JIMMA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND VETERINARY

MEDICINE

Course
DEPARTMENT coordinator: PRACTICAL IN
OF ANIMAL ANIMAL PRESENTATION! By MILKESSA TADESSE
SCIENCE Arse Gebeyehu SCIENCE I
(MSc)
 SWINE PRODUCTION OR RAISING
 Swine Terms
Farrow - To give birth/sows give many piglets( 7-10)
Gilt - A young female pig that has not yet give birth
Barrow - A castrated male pig
Boar - A mature male pig used for breeding purpose
Sow - A mature female hog that has given birth
Shoat -A young male pig
Piglet – New born pig
Flushing – Increasing energy intake prior to estrus to increase number of ova ovulated
Pork – meat from pig
 Swine are characterized by snout, a thick, bristly hide, and a small tail. They are omnivorous, monogastric
animals and they are efficient converters of grain to red meat and are garbage or waste feeders.
 Cont’d

 Swine raising is a profitable economic activity as long as you control a number of parameters including
housing, breeding, nutrition, health and technical and economic management of the animals.
 A good breeder should be quiet and loving animals. He must be a good observer, know well keep records of
animal performance and must also be able to take decisions and strict.
Confinement management
 High level of mechanization to reduce labor requirements
 High investment in buildings and equipment
 Multiple farrowing per year with a large number of hogs raised
 High level of management ability needed
 High degree of control over feeding operation
 Use of very little priced land
 Stringent disease and parasite control
  Housing

The proper design and construction of pig house is very important in preventing diseases. Drainage systems
should be designed so that water and cleaning water from other section do not enter another. Solids floors should
be sloped for proper drainage and ease of cleaning. Floors that allow standing water invite filth and sanitation
problems. Walls should be constructed of durable materials that are easy to clean.
Solid partitions, particularly between farrowing section, and individual hog houses will help prevent the spread of
infectious diseases. House should be construct with a good design of water and feeding trough, access to good
quality water and constant water is essential for the wellbeing ng of the animals.
 Selection of housing locations
 The site should be at an elevated place that cannot be flooded by rain water.
 The site should be protected from the sun (shade from trees) and have ample fresh air.
 Away from residences (around 8-10 meter away downwind).
 Cont’d

 In case of a large scale pig farm, the site selected needs also to be: well connected to roads throughout the year,
 Suitable for manure disposal, connected to reliable water and electricity sources.
 Construction plan for a good pig house/shed
 The important points about the pig house are as follows:
 The floor of the house must be 3 X 3 m.
 The floor of the house must be raised about 60 cm above the ground.
 The floor boards should have spaces of 2 cm between them.
 The roof must be rain, proof.
 The high side of the roof should face in a direction where some sun can shine a little way into the house on this
side: but there must always be shade in some part of the house.
 The house must be strongly built.
 Cont’d

A pigsty can be constructed cheaply by using locally available materials. It needs to be constructed according to
climatic conditions and according to the pig production system.
 The pigsty should be comfortable for the pigs: good ventilation and ample shade, no overheating, no smells, no
draft and no dampness.
 The building should be constructed with its length axis in an East-West direction (protected from sun and rain).
 The pig building needs to be divided into different pens for each phase of the production cycle. The number and
the size of the pens depend on the expected numbers of pigs to be housed in each production phase.
 The costs of constructing the pigsty should fit the pig production systems. An efficient pig production is
required to cover high construction costs.
A flat, solid floor is usually made from cement (but not polished to avoid slipping) or from hard soil. The floor
should be sloping away to the rear to facilitate cleaning with water.
Pregnant sows need a quiet environment. Therefore individual pens are some- times used for pregnant sows.
 Cont’d

Lactating sows need a quiet environment. Therefore individual pens are used. There should be provision for;
farrowing pen, heating and cooling arrangements, Piglet nest/ box, creep feed /starter feed for piglets.
 Herd management
Care of pregnant sow:
Gestation period also known as pregnancy period. It is the period from the time of fertilization until farrowing and
it ranges from 110 to 118 days with an average of 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days).
Confine the pregnant sow in individual pen to prevent fighting. Provide fresh water at all times and ensure the right
amount of feed. Observe body development such that thin sow should be more feed. Administer dewormer during
this period. Transfer the pregnant sow to a clean, disinfected farrowing stall 7 days before the expected due date
Management of sows at farrowing:
Duration ranges from 1-12 hours and intervals should be not more than 30 minutes. Let the sow farrow by itself.
Assign well trained technician. Wait for expulsion of placenta and observe for fever.
  Care and management of boar:

The boar should be maintained in a separate pen. They should neither be overfed nor underfed, since both will
affect its breeding capacity. It should be fleshy, and thrifty but not too fatty. The feed requirements include both the
demands for maintenance and reproduction.
Boars should not be used for breeding earlier than 8 months of age. A boar can be allowed to serve before being
fed. Not more than one service per day is allowed during breeding season.
Boar should have free access to water and boar pen is kept clean and dry. Dampness should be avoided. The boar
should be scrubbed and washed daily and kept clean.

Creep feeding: Piglets take dry feed at 2-3 weeks. Provision of additional nutrients at this time is essential to
have maximum growth and development. Creep feed is also called as pig starter for vigorous growth the thriftiness,
sows milk alone is not sufficient for piglets. Creep feed contains 25-30% CP. Creep is a device by which piglets are
allowed access to the concentrate mixture. It may be arranged of the corner of farrowing pen. Creep feed is fed
from 14-56 days.
 Cont’d

Weaning of piglets: Usually weaning is done at 7-8 weeks. The sow should be separated from the piglets for a few
hours each day to prevent stress of weaning and its feed is reduced gradually.
Orphan piglets: Can be raised either with a foster sow or the use of milk replacer.

