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RUMINANT PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

What is Ruminant- any member of the order Artiodactyla, suborder Ruminantia ex. Sheep, cattle, goat,
buffalo, camel, giraffe, deer
These animals are even toed and hoofed all chew the cud and have the stomach consisting of four
chambers.
The existing ruminant are divided into 5 families:
1. Girrafidae ( Giraffes) – characterized by having short horns covered with hair bearing skin
2. Cervidae (deer) – animals carrying solid antlers comprises of bones which are shed and renewed
3. Antilopridae ( antelopes) – in which the horns carry a prong, grow over a bony core and are renewed each
year
4. The family bovinae is divided into several sub families and tribes:
a. Subfamily Bovinae ( domestic ruminants)
Tribe Bovini:
Bos Taurus - domestic european cattle
Bos indicus - domestic brahman or humped cattle
Bos grunniens - yak in Northern Asia
Bos Bison - American bison
Bos bubalis - Indian Buffalo
b. Subfamily Caprinae
Tribe Caprini (ibex, goat, sheep, others)
Capra Hircus - domesticated goat
Ovis aries - domesticated sheep
FUNCCTIONS/USES
Source of Food, Meat ,Milk, Clothing
Source of Power
Source of Recreation
Conservation of soil and soil fertility
Utilization of other animal by products
Considered as equity investment

IMPORTANCE OF RUMINANTS
The importance of ruminants in the household cannot be overlooked. In the whole production system, they:
1. Diversify employment opportunities for the family
2. Balance losses from crops or expand the potential for income for the family
3. Recycle nutrients from crop by product which may have gone to waste
4. Provide power for work and transport for family mobility
5. Improve nutrition of the family through supply of meat, milk and milk by products.

PROBLEMS
Requires big capital- Feeds, farm implements, stocks
Products are perishable- Meat and milk cannot be stored for a long time
Disease cause big losses
Transportation and Marketing problems
Farm to market roads especially during rainy season
Weight shrinkage of 20-30%
Absence of cold storage facilities
Absence of auction market, that will eliminates activities of middlemen
Financial support
Lending institutions have high interest rate
Funds are loaned out to wrong parties
Technology dissemination and utilization
Packaging and disseminating the matured technology, through print, radio and TV

Breeds of Dairy Animals and their Characteristics

Breed Origin Color Milk Yield/kg/yr
Holstein Fresian Holland Black and White 6,850
Ayshire Scotland Red &white, red, brown,
mahogany 5,400
ACTSoriano, Dept. of Animal Science, College of Agriculture
CMU
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Brown Swiss Switzerland Brown 5,650

Guernsey Guernsey Island Fawn with white 4.950
Jersey Jersey Island Fawn, spotted black and
white 4,650
Milking Shorthorn England Red, Roan or white 4,750
Buffalo
Murrah India Jet Black Spirally curled, well
developed udder
Surti India Black to Brown Horn, coiled down and
up
Jaffarabadi India Black Broad, flat horns
Nili-ravi Pakistan Black Small horns, lightly
coiled
Goats
Breed Characteristics Milk Production (kg/day) Lactation Period
Anglo-Nubian Long drooping ears,
roman nose, color: 1.5 165
black, tan, white
Toggenburg Hornless with dished
nose and erect ears, 1.5 200
color: chocolate brown,
with two white stripes on
the face
Saanen Straight nose, erect ears
color: cream white 2.0 200
French Alpine Erect ears and straight
face, multicolored coat 1.5 200
with no markings
Native Small but hardy, color:
red, white, or a 0.4 185
combination
Dadiangas Mixture of native,
Nubian, saanen and 1.0 190
alpine

Breeding characteristics: cattle, carabao and goats

Cattle Phil. Carabao Goat

Age of Puberty 8 months 3-5 years 5-6 months
Age at 1st Breeding 15 months 4 years 8-10 months
Estrus Duration 18 hours 21 hours 1-2 days
Estrous cycle 21 days 21 days 21 days
Ovulation 10-11 hours after end 15 hours after end of 33 hours after
of heat heat beginning of heat
Gestation 283 days 320 days 150 days
Dry Period 2 months 2 months 6-8 weeks

