/01/2025 12:31