Piglet activities at birth

Clean and drying, cutting of umbilical cord, cutting of needle teeth, ensure adequate colostrum intake, weig hing,
provide brooders, practice fostering, iron injection, castration.

Castration- best done at the age of 5-10 days. Can be done during coolest part of the days.
Prevent the perpetuation of undesirable animals, it facilitates collective management or mixing of sexes. Castrated
pigs are easy to handle because they are more docile.
 Cont’d

Herd management is a critical component of success in the swine industry. Management

includes nutrition, reproduction, pig processing, and measuring production efficiency.

 Swine Nutrition

Swine are monogastric animals with a simple stomach that has one compartment. Because of the structure of the

stomach, swine cannot digest much roughage. Swine diets contain large amounts of grain, usually corn. Proper

nutrition is an essential part of maintaining herd health. Animals that are suffering from nutrient deficiencies are

more susceptible to disease-causing organisms and do not achieve maximum performance. Swine require proper

levels of energy (from carbohydrates and fats), protein, vitamins, minerals, and water in their diet
 Swine nutrition cont’d

 Energy - Pigs need energy for almost all body processes. They cannot digest or eliminate feed without energy.
Energy is supplied by carbohydrates (feed grains), fats, oils, and amino acids.
 Factors that affect energy requirements
 The size of the animal is very important because energy is needed for maintenance.
 The productive state of the animal is also an important factor. A lactating sow requires more energy than a
gestating sow since she is producing large quantities of milk each day.
 A pig that is gaining weight requires more energy than the one that is not growing.
 The pig's environment is also important. In cold, wet, or drafty conditions pigs need more energy to maintain a
constant body temperature.
 Proteins - Proteins are essential because they are the main component of muscles, internal organs, skin, hair,
and hooves. Some proteins take the form of enzymes that help digest food and ensure proper metabolism

Colostrum milk contains proteins and antibodies that nourish newborn babies.
 Cont’d

Proteins are made of long chains of amino acids. Pigs can make some of the amino acids in their bodies but 10
"essential" amino acids must be supplied in their diet. The correct mix of amino acids enables pigs to make proteins
and to grow properly.
 Vitamins - Pigs need vitamins to support or stimulate the many chemical reaction that take place in the body as
part of normal metabolism. Vitamins provide a defense against disease, promote growth and reproduction, and
contribute to the general health of the animal. Although vitamins are present in small quantities, they perform
important functions.
 Minerals - Minerals are used primarily in the bones and teeth; they are also an important part of the blood. The
heart depends upon a proper mineral balance to maintain its regular beating.
Minerals are divided into major minerals and trace minerals. The major minerals, salt, calcium and phosphorus,
are needed in the greatest quantity and are most likely to be lacking in the feed.
 Cont’d

The trace minerals are needed in very small amounts but they are essential to the health of the animal. They include
iron, copper, iodine, manganese, cobalt, sulfur, magnesium, zinc, potassium, boron, and selenium.
 Water supply- water is essential for all body function which include temperature regulation, absorption of
nutrients, waste excretion and tissue growth. Lack of water supply may result to reduced feed intake, lower
daily gain, poorer feed conversion, reduced milk production and low weaning weight

 Reproductive Management
Proper reproductive management is required for a producer to maximize production. The gestation cycle in swine
lasts an average of 114 days. Producers need to keep accurate breeding records to know which females are due to
farrow and when farrowing will occur. Sows should be placed in the farrowing house several days before their due
date. After farrowing, swine producers may take pigs from large litters and foster them to sows with small litters to
balance litter size.
 Cont’d

Pregnancy period is the period from fertilization to farrowing time. It ranges from 111 to 117 days.

Flushing is used for promoting ovulation and reconditioning.

Estrus in swine
Estrus period, also known as heat period is the time during which the sow will accept the boar.
Estrus cycle is the period between the two successive estrus in the absence of pregnancy. It usually ranges from 18
to 21 days.

 Heat detection
 External signs of heat
 Reddening and swelling of the vulva
 Mucus discharge
 Standing reflex
  Processing Baby Pigs

After the sow farrows, piglets are usually processed at one day of age. The producer should remove the navel cord
soon after the birth. Iodine is then applied to the pig’s navel to prevent infection. Producers clip the needle teeth
from the piglet so it will not injure the sow’s udder when nursing and will not hurt other pigs when fighting. Also,
they should dock the piglet’s tail to prevent tail biting. Baby pigs are given an iron shot to help prevent anemia.
Some producers castrate the males at processing.

 Swine Diseases
Swine are generally hardy animals, but they are susceptible to a variety of diseases. Producers can prevent most
diseases by using good health management practices, or they can control them by using vaccines. The major swine
diseases are erysipelas, leptospirosis, pneumonia, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS),
pseudorabies, rhinitis, and transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE).
 Manure disposal- The dry solid dung may be collected morning and evening and stored in the dung shed. The
liquid part of urine and washings may be taken to settling tanks.
 FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE

Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically
defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class
of boats, and purpose of the activities or a combination of the foregoing features".
A fishery may involve the capture of wild fish or raising fish through fish farming or aquaculture. Overfishing,
including the taking of fish beyond sustainable levels, is reducing fish stocks and employment in many world
regions.

