(a) State four ways in which rangeland is important in livestock production. [4 marks] (b) If the recommended grazing area per cattle is 3m x 3m. Calculate in hectares the carrying capacity of the rangeland illustrated in the diagram below. [6 marks]
(c) State two benefits of each of the following management practices in animal production: (i) dipping; (ii) vaccination; (iii) artificial insemination. [6 marks]
Explanation
(a)Ways in which rangeland is important in livestock production: - Provides space for maximum exercise for animals -Source of cheap feed for farm animals -Source of salt lick for farm animals -Provides the protein needs of ruminant animals if legumes are present in the rangeland -Rangeland makes it possible for unproductive and to be utilized for pasture growing (b) Calculation of carrying capacity of range land Area of a circle = Y2 1trl The area of Y2 a circle = V:z 1trl Where 1t = 22/7 or 3.142 then: Area of the figure = Area of half circle + Area of rectangle + area of half circle = (Y1 x 1t x 57 m x 57 m) + (250m x 114m) + (Y1 x 1t x 57 m x 57 m) = (Y2 x 22/7 x 57 m x 57 m) + (250m x 114m) + (Y1 x 22/7 x 57 m x 57 m) = (5,106 m²) + (28,500 m-) + (5,106 m²) = 38,711 m² Area of land = 38, 711 m² but 1 ha = 10,000 m² .'. areaof land in ha 38,71 1m2/10,000m² = 3.8.1 Grazing Area per cattle = 3m x 3m = 9m² = 0.009 ha Carrying capacity = Area of the range land Grazing area per cattle 3.8711ha 0.0009ha 4301.2 cattle per 3.871] ha Carrying capacity = 4301 OR =4,301 cattle grazed on 3.8711 ha of range land (c) Benefits of management practices in animal production (i) Dipping -Controls ecto-parasites -Reduces disease transmission to the animal from the parasites -Ensures high quality hides and skins -Eliminates loss of nutrients occasioned by sucking of blood -Reduces skin irritation (ii) Vaccination - Increases resistance to diseases -High turnover from investment due to low mortality -Prevents / Reduces outbreak of diseases (iii) Artificial Insemination -Eliminates the cost of buying and keeping male animals -Allows use of lame but fertile, proven males Allows the use of semen of oversized males -Reduces spread of veneral diseases -Allows the use of the sperm of a proven male animal long after its death Many more females can be served from one male at a time -Allows planned breeding timetables/programmes -Semen held in cold storage, can be stored and transported over long distances - Problem of space and time of breeding of male animals -is eliminated - Faster result in breeding improvement is achieved.