Popular Breeds of Beef Cattle

Temperate Tropical Stabilized Breeds
France: Charolais, Limousin, India: Guzerat, Gir, Hariana, Ongole Sta Gertrudis, Brahman, Red
Tarentaise Pakistan: Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Brangus, Simbrah, Murrah Grey,
Switzerland: Simmental, brown Sahiwal Belmont Red, Simford
Swiss Africa: Boran, Tuli, Nguni, Ankole,
UK: Beef shorthorn, Hereford, Africander
Angus, Devon
Germany: Gelbvieh

BREEDING SYSTEMS

1. Inbreeding – Involves the mating of animals that are more closely related to each other.
Ex.) father to daughter, brother to sister, mating between cousins
• It is not a bad system but are associated to some effects which oftentimes do not lead to the improvement of
animal
• When they are related, there is a greater possibility that they share common genes. Some of the genes are
recessive and will combine in homozygous state, they will be expressed in the phenotype of the individual

ACTSoriano, Dept. of Animal Science, College of Agriculture

CMU
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In general, inbreeding depresses:

1. vigor/ libido
2. fertility
3. size
4. lifetime productivity

2. Outbreeding - mating of unrelated individual from two or more established purebreds.

a. outcrossing/straightcrossing -breeding of same breed
ex.) Brahman bull X Brahman cow
b. crossbreeding -two animals of different breed
ex.) Holstein Friesian bull X Brahman Cow
c. Upgrading- mating a purebred to a native breed
Ex.) Murrah Buffaloe bull X Native Phi. Carabao (Cow)
• Outbreeding – brings hybrid vigor or heterosis
• Heterosis – is a phenomenon wherein the offspring perform better than their parents.

SIGNS OF ESTRUS
a. Mounting other animals
b. Reddening and swelling of the vulva
c. Mucuos discharge
d. Isolates herself from the rest of the herd
e. Seems sickly and has no appetite
f. Frequent urination, restlessness and sometimes bellowing
g. Standing still when mounted ( the only reliable & true sign)

MATING SYSTEM

Natural mating – Two systems of natural mating includes: hand mating and pasture mating
• Hand mating – an in heat cows is brought into the bull or vice versa
• Pasture mating- the bull is brought in and let loose with the herd of breeding females

METHODS OF BREEDING
Artificial Insemination (AI) and Embryo Transfer (ET) are modern reproduction techniques which multiply
countless times the capacity of superior male or female respectively.
a. Artificial Insemination – is a process inducing fertilization in the female reproductive tract without the benefit
of sexual contact between male and female animals
b. Embryo Transfer- a process involves superovulatory treatments to induce the donor cows to develop
several follicles. Collected embryos are transferred to surrogate dams.

FEEDING SYSTEMS
a. All Roughage FS- Cattle are usually fed all roughage ration in the form of pasture grasses with or without
legumes particularly during the wet season
b. Roughage- Concentrate FS – High level concentrate in the ration is recommended during summer months
when grasses are scarce and crop residues are often utilized as feed.

Common feeds for Ruminants

a. Forages- natural and cheapest feed for ruminants that includes grasses and legumes
• Native vegetation ie:cogon,bagokbok ,talahib, malatanglad
• Improved – planted with introduced pastures (grasses & legumes)
Grasses: Napier grass, Paragrass, Signal grass, Star grass, Setaria, Guinea Grass
Legumes: Stylosanthes, Calopogonium, Centrocema ,Arachis Pintoi, Indigofera
b. By Product Roughages – Farm by product roughages constitute a potential source of feed for ruminants.
Most of these are highly fibrous, low CP,TDN and Poor digestibility ie, rice straw, corn stover, corn cobs,
sugarcane tops, spent grains and pineapple pulps.
c. Concentrates- Agro-industrial by product concentrates constitute the bulk of supplements to roughage
ie: Rice bran, copra meal, wheat pollard, corn bran
d. Urea Supplementation – urea supplement for ruminants must be used with caution. High concentration of
ammonia in the blood is toxic and fatal.