Aquaculture
The aquaculture is the process of growing the aquatic organism in different water sources. Aquaculture is the
science of utilization of water for growing fish and other aquatic flora and fauna in water and also the management
of water. The construction of water impoundments on streams (Tanks) the river reservoir are primarily mean for
irrigation and fishery is secondary only.
 Cont’d

The aquaculture in flowing water is not possible due to uncontrollable nature of water. In stagnant water like
reservoir and tanks aquaculture is possible of as certain things could be controlled.
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, prawns, molluscs, and aquatic plants related directly
or indirectly to human consumption.
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming
involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food.
4 Types of Intensive Culture Systems
Pond culture: system based on earthen ponds, where some or all of the food consumed is from natural production
and there is minimal water flow.
Raceway Culture: system based on circular or straight raceways (tanks) with high water flow and minimal water
reuse.
Cage Culture: system in which fish are confined to net pens or cages placed in ponds, rivers, lakes, or ocean..
 Cont’d

Tank Culture Utilizing Water Recirculation: tank culture system where nearly 100% of the water is reused and
cleansed by sophisticated filtration systems.
Aquarium
 A transparent tank of water in which live fish and other water creatures and plants are kept.
 A building containing tanks of live fish of different species.
 A glass container in which fish and other water creatures can be kept
Equipment required in tank fish farming
Heaters
A heater insures that a tank doesn't get too cool, and that the temperature stays steady during the course of the day,
even when the room cools off (e.g., at night).
There are two main heater types. Submersible heaters stay completely below the water.
A second, more traditional style, has a partially submerged glass tube (which contains the heating coils), but leaves
the controls above the water.
Thermometers
You will need a thermometer to verify that your tank stays at its proper temperature. Two types are commonly
available. The traditional bulb thermometer works the same way as the ones you can buy for your house. They
either hang from the top edge of your tank, or float along the surface. The second common design is a flat model
that sticks to the outside of the glass.
Filters
There are three types of filtration: biological, mechanical and chemical. Biological filtration decomposes the toxic
ammonia that fish produce as waste products. All fish tanks must have biological filtration; biological filtration is
the cheapest, most efficient and most stable way to breakdown toxic ammonia.
Mechanical filtration traps such particles as plant leaves, uneaten food, etc., allowing them to be removed from the
tank before they decompose into ammonia. Chemical filtration (e.g., activated carbon, zeolite, etc.) can remove
(under limited circumstances) such substances as ammonia, heavy metals, dissolved organics, etc. Chemical
filtration is mostly useful for dealing with short-term problems, such as removing medications after they've served
their purpose, or purifying tap water before it goes into a tank.
Lights & Hood
A hood prevents fish from jumping out of the tank and reduces the rate at which water evaporates. Light serves two
purposes. It highlights and shows off your fish's colors and provides (critical) energy for plants (if present).
Powerheads
A power head is a water pump that runs completely submerged in a tank. The stream of outgoing water can usually
be oriented in (almost) any direction, and it is common to point them in such a way that water circulates throughout
the tank and stirs up or "agitates" the surface a bit.
Air Pumps/aerator
An air pump simply bubbles air through your tank. Air pumps serve two purposes. First, they insure that your tank
maintains an adequate concentration of oxygen.
Stands
The stand can either be specially designed to hold your tank, or existing furniture. The first thing to consider is
whether your chosen stand can support the tank's weight. When full of water, tanks weigh a lot. Stands should keep
the tank level, in order to keep weight distributed properly.
Bucket for water changes
You will need at least one bucket for adding and removing water from your tank. Use the largest bucket you can
comfortably work with. Use it only for your aquarium and don't ever put any chemicals in it.
Nets
Nets with a fine mesh are harder to use because of their high water resistance.
  EARTHEN POND FISH FARMING

