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ANIM 416: Ruminant Animal Production

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Small Ruminant Production

The millennium development Goals and the Livestock revolution – the role of the Animal Scientist.  The bane of the small ruminant production on the coastal savanna of Ghana; sustainable dry season feeding strategies; Improving the reproductive efficiency of breeding ewes and rams.  Other management practices – Flushing, creep feeding, weaning and calendar of activities on a small ruminant farm.

Dairy Cattle Production

Importance of milk and dairy products.  Breeds of dairy cattle – characteristics and production.  Status of the dairy industry in Ghana.   Constraints to milk production in Ghana.  Essentials of a profitable dairy operation.  Milk yield and composition and factors affecting them.  Management and milking of the dairy herd.  Managing dairy cattle for high fertility.

 

Forage Production, Management and Conservation

Types of pastures; natural, cultivated. Management and improvement practices of grasslands; reseeding, fertilization, water supply, weed control, burning, supplementary feeding. Concepts of grazing; stocking rate, carrying capacity, grazing capacity, overgrazing. Grazing management systems; continuous, rotational, zero, deferred. Forage conservation; aims, techniques, socio-economic and technical considerations, haymaking, silage making.