(a) Objectives of Animal Improvement: (i) To produce animals with high/large with/large yield e.g meat, milk, egg, wool/fur
(ii) To produce animals with high feed conversion efficiency. (iii) Improvement in the quality oi'meat, eggs, milk, wool/fur
(iv) To produce animals which can adapt to climate conditions. (v) To produce animals with good mothering ability. (vi) To produce disease resistance/tolerant animals. (vii) To produce pest tolerant/resistant animals.
(viii) To produce animals with high fecundity and fertility. (ix To produce animals with high growth rate. (x) To produce animals with good body conformation. (xi) To produce animals for work/racing/transportation/sport. (xii) To produce animals with early maturity/ puberty (xiii) To upgrade local breeds.
(b) Signs that a Pregnant Animal is Approaching Parturition:
(i) Relaxation of the pelvic ligament (ii) Distended abdomen (iii) Frequent urination (iv) Isolation from the herd (v) Nesting tendencies. (vi) Decrease in feed intake (vii) Increase in respiration rate (viii) Restlessness (ix) Discharge form the vulva
(x) Enlarged and reddened valva (xi) Enlargement of the udder (xii) Some animals may exude milk if the teat is pressed (xiii) Unusual noise/ undue noise. (xiv) Aggressiveness (xv) Loss of appetite.
(c) Disease causing Organisms in Livestock Production:
(i) Virus (ii) Bacterium (iii) Protozoa (iv) Fungus (v) Rickettsia.
(d)
Nutrients | One Function | One deficiency symptom |
Calcium | -Bone/teeth/egg shell formation-Blood coagulation-Composition of body fluid, e.g blood, Milk-Enzyme co-factor-Homeostasis | -Rickets-Milk fever-Thin or shell less eggs-Poor hatchability-Osteomalacia/Osteoporosis |
Iodine | -Thyroxin formation-Reproduction-Growth/metabolic regulation | Hairlessness/alopecia-Formation of goitre-Poor reproduction-Retarded growth/Cretinism |
Vitamin A | -Good vision-Cell formation/growth-Disease resistance -Anti-oxidant | -Low disease resistance-Low immunity-Night blindness -Sealy skin/rough coat |
Vitamin E | -Reproduction/prevents sterility-Muscle development/growth-Natural antioxidant-Pancreatic function | -Reproduction lure/Sterility-Abortion-Encephalo-malaria-Stunted growth |