Three factors that work together to make a good site for a fish pond:
 Water supply
 Soil
 Topography
Water supply is the most important factor in selecting a site. Why? Fish depends upon for all their needs: breathe,
eat, grow, reproduce and et cetera.
Water sources; sea, rainfall, run-off, nature water, springs, wells and etc.
Quality water must be available at all times and in adequate supply.
The soil of the pond must be able to hold water and also contributes to the fertility of the water because of the
nutrients it contains.
Soil quality
The soil where you build your pond should not be too sandy.
Soil with too much sand or gravel in it will not hold water. The soil where you build your pond should have enough
clay in it. Clay soil holds water very well. In clay soil, very little water will sink into the ground, and banks of clay
will be strong enough to hold the water in the pond.
Topography is a word used to describe the shape of the land whether it is flat or hilly, upland or lowland, etc. The
topography of the land determines the kind of pond which can be built. The most useful topography for fish ponds
is that which allows the farmer to fill and drain ponds using gravity.
Where to put your fish pond
You must choose a good place to put your pond. Remember that a pond for fish is only one use for your land. Be
careful not to build a pond on land that could be better used for something else. It is best to put a pond in a place
with a gentle slope or on a hillside so you will not have to dig too much soil to build it. A pond built on a slope is
also easier to drain. Do not build your pond in a place that is so low that it can be flooded during the rainy season.
Do not build your pond on a steep hill.
Choose a sunny place for your pond, close to your home so you can take care of the fish easily and so people will
not come and take your fish away.
 Locate your farm/ the pond
 on land with a gentle slope
 where there is good water
 where the soil holds water well
 as close to your home as possible
 where there is enough water at all times
Build your pond in successive steps:
 clear all vegetation, rocks, etc. from the area
 remove the top soil and keep it aside
 mark the limits of the inside banks at ground level
 dig inside these last limits by layers of 20 cm (upper end) to 30 cm (lower end)
 use this soil to build up the banks, layer by layer and tightly packed
 form the inside slopes of the banks
 form the outside slopes of the banks
 mark the limits of the inside banks at bottom level
 add topsoil on top and on the outside slopes of the banks
 inside the pond, dig a small draining ditch
 Inlets to let water into the pond
You will need an inlet to let water into your pond when you want to fill it. You should place the inlet at the point
nearest to the water supply. Most often this will be at or near the upper end of your pond.
 Outlets to let water out of the pond
You will need an outlet to let water out of your pond when you want to empty it.
You should place the outlet at the bottom of the bank at the lower end of your pond at the deepest part.
 Stocking your pond with baby fish/fingerling
When you are ready to start growing fish you may get the baby fish from a fish culture station or from another fish
farmer. If you build more ponds and make your farm bigger, you will need more baby fish than you did before. If
you are using tilapia you will need to stock two baby fish for each square meter of pond. If your pond is 20 by 20
meters, or 400 square meters, you will need 400 x 2 = 800 baby fish.
 Feeding the fish in your nursery pond
The fully grown fish in your nursery pond will get much of their food from small plants and animals grown in the
green water. When the baby fish are born they will be very, very small and at first they will get all of their food
from small plants and animals that grow in the green water. So you must always be very careful that the water in
your nursery pond stays green so that your baby fish will have enough to eat. When the baby fish begin to grow,
they, too, will eat the other kinds of food. You can give the fish in your nursery pond many things to eat.
But you must be sure that this food is ground or cut very small so that the baby fish can swallow it.
You have already learned that the big fish in your pond will get much of their food from small plants and animals
that grow in the green water. To keep the water green, fertilize your pond each week. If you are using plant
compost or plant material, keep the crib filled to the water line. If you are using animal compost or manure, to
make your fish grow more quickly you must also feed them other kinds of food. You can feed them;
termites, tender leaves and waste of banana and cassava, grain mill sweepings, rice bran, beer wastes, cottonseed or
groundnut cake, slaughterhouse wastes, animal wastes, kitchen wastes, spoiled fruit and vegetables, left-over food,
chopped grass.
Always try to feed your fish at the same time every day, preferably early in the morning and late in the afternoon,
when it is cooler. If you feed your fish at the same place every day, you will see whether the fish are eating well. If
you give them too much, the food that is not eaten will stay on the bottom.
Too much uneaten food on the bottom of the pond will make the water become bad. Do not overfeed your fish. To
make it easier to see if your fish are eating well, mark several places in your pond to feed them.
 Transporting your baby fish
You must be very careful when you carry your baby fish from one place to another. Baby fish can be hurt easily.
When you take the baby fish out of your nursery pond using a seine net, do not carry them in the seine net. Carry
them in a container such as, a clay pot with a cover, a bucket with a lid, a plastic bag.
When you carry baby fish, you must be careful to; use only clean water, keep the fish out of the sun or cover the
container with a wet cloth to keep it cool.
If you carry your baby fish in plastic bags, carry the bags in a box so that they will not break. Cover the box and
the plastic bags with a wet cloth to keep them cool. If you see that the baby fish are gasping for air, put some air
into the water from time to time by splashing the water gently with your hand. Replace some of the old water by
well aerated, new water
  Transport baby fish with care:

 use a clay pot, a bucket or a plastic bag

 keep the baby fish in clean water at all times
 keep the water cool, in the shade
 if the babies come to the water surface to gasp for air, change some of the water with new clean
water and aerate the transport water
 on arrival, check how warm the pond water is; if it is much different from the transport water,
replace half of this water with pond water and wait for half an hour
Different materials may use when transporting fish such as: plastic bag, oxygen cylinder, bucket/’baldi’, tying rope,
and et cetera.
  Taking care of your pond
.
You must take care of your pond every day when you take food to your fish.
 Make sure the pond remains full of water. Do not let weeds cover more than one quarter of the surface. If there
are too many weeds, clean your pond. Cut the weeds and grass on the banks of the pond. Get rid of birds, frogs,
turtles, rats and snakes. They can hurt your fish.
 Do not let large animals such as cows, buffalo, horses or donkeys graze on the banks of your pond. They are
too heavy and may break the banks down. But you may let smaller animals such as goats and sheep graze on
the banks and keep them clean.
 Do not use your pond, your pond water source or your water supply ditch for bathing or for washing clothes,
dishes or cooking pots.
 Do not plant big trees near your pond. If there are already big trees there, cut any branches that hang over the
pond. The water in your pond may not turn green enough if your pond is in the shade.
  Harvesting your fish from the pond

 Do not take any fish out of your pond during the first five months. After five months you may catch a few big
fish each week to eat with your family.
 When most of the fish are big enough it is time to harvest all of them. Usually, they will be big enough to
harvest in about six months.
 Have some watertight containers ready to store live fish. The easiest way to harvest is by draining the water out
of the pond.
 When you harvest your pond, you may also catch baby fish that are too small to eat or to be sold at the market.
If you have another pond that is full of water, you can put these baby fish in a pen of split bamboo or net in the
corner of the other pond.
 You can also keep these baby fish in a net pen or in a fish cage. Your baby fish will stay alive longer if they
have fresh water. Build the small pond with an overflow and put the small pond near the ditch that brings water
to your big pond. That way you can have fresh water running through your small pond.
  POULTRY PRODUCTION SYSTEM

