Cattle Farming I – SS1 Livestock Farming Lesson Note (Third Term)

Cattle farming is the rearing of cattle for beef (meat), milk and hides (leather).

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Name and describe common local and exotic breeds of cattle.
2. State the differences between local and exotic breeds.
3. Describe the types of housing used for cattle.
4. List the kinds of feed given to cattle.
5. Explain basic cattle management terms such as calf, heifer, bull and steer.
6. State why cross-breeding is done.

Why do farmers keep cattle?

Farmers keep cattle for food, income and raw materials, and in Nigeria cattle are also a store of wealth.

• Beef: meat from cattle, a main source of animal protein.
• Milk: used fresh or processed into products such as yoghurt, butter and cheese.
• Hides and skins: used to make leather for shoes, bags and belts.
• Manure: cattle dung improves soil fertility on crop farms.
• Work: some steers or bulls are trained to pull ploughs and carts.
• Wealth and pride: many families measure status by the size of their herd.

What are the breeds of cattle?

There are two groups of cattle breeds: local (native) breeds and exotic breeds brought in from other countries.

What are local breeds of cattle?

Local breeds are cattle that have lived in Nigeria for a long time and are adapted to its heat and diseases.

• White Fulani (Bunaji): the most common breed in Nigeria. White coat with black ears, eyes and hooves. Kept for both meat and milk.
• Red Bororo (Rahaji): deep mahogany red coat and very long, curved horns. Hardy and able to walk long distances.
• Muturu: short, humpless “dwarf” cattle found mostly in the South. Resistant to sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis), which tsetse flies carry.
• N’dama: short, tough, humpless breed of the forest areas. Also resists trypanosomiasis and is kept for meat.

What are exotic breeds of cattle?

Exotic breeds are cattle brought from other countries, mainly cool climates such as Europe, and they give high yields but cope poorly with Nigerian heat and diseases.

• Holstein-Friesian: black and white. The best-known dairy breed, giving far more milk than local cattle.
• Jersey: small, brown dairy cows. Their milk is very creamy.
• Angus and Hereford: beef breeds. They are broad, muscular and heavy, bred for meat.

What is the difference between local and exotic breeds?

Local breeds are hardy native cattle with modest yields. Exotic breeds are imported cattle with high yields but need better care.

What is cross-breeding in cattle?

Cross-breeding is the mating of two different breeds to produce offspring with the good qualities of both.

• Example: a White Fulani crossed with a Holstein-Friesian.
• Hardiness: the offspring gets heat and disease tolerance from the local parent.
• High yield: it gets more milk or meat from the exotic parent.
• Better adaptation: the cross copes with Nigerian conditions better than a pure exotic breed.
• More income: a farmer gets better returns from the same herd.

How are cattle housed?

Cattle housing is the structure or enclosure that keeps cattle safe, healthy and easy to manage.

• Kraal (traditional): a simple fence of thorns or wood where cattle stay at night.
• Paddock (modern): a large fenced area of land for grazing. It is divided into sections so grass can regrow in one section while cattle graze another.
• Cattle shed: a permanent roofed building that protects cattle from sun and heavy rain. It has a concrete floor with a slight slope so urine and water drain away.
• Crush: a narrow wooden or metal passage that holds a cow still for vaccination or treatment.

Why are cattle housed?

• Protection: from harsh weather, thieves and wild animals.
• Disease control: a clean, drained floor reduces infections.
• Easy management: feeding, milking and treatment are easier.

What do cattle eat?

Cattle are ruminants, animals with a four-part stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum) that digests tough grass.

• Pasture (forage): the main feed. It includes grasses such as Elephant grass and Guinea grass, and legumes such as Centrosema.
• Hay: grass cut and dried for feeding in the dry season.
• Silage: fresh grass fermented in a pit or silo, which keeps it juicy for the dry season.
• Concentrates: extra feeds for faster growth or more milk, such as cotton seed cake, brewers’ waste and maize offal.
• Salt and mineral licks: blocks placed in the pen to supply minerals for healthy bones.
• Water: clean water must always be available.

What are the basic cattle management terms?

Cattle terms name animals by their sex, age and use.

• Calf: a young animal of cattle, male or female.
• Heifer: a young female that has not yet had a calf.
• Cow: an adult female that has had at least one calf.
• Bull: an adult male kept for breeding.
• Steer or bullock: a castrated male that cannot breed, raised for meat or work.

Evaluation

1. A cow has very long horns and a deep red coat. Which local breed is it likely to be?
2. Why is a concrete floor better than a muddy floor in a cattle shed?
3. State two differences between local and exotic breeds of cattle.
4. Explain the difference between hay and silage.
5. What is a heifer, and why do farmers cross-breed cattle?

Assignment

Draw a table with two local breeds and two exotic breeds of cattle. For each breed, write one feature and its main use (meat or milk).