PASTURE DEVELOPMENT
Pasture – a land with herbage or forage crops for grazing animals.

MEASUREMENT OF GRAZING
ACTSoriano, Dept. of Animal Science, College of Agriculture
CMU
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Stocking rate/carrying capacity is measured through animal unit

Example:
Bull = 1.25 a.u.
Cow = 1.0 a.u.
Steers =0 .75 a.u.
Heifer =0 .75 a.u.
Calves =0.5 a.u.
Native Pasture SR/CC= .3 a.u./ha. = 3 has = 1 a.u.
Improved Pasture SR/CC= 3 a.u./ha. 1 ha = 3 a.u.
Example:
1 bull – 1.25
10 cows – 10.00
2 steers – 1.5
3 heifers – 2.25
7 calves – 3.50
∑ 18.50 x 3= 55.50 has native pasture is needed
FENCING
Requirements:
1. materials should be strong and durable
2. post must be buried 60 cm below and should be 1.22 meter above the ground
3. distance of 4 to 5 meters between post is recommended
4. wire should have the strength to withstand trampling and charges of animals
COST ESTIMATES
Formula needed:
1. No. of board feet = thickness X width X length
12
2. No. of Post
a. Open line - No. of posts = total distance
+1
distance between posts
b. Close line- No. of posts = total distance + 1

distance between posts

(No. of outside corners X 4)
(No. of gates X 4) +
(No. of inside corners X 2)
3. Rolls of Barbed Wire = total distance X no. of strands
length/roll of barbed wire
4.1 Kilograms of Nails = no. of posts X no. of strands
no. of nails per kg
5. Labor Cost = 20-30% of the cost of materials
6. Fencing Cost = summation of cost for post, wire, nails and labor

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

A. Cattle Identification – This practice is necessary to denote ownership

Ex, Branding with hot iron, ear tags, tattoo, ear notches
B. Dehorning – Removal of the horns, best done when the animal is still young as they are easier to handle
C. Castration- Removal of the testicles at any time preferably when they are a few weeks to seven months
Methods: slit and cap, and bloodless castration with the use of burdizzzo or emasculator
D. Record Keeping
E. Selection and Culling – Stocks with poor performance should be culled for slaughter
COMMON TERMINOLOGIES IN RUMINANT PRODUCTION

Abomasum - The fourth compartment or true stomach of ruminants animals.

Ad libitum - Feeding at pleasure; unlimited or liberal.
Artificial insemination-The placing of sperm in the female reproductive tract by methods other than natural means.
Asiatic Urial -Breed of wild sheep believed to be ancestors of some present-day domestic breeds.
Backgrounding -Growing and feeding of calves from weaning until they are ready to enter the feedlot.
Bos taurus - Domestic cattle originating from either the Aurochs or the Celtic Shorthorn.
Bos indicus -Humped cattle found in tropical countries.
Bull -Male bovine of any age which has not been castrated.
Buck-Male of such species as goats, deer, rabbits, etc.
Calf-Beef animal under one year of age.
Calf starter- High energy, high protein concentrate feed for dairy calf.
Calving- The act of giving birth in cattle.

ACTSoriano, Dept. of Animal Science, College of Agriculture

CMU
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Carabeef - The meat of carabao above 2 years of age.