 Chicken Terms:
 Baby Chick – Chick just hatched usually 1 to 7 days old
 Broiler – A young meat bird chicken of either sex butchered around 4-8 weeks of age
 Roaster – A young chicken of either sex usually butchered after 8 weeks of age
 Cockerel – A male chicken under 12 months of age
 Capon – A castrated male chicken with soft skin or tender flesh
 Cock or Old Rooster – A mature male over 12 months of age
 Pullet – A female chicken under 12 months of age
 Hen – A mature female chicken over 12 months of age
 Poultry are large domestic fowl (e.g. hens, ducks, geese, turkey) reared for meat or egg. The consumption of
poultry has increased considerably owing to the speed at which fowl mature and to the small amount of feed
required per kg of meat produced.
The production cycle for the envisaged poultry farm starts with day old chicken.
 Importance of chicken production and Consumption
Chicken production and consumption provide different functions for the producer as compared to the other
livestock production. Among the different functions, the following are the main ones:
 Immediate source of cash income
 Provides meat and egg for household consumption
 Contributes for food security and creates employment
 Source of organic fertilizer
 Requires low initial capital investment, small land and low labor input
 Efficient feed converters and have a wide range of adaptability for different agroecologies
 Their product is acceptable by most of the community and the meat and eggs contain special proteins that
allow children to grow strong and their brain to develop.
  Objectives of the practices

 To have an experience on this practices

 To apply what learned in the class theoretically
 To know the requirements of chickens; temperatures, feed, water, ventilation and etc.
 To distinguish the difference between small scale poultry house mgmt. and scavenging or back yard poultry
management system.
Poultry House: poultry house should be invariably be designed for comfort, protection, efficient working result
and convenience.
Types of roof: may be height roof, metal sheet and corrugated iron (can) and etc. And this play a vital role in the
maintenance of optimum production.
Types of floor: it may be of wood or concrete. Concrete is the most satisfactory since it is more easily cleaned and
disinfected
Locations of the thermometer: temperatures in the house is not uniform and therefore , there are several places
with the sensor should not be placed, i.e. it should not be hung close to the wall or behind something which hinders
the air flow and should not be hung too high in the house.
Relative Humidity in poultry house: is measured to determine whether respiratory disorders are due too high or
too low relative humidity. If the relative humidity is too high, condensation can accumulate in the house. This has a
direct relationship with the growth of microorganisms.
Ventilation: it brings fresh air in to a poultry house and removes heat, moistures and gases.
 Purpose of Housing
 To protect birds from adverse climatic conditions
 To ensure scientific feeding in a controlled manner
 For effective disease control measures
 To ensure proper supervision
  Chicken production equipments

For successfulness of chicken production based on the production type and standard, it is advisable to use suitable
and selected production equipments. The different equipments used in the chicken house differ according to the
chicken age, breed and productivity status. The major production equipments used in chicken house are the
following.
Feeders
Feeders are the same, whether being used in free-range, semi intensive systems or intensive systems. They should
always be kept clean to prevent spread of diseases and big enough for all chickens of the same age to feed at the
same time. One meter trough or a 35 cm (diameter) tube feeder is big enough for 20 adult chickens to eat
Characteristics of good feeders:
 Avoid wastage of feed, prevent contamination of feed
 Easy to clean, durable &strong and easy to fill and cheap
  Drinker or waterer

 Drinkers are the same, whether being used in free-range, semi intensive systems or intensive systems. They
should always be kept clean to prevent spread of diseases, big enough for all birds of the same age to drink at
the same time and easily be produced out of local materials.
o One meter trough or a 35 cm (diameter) tube drinker is big enough for 40 chickens to drink.
Characteristics of good quality drinkers:
 Can give enough, clean and fresh water
 Strong, durable and stable
 Easy to clean and fill
 No splashes of water and cheap
  Litter

 Importance of litter include:

Provide comfort and heat for the chicks, make the house dry by absorbing the waste material excreted from the
chicken, it creates unfavorable condition for breeding disease causing organisms
 Materials used for litter include:
Dried grass/hay, wood by product/sow dust, cereal straw (teff straw, wheat straw, barley straw, etc), coffee plant
byproducts, etc.
 Qualities of good litter material:
It should readily absorb moisture, should not cause injury to birds, moisture level should be less than 15%, should
get decomposed and form good manure, should spread evenly, should be non-toxic, should not cause dust
pollution.
 House Orientation (Direction)
The poultry house should be located in such a way that long axis is in east-west direction. This
will prevent the direct sunshine over the birds
 Activities includes:
 Weigh of the chicks and grower chickens
 Weigh feeds and refusal
 Wash waterer and fill it with fresh and clean water.
 Water supply
 Feed Supply
 Observation of chicks/chicken and so forth are the activities which are carried out in the
poultry houses.
  Chicks Brooding

 Chick brooding refers to the early periods of growth (0-8 weeks), when young chicks are unable to
maintain their normal body temperature without the aid of supplementary heat.
 It is rearing of chicken using different methods. There are two methods of chick brooding. These are natural and
artificial brooding.
 Natural brooding
It is chick brooding method which involves using of a natural mother/hen. Naturally hatched chicks are reared and
protected by the broody hen and can be left undisturbed as long as their yard is protected from predators
 Disadvantage of natural brooding
 Unable to rear large number of chicks at a time, it is not preferable to brood the pullets, relatively high mortality
rate
  Artificial Brooding

