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Introduction
- The term livestock is used to refer to all domesticated animals.
- These animals include cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, pigs, rabbits, camels, bees, fish and donkeys.
The importance of keeping livestock:
- Source of food.
- Source of income.
- Cultural values.
- Source of animal power.
- Provision of raw materials for industries.
- Farmyard manure from the animals is used in maintaining soil fertility.
- Cattle dung is used in the production of biogas.
Cattle Breeds
- Cattle can be classified into two groups based on their origin.
These are;
- Indigenous cattle.
- Exotic cattle.
Indigenous Cattle
- Zebus –
They are small in size and with a distinct hump and include:
- Nandi,
- Bukedi
- Maasai cattle.
- The Borana
- These are the cattle kept in the Northern parts of Kenya.
- They are larger than the Zebus.
- Indigenous cattle are hardy hence able to tolerate the harsh environmental conditions in the tropics.
- They are the major suppliers of beef in Kenya.
Exotic Cattle
- Foreign cattle from the temperate regions.
- They have distinct breed characteristics and are classified into various breeds.
General characteristics:
- They have no humps.
- They have low tolerance to high temperatures hence popular in cool climates of the Kenya highlands ..
- They are highly susceptible to tropical diseases.
- They have fast growth rates leading to early maturity.
- They are good producers of both meat and milk.
- They cannot walk for long distances.
- They have short calving intervals of one calf per year if well managed.
Exotic cattle breeds fall under the following groups:
- Dairy cattle breeds.
- Beef cattle breeds.
- Dual purpose breeds.
Dairy Cattle Breeds
- They include
- Friesian,
- Ayrshire,
- Guernsey
- Jersey.
Characteristics of Dairy Cattle
- Wedge or triangular in shape.
- Large stomach.
- Docile with mild temperament.
- Large, well suspended udders and teats.
- Lean bodies.
- Lean and smooth neck.
- Large and long mammary milk wells and veins.
- Cylindrical; uniform and well spaced teats.
- Wide and well set hindquarters to accommodate the udder.
Friesian-Holstein (largest of all dairy breeds)
- Origin:
Holland - Colour:
Black and white - Size: Cow weighs 550-680kgs Bull weighs 950 kg.
- Highest milk producers of all dairy breeds about 9150 kg per lactation but with least butterfat content; 3.5%
Ayrshire
- Origin:
Scotland - Colour: White with brown markings.
- Size: Cow weighs 360-590kgs Bulls weighs 500-720kg.
Conformation:
- Straight top lines, horns are long and face upwards.
- Milk production is second to Friesian about 61OOkg per lactation with butter content of about 4%.
Guernsey
- Origin:
Guernsey Island off the coast of France. - Colour:
Yellowish brown to red with white legs, switch and girth .. - Size:
Bulls 540–770kg. Cow weighs 450– 500kgs
Conformation:
- Udders are less symmetrical.
- Average milk production is about 5185kg per lactation with a butterfat content of 4.5% hence the yellow colour of milk.
Jersey (smallest of all the dairy breeds)
- Origin:
England - Colour:
Yellow brown with black muzzle and switch. - Size:
Bulls weigh 540–700kg. Cow weighs 350-450kgs
Conformation:
- Dished forehead, have straight top–line and level rumps with sharp withers.
- Have protruding black eyes.
- Average milk production 1270kg per lactation of butterfat content 5%.
- They tolerate high temperatures.
Beef Cattle
Examples:
- Aberdeen Angus,
- Hereford,
- Shorthorns,
- Galloway,
- American Brahman,
- charolais
- Santa Getrudis.
Characteristics of Beef Cattle
- Blocky or square conformation.
- Have thick muscles or are well fleshed.
- Early maturing.
- Deep chest and girth and short legs.
- Straight top and lower lines.
AberdeenAngus
- Origin:
North East Scotland.
- Colour:
Black - Shape:
Cylindrical, compact and deep It is polled.
Size:
- Mature bulls weigh 900kg.
- Mature cows weigh 840kgs.
It is found in Timau area of Kenya
Hereford
- Origin: England.
- Colour:
Deep red and white–faced. - Size: Average weight of bulls is 1000kg.
- Cows weigh 840kgs.
- It is found in areas such as Naivasha.
Shorthorn
- Origin:
England. - Has easy fleshing ability
- Colour: Red, Roan or white
- Shape: Cylindrical, compact and deep.
- It is polled.
Size:
- Bulls weigh 700-900kg,
- cows weigh 545-630kgs.
Galloway
- Origin: Scotland.
