Observation

This question was least popular among the candidates. Most of them avoided it and few candidates who attempted question 2(a), agreed that they were factors that hindered livestock production but failed to state how they did. However, they were able to mention factors that affect the productivity of pastures.   

The expected answers include:

2. (a)   Ways in which factors hinder livestock production
(i)        Breeding
-           inadequate know-how/techniques/skill/knowledge for breeding
-           unavailability of improved breeds/presence of poor breeds
-           inability of improved breeds to adapt to the environment
-           inadequate breeders
-           little breeding work is done
-           breeding of animals is expensive
-           breeding of animals is time consuming
-           indigenous traits could be lost
-           poor extension services
            (ii)       Nutrition
-           low quality/poor pastures
-           competition between humans and animals for foodstuff
-           seasonality of forage
-           poor attitude toward establishment of pastures
-           inadequate supply of water
-           malnutrition/poor nutrition/under nutrition
-           bad feed formulation
-           high cost of feed and feedstuff
-           poor extension services                                                                                                         
            (iii)      Healthcare
-           inadequate know-how of health care management by the farmers
-           high incidence of diseases
-           high incidence of pests / parasites
-           high cost of drugs / vaccine  / treatment
-           inadequate healthcare services/poor vetinary services/inaccessible 
or lack of standard health care services
-           poor vaccination /preventive programs
-           poor sanitation
-           poor implementation of quarantine regulation
-           poor extension services.

            (iv)      Government policy
-           uncontrolled importation of animal products
-           political instability leading to unstable livestock and poultry policy
-           high tax regimes / double taxation on inputs
-           restriction of employment of extension officers
-           low allocation of resources to the livestock and poultry sector
-           poor implementation of livestock and poultry policy
-           poor extension services

            (v)       Finance
-           high interest rate
-           inability of farmers to meet collateral requirements
-           difficulty in obtaining loan/credit
-           high risk associated with livestock and poultry production
-           most farmers are not credit worthy
-           poor record keeping
-           poor/inadequate co-operative societies
-           lack of business plan/feasibility study
-           poor extension services
-           insufficient capital

(b)       Factors that affect productivity of pastures
-           climatic/weather                -           soil
-           management practices/stocking rate  -           pests
-     seed type/planting material         -           diseases          
-           resistance to tramping/tolerance     -           drought resistance
-           aggressiveness/regenerating ability   -           compatibility of pastures