This chick brooding method use different brooders/heaters to brood the chicks like electric, kerosene, charcoal and
hay box. It is practiced in wide chicken production stations.
 Advantage artificial brooding
Allow to rear large number of chicken at a time, Low chicks mortality
 Disadvantage artificial brooding
 Need better input/feed, medication, Need chicken production equipments (drinker, feeder, etc)
 Brooders/Heaters
Chicks need heat at start of brooding until they emerge their own feather.
Chicks reared through natural brooding get the heat they require from the hen. But in modern poultry production
stations, the heat sources for chicks are brooders/Heaters. Kerosene lump, Charcoal heater, Bulb with 60-100 watt
as well as Hay box can be used as brooder/heaters.
  Hay box brooder

 The hay box chick brooding technology utilizes simple and locally available materials. The major principles of
this simple technique are brooding chicks by conserving the metabolic heat produced by the chicks and thus
keeping them warm.
 The hay-box chick brooder which is not using any artificial heat. Unlike other brooders, this device does not
require coal, oil, or electricity for heating. The brooder comprises of a simple square box made of four outer
framing wooden boards, a door, small ventilation holes, a wooden or wire-mesh floor, a central nest, a roof (top
cover) and wire mesh enclosing chick run.
 Hay box brooder can be made from timber, straw and mesh wire. The sizes of the timber differ according to the
number of chicks to be reared. In this type of artificial brooder, it is possible to rear 10-70 chicks and it has two
parts. These parts are heat maintenance and chick feeder & shelter box.
 The advantages of Hay box brooder include
 Provides service in rural areas/ no electricity and it is cheap
 Increase the productivity of local chicken breeds and reduces chick mortality
 Helps to rear many chicks at a time and is effective in all agro-ecologies
Feed and water are always provided in the run and not in the brooder box. One of the critical requirements of
successful chick brooding is regulation of brooding temperature and provision of adequate space. The ventilation
needs of the hay-box brooder depend on the climatic conditions and chick density and are ensured by the16 small
ventilation holes drilled on the top of the outer frame boards of the hay box brooder. Adequate commercial or
homemade feed and clean water need to be available in the run permanently during daytime.
Materials used in brooder house:
Feeder (flat or circular), Waterer (Bell type automatic waterer), Balance, hover, thermometer, old news, infrared
bulb, litter materials, wearing, meter, container (‘baldi’) and etc.
  Brooding temperatures

The critical requirements of successful artificial chick brooding. Even there is no thermometer we can use behavior
of chicks as guide.
Low brooding temperatures results in bunching. Crowding or huddling together which leads to smothering and
high chick mortality.
High brooding temperatures results in moving away from the brooders (heat source), panting, reduced feed intakes,
and stretch out on the litter, high water consumption, and high mortality.
 Space requirements:
The brooder floor space must be large enough to allow the chicks to get away from the heat source when they wish.
Floor space requirements is 0.05m2 per chicks.
 Provision of lights:
Light results increased chick’s activity, feed and water consumption and improved growth rate. There are different
color of lights, clear or white, red and green and etc.
  Feed of chicks/ starter feed

 Starter feed is a protein dense variety of chicken feed designed to meet the dietary requirements of baby chicks.
Generally speaking baby chicks can live comfortably on a diet of starter feed and water for the first 6 weeks of
their life before progressing onto grower feed.
 The high protein content, usually between 20-24%, helps young chicks grow into playful pullets, however it’s
imperative that you phase out the starter feed once they are 6 weeks old, otherwise the excess protein can cause
liver damage.
 Starter feed up to 50g/0.0kg daily should be given the chicks for their maintenance and growth.
 Feed through height is adjusted. Feeder is filled with feed and placed on the ground not hanged but it is filled
and hanged feeders are raised incrementally throughout the growing periods.
  Rearing grower chicken

Chickens are transferred to grower house at 9 week. During transfer it is advisable to group them according to age,
sex and body conditions.
Grower Chickens Feed
Grower feed or ration of 90g/ 0.09kg daily is required for grower chickens. The total amount of feed for grower
chickens is calculated as; amount of feed is equal to number of chickens times amount of feed per one chicken and
feed intake is calculated as; the difference between feed offered and refusal.
The dietary requirements for a chicken between 6 to 20 weeks old is very different from a baby chick. Essentially
grower feed contains a protein content that is between 16-18% but has less calcium than regular layer feed.
 Space requirement (stocking density)
For the grower chickens the minimum requirements of space is 0. 17m2 per head.
 Materials in grower house: Balance, Waterer (Bell type automatic waterer), Wearing, Thermometer, Feeder
(circular), container, meter, perch, nest ( because they may start laying)
  Keeping Layer Chicken