Carabull - Breeding male carabao of any age.
Caracalf - Young male or female carabao under one year of age.
Caracow - Mature female carabao below two years of age that has already dropped a calf.
Caraheifer - Female carabao below two years of age which has not given birth to a caracalf.
Carcass- Body of a dead or slaughtered animal.
Cast down- Throwing down of animal for proper restraining.
Castration- Surgical operation during which the primary male sex organs are removed.
Chevon- Meat from goat.
Colustrum - The milk produced in the first few days after parturition.
Concentrates- Gains or feeds that are low in crude fiber but having high digestible nutrient content.
Conception- Pregnancy.
Copulation- The mating of male and female animals.
Corpus luteum - Reddish-yellow mass which forms in a ruptured follicle in the ovary of mammals; the hormone
progesterone is released by the corpus luteum.
Cow- Female bovine which has had one or more calves; or an older female which has not had a calf but has
matured.
Cowper’s gland - Accessory gland in the male reproductive system that produces a fluid which moves ahead of
the seminal fluid, cleaning and neutralizing the urethra.
Crisscrossing - Mating crossbred females to a sire belonging to one of the parent breeds of the female; also
called backcrossing.
Crossbreeding- Dam mating of different breeds.
Culling- The process of eliminating the unproductive animals from the herd.
Dairy beef- Steers of dairy breed grown and finished the same as beef steers. It also includes all cows, heifers,
culls and calves including veal calves.
Dewlap- Hanging fold of skin under the neck of animals especially some breeds of cattle and goats.
Docile- Easily managed or handled; tamed.
Dry cow - Non-lactating cow.
Domesticate- To adapt the behavior of an animal to fit the needs of people.
Doe- Female of those species in which the male is called a buck; for example goats, deer and rabbits.
Doeling - Mature female goat that has not yet kidded.
Draft animal- Animal used for pulling loads or for work.
Estrus- The time during which the female will accept the male for copulation: also referred to as being “in heat”.
Ewe- Female sheep or lamb.
Feeder- Carabao for fattening at least 2 to 3 years old.
Feeder calf- Weaned calf which is under one year of age and is sold to be fed for more growth.
Flushing- Increasing the amount of feed fed to an animal for a short period of time usually just prior to breeding.
Gestation- The time during which the animal is pregnant.
Grading up- The mating of purebred sires to grade females.
Grecian ibex- Species of wild goat believed to be ancestors of some of today’s domestic breeds.
Heifers- Sexually mature female cattle that have not yet calved.
Herd- Group of animals in the farm.
Inbreeding- Mating of related animals.

Kid- Young goat still or usually immature.

Kidding- Same as freshening or parturition.
Line breeding- Form of inbreeding in which the animals being mated are more distantly related than in close-
breeding and their ancestors can be traced back to one common ancestor.
Milking doe- Nursing or lactating female goat.
Moufflons - Breed of wild sheep believed to be ancestors of some present-day domestic breeds.
Omasum - The third compartment of the ruminant stomach.
Outcrossing - The mating of animals of different families within the same breed.
Parturition- Act of giving birth.
Pasteurized milk- Milk heated at 63ºC for 30 minutes to destroy any harmful organism, while causing minimal
changes in the composition, flavor and nutritive value.
Pasture- Land with herbage or forage crops for grazing animals.
Pedigree- Record of the ancestors of an animal.
Phenotype- A physical appearance of an animal.
Ram- Male sheep or lamb which has not been castrated.
Ration- Feed allowed for a given animal for a day or 24 hours whether it is fed at one time or in proportions at
different times.
Rectal palpatation - A method of pregnancy diagnosis.
Reticulum- The second compartment of the ruminant stomach.
Roughage- Feed containing more than 18% crude fiber when dry.
ACTSoriano, Dept. of Animal Science, College of Agriculture
CMU
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Rumen- The first and largest compartment of ruminant stomach.

Ruminant - In ruminants, the process of chewing cuds.
Rumination- In ruminants, the process of chewing cuds.
Silage- Forage which has been placed in silos to preserve it and make it palatable.
Silent Heat- Undesirable characteristic of some carabaos of not manifesting heat openly.
Soilage - Fresh forage cut to feed animals tethered or kept in sheds.
Stag- A male animal usually beef or swine which was castrated after reaching sexual maturity and showing the
physical traits of the uncastrated male.
Steer - Male bovine animal which was castrated before reaching sexual maturity.
Veal- Meat from veal calves.
Wean - To separate the calf from the dam.
Wether - A male sheep or goat that has been castrated before reaching sexual maturity

ACTSoriano, Dept. of Animal Science, College of Agriculture

CMU