(a) State four ways in which rangeland is important in livestock production. [4 marks]
(b) If the recommended grazing area per cattle is 3m x 3m. Calculate in hectares the carrying capacity of the rangeland illustrated in the diagram below. [6 marks]
(c) State two benefits of each of the following management practices in animal production:
(i) dipping;
(ii) vaccination;
(iii) artificial insemination. [6 marks]
Explanation
(a)Ways in which rangeland is important in livestock production:
- Provides space for maximum exercise for animals
-Source of cheap feed for farm animals
-Source of salt lick for farm animals
-Provides the protein needs of ruminant animals if legumes are present in the rangeland
-Rangeland makes it possible for unproductive and to be utilized for pasture growing
(b) Calculation of carrying capacity of range land
Area of a circle = Y2 1trl
The area of Y2 a circle = V:z 1trl
Where 1t = 22/7 or 3.142
then:
Area of the figure
= Area of half circle + Area of rectangle + area of half circle
= (Y1 x 1t x 57 m x 57 m) + (250m x 114m) + (Y1 x 1t x 57 m x 57 m)
= (Y2 x 22/7 x 57 m x 57 m) + (250m x 114m) + (Y1 x 22/7 x 57 m x 57 m)
= (5,106 m²) + (28,500 m-) + (5,106 m²)
= 38,711 m²
Area of land = 38, 711 m² but 1 ha = 10,000 m²
.'. areaof land in ha
38,71 1m2/10,000m² = 3.8.1
Grazing Area per cattle = 3m x 3m = 9m²
= 0.009 ha
Carrying capacity = Area of the range land
Grazing area per cattle
3.8711ha
0.0009ha
4301.2 cattle per 3.871] ha
Carrying capacity = 4301
OR =4,301 cattle grazed on 3.8711 ha of range land
(c) Benefits of management practices in animal production
(i) Dipping
-Controls ecto-parasites
-Reduces disease transmission to the animal from the parasites
-Ensures high quality hides and skins
-Eliminates loss of nutrients occasioned by sucking of blood
-Reduces skin irritation
(ii) Vaccination
- Increases resistance to diseases
-High turnover from investment due to low mortality
-Prevents / Reduces outbreak of diseases
(iii) Artificial Insemination
-Eliminates the cost of buying and keeping male animals
-Allows use of lame but fertile, proven males Allows the use of semen of oversized males
-Reduces spread of veneral diseases
-Allows the use of the sperm of a proven male animal long after its death Many more females can be served from one male at a time
-Allows planned breeding timetables/programmes
-Semen held in cold storage, can be stored and transported over long distances
- Problem of space and time of breeding of male animals -is eliminated
- Faster result in breeding improvement is achieved.