Layer poultry farming means raising egg laying poultry birds for the purpose of commercial egg production. They
start laying eggs commercially from eighteen up to nineteen (18-19) weeks.
They start laying eggs commercially from 18-19 weeks of age. They remain laying eggs continuously till their 72-
78 weeks of age.
Layer Chickens Feed: amount of feed which is given for one layer chickens is 110gram/0.11kg per day and this is
layer feed.
Layer feed has an ingenious balance of protein, calcium and other vitamins and minerals that encourages top tier
egg laying abilities in your flock. Protein wise layer feed contains similar levels of protein to grower feed, around
16-18%, however has extra calcium to ensure that their eggshells are crisp, clean and crunchy.
Feeding layer feed to baby chicks or young pullets however will not meet their unique dietary requirements. Layer
feed should only be fed to chickens around 20 weeks of age or once they have started to lay eggs.
Temperatures measured by chickens itself (i.e. when cold they clumped together and when hot they are scattered
and thermometer may be hanged in the house to measure the temperature.
Alfalfa (green feed) is given to chickens to reduce or minimize the cannibalism.
space requirement: The minimum space requirement of layer chicken is 0.02m2 per head.
Materials used in the layer house: Feeder, water, balance, container, thermometer, perch, and nest box, meter and
etc.
Egg collection: Collection of egg is important because production of hens is generally the main target of keeping
the layers. It is collected on egg tray and we collect from the nest and put it the tray.
 Laying nests
Provide nests in the layer house for laying makes it easier to collect eggs and they can be kept clean. There should
be adaptation period of the hen for the laying nest before start of laying eggs which is important to prevent the hen
not to lay their eggs outside the laying nest.
 If you mark the eggs properly, you will know which eggs are new and should be collected.
 You may avoid dirty and cracked eggs, if the eggs are collected twice a day.
 Collect eggs at the same time every day in the morning and the evening. Removing eggs continuously is
important if you want to avoid that the hens become broody.
 To avoid the number of eggs laid by hens on the ground and loss of product, we have to consider the following
points:
 Place enough nest and introduce nests one week before onset of lay, collect ground eggs many times a day and
use a comfortable nest, don't feed when the hens are on the nest, avoid dark corners in the house and do not
collect the first eggs, divide the nests uniformly over the house and place nests on a wind free place.
  Poultry Biosecurity

Biosecurity means doing everything you can to keep diseases out of your flock. “Bio” refers to life, and “security”
indicates protection. Biosecurity is the key to keeping your poultry healthy. Biosecurity is using common sense
practices to protect your poultry and birds from all types of infectious agents viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic,
Doing everything possible to protect your birds from infectious diseases like exotic Newcastle disease and avian
influenza; and Preventing disease-causing germs or microbes from entering your premises.
How is Biosecurity Achieved?
 Tire Baths:
 Footbaths:
 Sanitation of Equipment and Supplies
 Good Hygiene:
 Bait Stations:
 No contact with outside birds:
 FORAGE PRODUCTION

Forage includes all plant materials used to feed livestock. The most common types of forage are grasses, legumes,
and tree leaves. Forage with high fiber content is called roughage. Lush forage with high water content is called
fodder. Leguminous plants are richer in nitrogen than grasses. It is therefore advisable to feed the animal a mixture
of grasses and legumes. Plants rich in nitrogen include herbaceous legumes like Desmodium, lablab and Lucerne,
tree legumes such as calliandra and leucaena and also sweet potato vines and mulberry leaves (non-leguminous) .
Alfalfa or Lucerne
Medicago sativa
Alfalfa is a deep rooted, perennial herbaceous legume that produces a lot of stems and leaves and, upon maturity,
small purple flowers. It is established from seed. It is used as a supplementary forage for dairy cattle. It is high in
nutrients and highly palatable. Lucerne is used primarily as hay, but it can also be used in cut- and-carry systems
and even as year round pasture. It is generally grown alone but can also be mixed with grasses or other legumes.
Lucerne is best grown as a pure stand.
Climate: Lucerne will grow in a wide range of climatic conditions but does best in warm climates with a lot of
sunshine. It will not do well unless adequate water is available.
Soils: Lucerne is adapted to a wide range of soil conditions but prefers deep, well drained, highly fertile loamy
soils. It does not tolerate water logged or acid soils and occasional liming of the soil is required.
Agronomic practices: Prepare a very fine, levelled and firmed seedbed. Sow seeds at the start of rains, either in
furrows or by broadcasting.
Lucerne is susceptible to numerous pests and diseases which can cause damage at any stage of growth. Some
important pests include lucerne weevil, caterpillars, cutworms/army worms, aphids and leafhoppers.
Some important diseases are bacterial leaf spot, common leaf spot, downy mildew, stem blight and many others.
They can be controlled by natural predators, use of chemicals, maintaining a healthy stand, crop rotation and use of
resistant varieties.
Harvest for the first time when the crop begins to flower. Cut at 5 cm above the ground every 5 to 7 weeks, or, if
grown under irrigation, monthly.
In general, annual yields of Lucerne decline with the age of stand, the decline being faster if the crop is poorly
managed, affected by extreme weather or attacked by pests and diseases.
Feeding: When feeding as cut-and-carry fodder, leave the cut forage to wilt before giving to the animals to prevent
bloat or mix the lucerne with grass. If lucerne is to be grazed, use a rotational grazing system, allowing 30 to 35
days for re-growth. Allow animals to graze only when the soil is dry to avoid root damage from trampling. To
reduce the chance of bloat, use a commercial “stop bloat” preparation in the drinking water and do not turn hungry
animals onto lush lucerne pastures. Excess lucerne is best conserved as hay or silage. For the best quality hay, cut
the crop in the early bud stage.
  Napier grass/Elephant grass
(Pennisetum purpureum)

