QUESTION 5
(a) State six ways in which diseases could be controlled in sheep production. [6 marks]
(b) Give three ways in which decreased feed intake of the flock of sheep could be
improved. [3 marks]
(c) Explain each of the following methods of animal improvement:
(i) introduction;
(ii) selection;
(iii) breeding. [6 marks]
(d) State five aims of animal improvement. [5 marks]
Observation
Question 5 was popular among candidates and performance was above average. However, only few candidates could give ways of improving decreased feed intake in sheep.
The expected answers include:
- Ways of controlling diseases in sheep production
- Isolation of affected sheep
- Treatment of affected sheep/appropriate medication
- Follow the required vaccination regimes regularly
- Quarantine new stocks before they are introduced on the farm
- Ensure proper sanitary/hygienic conditions on the farm
- Ensure proper biosecurity/provision of footbath
- Avoid the flock straying away from the farm or mixing up with flock from other farms
- Avoid stray animals on the farm
- Restrict number of visitors on the farm
- Dispose off dead animals/carcass properly
- Avoid overcrowding in pens
- Provide clean and adequate water regularly
- Discard leftover/contaminated feed properly
- Discard leftover water properly
- Provide good housing
- Proper feeding
- Ways of improving decreased feed intake of the flock of sheep
- Provision of balanced diet
- Regular disease control
- Regular pest control
- Provision of clean and adequate water
- Provide acceptable feed/feedstuff
- Supply of salt/mineral lick
- Controlled stocking
- Adequate sanitation
- Use of feed additives
- Ensure adequate ventilation
- Increase vitamin content in the diet/water
- Allow enough space for exercise
- Deworming
- Offer varieties of feed
- Explanation of methods of animal improvement
- Introduction
This involves bringing breeds of animals with superior and desirable characters (traits) from another farm into the farmer’s farm
- Selection
This involves deliberate choosing of animals with superior traits from a mixed population, for breeding
- Breeding
Breeding involves the transfer of desirable traits to offspring through mating of animals or other breeding methods
- Aims of animal improvement
- High reproductive efficiency
- High productivity/high yield
- Good mothering ability
- Cool temperament/ease of handling
- High libido
- Resistance to pests
- Resistance to diseases
- High adaptability/adaptation to harsh environmental conditions
- Improved quality of produce
- Improved growth rate
- Early maturity
- Produce animals with high feed conversion efficiency