- Colour:
Black - Kept in the highland areas like Molo in Kenya.
Charolais
- Origin:
France. - Colour:
Creamy white. - Size:
Bulls weigh 1200kg, cows weigh 1000kgs. - It is found in ranches in Laikipia District.
Dual Purpose Breeds
Examples: Sahiwal, Red Poll and Simmental.
Sahiwal
- Origin:
India and Pakistan .. - Colour: reddish brown.
- Size: Bulls weigh 650kg, and cows 400kg.
- Milk production averages 2700-3000 per lactation with a butter fat content of 3.7%.
- It has a pendulous udders which does not let down milk easily.
- It is therefore said to be a difficult milker.
- It is kept in semi–arid areas such as Naivasha.
Red Poll
- Origin:
England. - Colour:
Deep red with a white nose. - Conformation: Polled-deep girth and short legs.
- Kept in semi–arid areas such as Nakuru, Mogotio.
Simmental
- Origin:
Switzerland.
- Colour:
Light red and white patches on the head.
Conformation:
- It has broad and straight back, with well-sprung ribs and deep girth.
- It is well fleshed at rear quarters, well suspended udders and large teats.
Sheep Breeds:
Purpose of Keeping Sheep;
- Meat (mutton).
- Wool production.
Exotic Sheep
- Wool breeds -for example merino.
- Dual purpose- for example Corriedale, Romney marsh.
- Mutton breeds -for example Hampshire Down, Dorpers.
Merino
- Origin: Spain
Characteristics:
- It has white face and its lips and nostrils are pink in colour.
- Rams have horns which are spiral in shape.
- It is susceptible to foot rot, worm and respiratory diseases.
Corriedale
- Origin:
New Zealand. - Size:
Rams 85 – 90kg. Ewes 60— 85 kg - This is a dual-purpose breed with white open face and white spots on the legs.
- It is hornless and hardy.
Romney Marsh
- Origin:
England. - Size: Rams 100 – 115kg.
- Ewes 84– 100 kg
- It is a dual-purpose breed which s hornless with wide poll and black nostrils and lips.
- It is average in prolificacy.
- It is resistant to foot rot diseases and worm infestation.
Hampshire Down
- Origin:
England. - Size: Rams 125kg.
- Ewes 80-100 kg
- It is a mutton breed which is early maturing, hardy and prolific.
- Fleece is of poor quality because of the black fibres.
- Lambing percentage is 125-140.
Dorper
- Is a crossbreed of Dorset horn and black head Persian sheep.
-
It is mutton breed.
Dorset Horn
- Dual purpose breed of sheep.
- Indigenous Breeds of Sheep
- Their bodies are covered with hair.
- Their classification is based on their tails and their names vary according to different tribes.
Characteristics;
- Thin tailed sheep found in West Africa.
- Fat tailed such as Maasai sheep.
- Fat rumped sheep.
Maasai Sheep
- Found in South Western Kenya and Northern Tanzania.
- Size: Ram 38kg,
- Ewe 20-30kg.
- Colour: Red and brown.
- These are early maturing with long legs and small pointed horns.
Black Head Persian Sheep
- Origin:
South Africa - Colour:
White with black head and neck. - It is polled with a big dewlap, fat rump and a curved tail..
Goats
Goats well adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions because of the following characteristics:
- They feed on a wide range of vegetation.
- They require very little amount of water.
- They are tolerant to high temperatures.
- They are fairly resistant to diseases.
- They can walk long distances without losing weight.
Indigenous Goat Breeds
- Galla (white in colour). Adult female can weigh 25kg.
- Somali (Boran): Found in Northern Kenya (white in colour).
- Turkana/Samburu: (Long hair and bearded.
- Mubende: (Black) (40-45kg). These are small and hardy and are kept for meat and milked by the pastoralists.
Exotic Breeds
Boer goat
- Origin:
South Africa - Colour:
White - Has long ears and long hair on their bodies.
Anglo-Nubian
- Origin:
North East Africa - Colour:
Roan and White - These have long legs, lopped ears and are polled.
- They produce 1–2 litres of milk per , day.
Jumnapari
- Origin:
India - Colour:
White, black and fawn. - They are horned, have large lopped ears
- Produce 1-1.5_litres of milk per day.
Toggenburg
- Origin: Switzerland
- Colour: White patches on the body, white stripes on the face and neck.
- Erect forward pointing ears and polled.
- Can produce 2–3 of milk per day.
Saanen
- Origin:
Switzerland. - Colour:
White - They have erect, forward pointing ears and polled.
- Can produce 2-3 Iitres of milk per day.