A fast growing, deeply rooted, perennial grass growing up to 4 meters tall that can spread by underground stems to
form thick ground cover. Napier grass is a very important fodder crop in the cut-and-carry system of dairy
production.
Climate: Napier grass can be grown at altitudes from sea level to 2,000 m – any higher, growth and regeneration
after cutting is slow and it may die after frost. It does best in high rainfall areas, over 1500 mm per year, but
survives well in droughts due to its deep root system.
Soils: Napier grass can grow in almost any soil but does best in deep, fertile, well drained soils.
Agronomic practices: Napier does best as a pure stand. To save labor, under cut and carry systems, it is
recommended that the plot be situated as close to the zero grazing unit as possible. Napier may also be planted to
prevent soil erosion such as in strips along contours, along river banks and on steep slopes which are unsuitable for
growing food crops.
Prepare site by ploughing or digging. Make sure the site is weed free at the time of planting. If farm yard manure is
available, it can be worked into the soil at this time. The best time to plant Napier is at the beginning of the main
rainy season.
Harvesting: Harvest from 3 to 4 months after planting, when the Napier is about one meter high. Cutting interval
varies depending on rainfall but generally harvest when the Napier is about one meter high. Cut the plant to about 5
cm from the ground during the rainy season and 10 to 15 cm during the dry season.
Feeding: Fresh material is commonly fed in stalls under cut-and-carry system. Chop the material into pieces about
5 cm long to avoid wastage. Do not graze directly.
Excess Napier grass can be made into good quality silage. If it is not possible to make silage, leave a portion of the
plot standing and continue to harvest the rest at the optimum height. When necessary, use the tops of overgrown
Napier to feed cattle.
  Rhodes Grass
(Chloris gayana)
A vigorous, perennial grass, originating in South Africa, with a strong root system giving good drought tolerance. It
spreads quickly forming good ground cover and grows to 1.5 meters tall. It grows under a wide range of conditions
and is useful in cut-and-carry system and for open grazing and is very popular for hay making. It does well in low
rainfall areas and is drought tolerant; stands heavy grazing; very palatable; good for hay making. However, it can
be hard to establish due to poor seed germination; can be grazed out due to high palatability.
Climate: Rhodes grass grow at altitudes from 600 to 2000 m above sea level. It does well in areas receiving
rainfall of more than 250 mm annually and also persists well under drought conditions.
Soil: Rhodes grass grows in a wide range of soil conditions but performs best in loamy, fertile soils. It does not do
well in alkaline or very acid soils
Agronomic practices: Plough and harrow the land at least once to make a fine seedbed. Harrow after the weeds
have emerged to reduce competition during establishment.
 Sow immediately after harrowing. Sowing is usually established from seed but root splits can also be used.
 The best time to sow where there are two rainy seasons is during the short rains. Where there is one rainy
season, plant from early to mid-rains. Sowing is done when the soil is loose (dry). Make sure the plot is weed-
free during the initial period of establishment. Remove weeds between the rows using a hand hoe.
 No diseases of importance but common pests such as army worms may attack the pastures. Start harvesting or
grazing soon after flowering. If cutting, cut close to the ground to stimulate spreading. Leave to re-grow again
until next flowering.
Feeding: Grazing Rhodes grass is the most common method of feeding Rhodes grass although some farmers use it
for cut-and-carry. Tends to decrease in abundance on over-grazed pasture due to its high palatability. Rhodes grass
is very good for hay making.
  Desmodium spp

Desmodium is a trailing or climbing perennial legume with small leaves and deep roots which, in favorable
conditions, forms very dense ground cover. It is popular in cut-and carry systems. Desmodium is a good quality
supplementary forage with a high protein content.
 Silverleaf (Desmodium uncinatum)
Silverleaf is a perennial, sprawling forage legume suited to under-sowing, intercropping and improving stock
exclusion areas. It has stems and leaves covered in dense hairs which make them stick to hands and clothing. It has
green and white leaves which are light green underneath.
Climate: Silverleaf grows below 2200 masl, requires more than 900 mm annual rainfall, and is tolerant of cool
weather and light frosts.
Soils: Silverleaf should be grown on relatively fertile, well drained soils.
Agronomic practices: Silverleaf should be allowed to seed at least in the first season. It is palatable and thus is
better managed for cut and carry systems.
It requires a moderate to fine seedbed with sowing rates from 1 to 2.5 kg per ha. Because of this, it is not suited to
over-sowing strategies.
Feeding: Silverleaf needs careful grazing management for high productivity and is most productive with cut and
carry systems based on under-sowing and stock exclusion area strategies. Continuous moderate cutting or grazing
is preferable to occasional very heavy cutting or grazing.
 Greenleaf (Desmodium intortum)
Greenleaf is less tolerant of cool weather and light frosts. It is a perennial, sprawling forage legume suited to under-
sowing, intercropping and improving stock exclusion areas as is one of the most important forage legumes
available for Ethiopia. Its primary use is in forage production and its secondary uses are for nitrogen fixation and
erosion control. It is leafier with reddish brown to purplish spots on the upper surface of the leaves and reddish
brown stems.
Climate: Greenleaf grows below 2400 m altitude and requires more than 700 mm annual rainfall.
Soils: Greenleaf should be grown on fertile, well-drained soils and needs careful grazing management for high
productivity.
Agronomic practices: Greenleaf requires a moderate to fine seedbed with sowing rates from 1 to 2 kg per ha and
so is not suited to over-sowing strategies. Greenleaf is exceptionally successful under perennial tree crops and
forestry because of its shade tolerance.
Feeding: Greenleaf should be grown on fertile, well-drained soils and needs careful grazing management for high
productivity. Continuous moderate cutting or grazing is preferable to occasional very heavy cutting or grazing
management for high productivity. It is most productive with regular cut and carry systems based on under-sowing
and stock exclusion area strategies. Continuous moderate cutting or grazing is preferable to occasional very heavy
cutting or grazing, and it should be allowed to seed at least in the first season. Greenleaf is palatable and thus is
better managed for cut and carry systems.