(a) Give three advantages and three disadvantages of the deep litter system of poultry management. [6 marks]
(b) State three reasons for carrying out each of the following animal husbandry practices:
(i) castration of goats;
(ii) creep feeding of pigs. [6 marks]
(c) Name four local breeds of cattle reared in West Africa. [4marks]
Explanation
(a) Advantages and Disadvantages of the deep litter system of poultry management:
Advantages
- It increases efficiency in poultry management
- It maximizes the use of land/large flock of birds can be managed
-It maximizes the use of labour/cost of labour is reduced
-Birds are well protected / protection from predators and thieves
-Cost of labour is reduced
-Easy to control houseflies and mosquitoes
-Birds are able to exercise Suitable for rearing breeding stock
- Birds are protected against harsh weather
Disadvantages
- Cost of construction of deep litter house is high
- Cannibalism and pecking among birds are common
- There is wastage of feed by birds
- Litter makes eggs dirty
- Diseases spread easily
- Not easy to identify unproductive birds
- Pecking of eggs/destruction of eggs is common
-Pests e.g. lice, fleas etc. infestation is high
-Feed and water contamination is high
- Difficult to keep records on individual birds
-Disease control measures are difficult to carry out.
(b) Reasons for carrying out animal husbandry practices
(i) Castration of goats
-To control indiscriminate mating
- To quicken the fattening-up process
- To remove offensive odour
-To prevent spread of sexually transmitted diseases
- To tame the Billy goat/docility Animals feed better/grow faster
(ii) Creep feeding of pigs
- To avoid overlay of piglets by sow
- To keep the feed meant for the piglets out of reach of sows
- To provide highly nutritious diet to the piglets for their rapid development
- It facilitates early weaning of piglets
-Allows for early servicing of sows
(c) Local breeds of cattle reared in West Africa
-Kuri
-Muturu/ West African Short Horn
- White Fulani
- Red Bororo
- Sokoto Gudali
-N'dama
- Keteku/Borgu/Sanga/Mere
- Wadara/Shuwa
- Azawal
-Boule
-Adamawa
-Lagune
- Somba/Kapsiki/Namohi/Bakosi