Angora
- Origin:
Angora in Asia. - Colour: White
- It is kept for wool production.
French alpine. Pigs
Characteristics:
- They are sparsely haired and therefore cannot withstand cold.
- Pigs wallow when it is hot due to absence of sweat glands.
- They breathe fast when it is hot.
- They have bristles instead of hair.
Breeds
Large White
- Origin: Britain
- _ Kept for bacon and pork production.
- Long, large and white in colour.
- Ears straight and erect.
- Has dished face and snout.
- Most prolific and with good mothering ability.
- Fairly hardy.
Landrace
- Origin:
Denmark
- White and longer than large white. _
- Ears drooping.
- Good for bacon production.
- Very prolific with good mothering ability. _
- Requires high level of management.
Wessex Saddle
- Back Origin: England
- Colour:
Black with white forelegs and shoulders. - Straight snout and drooping ears. _
- Good for bacon and pork.
- Good for keeping outdoors.
- Excellent mothering instincts.
Other pig breeds include:
- Berkshire,
- Middle-white
- Duroc Jersey pig.
Pigs can be crossed to obtain hybrids or crosses.
Advantages of Crosses
- Increased litter size. _
- Early maturing.
- _ Increase in body length.
- _ High proportion of lean meat to fat.
Poultry Breeds
There are three types of chicken breeds:
- The light breeds kept for egg production.
- The heavy breeds kept for meat production.
- Dual purpose breeds – kept for both eggs and meat production.
Characteristics of Light Breeds
- Never go broody hence poor sitters.
- Excellent layers (over 220 eggs per year).
- Poor meat producers (hens can attain 2kg cocks 3kgs)
- Very nervous and exhibit high degree of cannibalism.
- Hen‘s comb is large and bent over one eye and cock’s comb is large with 5 – 6 serrations.
Examples:
- Leghorns,
- Anconas,
- Silkies,
- Minorcas.
Characteristics of Heavy Breeds
- Can lay few eggs and provide good meat as broilers.
- Can go broody.
- Heavier and bigger in size.
- Grow fast.
Examples:
- Light Sussex,
- Cornish Dark
- White.
Characteristics of Dual–Purpose Breeds
- Go broody.
- Have good meat.
- Disease resistant (do not require high standard of management).
- Rarely exhibit cannibalism.
Examples: Rhode Island Red.
Hybrids
- These are developed by crossing two different breeds.
- They are superior in performance.
- Can attain 2kg in 56 days for broilers and layover 200 eggs per year for layers.
Examples:
- Shavers,
- Thombers
- Isabrown.
Rabbits
Kept for the following reasons:
- To provide meat, fur, hair or wool.
- To provide skin for leather.
- To provide manure.
- As pet animals.
- Used for research purposes.
Breeds
- Californian white: white, very prolific black ears, nose and feet).
- New Zealand white: (white with pink eyes – good for meat).
- Flemish giant
(dark grey – good for meat). - Angora rabbit
(white, kept for wool production). - Chinchillah (greyish, kept for its fur).
-
Earlops
(white with droopy ears). - Kenya white (white, smallest of breeds).
Camels
Kept for;
- Transport,
- Racing,
- To provide milk, meat and wool.
There are two species of camels.
Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)
- Origin:
Arabia and Syria - Are single humped, have light body
- Good for racing and rapid transport.
Bacterian (Camelus bacterianus)
- Origin:
Central Asia
- Has double humps, heavier and has shorter legs.
- Can live in cold regions hence its thick and long coat acts as insulation.
- Capable of shedding the coat during spring.
Terms used to describe livestock in different age, sex and use.
Livestock | Adult | Replacement Stock | Young | Users) | ||
Species | Male | Female | Male | Female | One | |
Cattle | Bull | Cow | Bullock | Heifer | Calf | Dairy – milk Beef-meat |
Sheep | Ram | Ewe | Ram | Hogget | Lamb | Mutton – meat Wool sheep -wool |
Goat | Buck or | Doe or | Buck | Doe | Kid | Dairy – milk |
Billy | Nanny | Mutton – meat | ||||
Pigs | Boar | Sow | Boar | Gilt | Piglet | Pork – meat |
Bacon –cured | ||||||
Poultry | Cock | Hen | Cockerel | Pullet | Chick | Broilers – meat |
Layers – eggs | ||||||
Rabbits | Buck | Doe | Buck | Doe | Kindling | Meat |
Camel | Bull | Cow | Bull | Heifer | Calf | Pack, trained for |
riding, racing milk, | ||||||
meat, fur |