Farm Mechanisation in Livestock – SS3 Livestock Farming Lesson Note (Third Term)

Farm mechanisation in livestock is the use of machines and equipment to do farm work such as controlling the animal house, feeding, watering and milking.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. define mechanisation in livestock farming;
2. state four benefits of using machines on a livestock farm;
3. name equipment used for animal housing, feeding and watering, and milking, and state what each does;
4. describe four ways of maintaining farm machines.

What is farm mechanisation in livestock?

Mechanisation is the use of machines and equipment to do farm work that would otherwise be done by hand.

• Small farms: a farmer with 10 cows can do most work by hand.
• Large farms: a farmer with 500 cows or 10,000 chickens needs machines to cope.
• Housing: machines control heat, air and waste in the animal house.
• Feeding and watering: machines store, process and deliver feed and water.
• Milking: machines draw and cool milk from dairy animals.

What are the benefits of mechanisation?

Mechanisation saves time, reduces waste, improves hygiene and raises profit, especially on farms with large numbers of animals.

• Saves time: machines do not get tired and finish repeated jobs quickly.
• Reduces waste: automatic feeders deliver feed in measured amounts, so less is spilled.
• Better hygiene: machines such as milkers keep the product cleaner than hands can.
• Higher profit: working faster and wasting less brings more money to the farmer.
• Less labour: fewer workers are needed for heavy, repeated tasks.

What are the limitations of mechanisation?

Mechanisation has costs and risks that a farmer must weigh before buying machines.

• High cost: machines are expensive to buy, install and repair.
• Power supply: many machines need electricity or fuel, which can be costly or unreliable.
• Skill needed: workers must be trained to use and service the machines.
• Breakdown: a faulty machine can stop feeding, watering or cooling and endanger the animals.
• Small herds: machines may not pay for themselves on a farm with few animals.

What equipment is used on a livestock farm?

Livestock equipment falls into three groups: housing equipment, feeding and watering equipment, and milking equipment.

What equipment is used for animal housing?

Housing equipment makes the animal house a controlled environment with the right temperature, fresh air and clean floors.

• Ventilation fans: large fans pull out hot, stale air and bring in fresh air, which helps prevent heat stress in our hot climate.
• Automatic cooling systems (misters): tiny nozzles spray a fine mist of water, and the water cools the air as it evaporates, for pigs or poultry.
• Space heaters (brooders): infrared lamps or gas heaters keep day-old chicks warm until they grow feathers.
• Manure scrapers: a mechanical blade moves slowly across the floor of a cattle pen and pushes waste into a pit, in place of a person with a shovel.

What equipment is used for feeding and watering?

Feeding and watering equipment stores, prepares and delivers feed and water so that little is wasted.

• Automatic feeders (augers): a long pipe with a screw inside moves feed from a storage tank (silo) to the animals’ feeding bowls.
• Nipple drinkers: used mostly for poultry and pigs, the animal touches a small metal nipple and a drop of water comes out.
• Feed mixers and grinders: they crush grains such as maize and mix them with vitamins and proteins, so the farmer can make feed on the farm.
• Silage cutters: large machines chop green grass or maize stalks into small pieces that can be packed tightly and stored as feed for the dry season.

Feed is the biggest cost in livestock farming, so these machines help every kobo spent on feed to count.

What equipment is used for milking?

Milking equipment draws milk from the cow and cools it quickly, which is faster and gentler than hand milking.

• Vacuum milking machines: gentle pulsing suction, like a calf suckling, pulls the milk into a sealed bucket or pipe.
• Pulsators: they control the rhythm of the suction so the cow stays relaxed and the udder is not harmed.
• Bulk milk coolers: large stainless steel tanks stir and cool the milk soon after milking to keep it fresh.
• Milking parlours: a special room where cows stand on a raised platform and are milked in groups.

Which equipment does which job?

The table matches common equipment to its category and main job.

How do you maintain farm machines?

Maintenance is the regular care of machines to keep them working, because a broken feeder means hungry animals.

1. Cleaning: wash equipment after use, especially milking and feeding tools, to prevent rust and bacteria.
2. Lubrication: put oil or grease on moving parts, such as the gears in a feed mixer, to stop them grinding and breaking.
3. Inspection: check every day for leaks in water pipes and frayed wires in heaters.
4. Storage: keep expensive tools under a roof, away from rain and sun.

What safety rules apply when using farm machines?

Safety rules protect both the worker and the animals from harm.

• Switch off: turn off and disconnect a machine before cleaning or repairing it.
• Trained operators: let only trained workers handle machines.
• Safe wiring: repair frayed wires at once, especially near water.
• Protective wear: use gloves, boots and other protective clothing where needed.

Class discussion and practical task

1. Compare: if you have 50 chickens, do you need an automatic auger system? At what number of birds should a farmer start using machines?
2. Observe: why is a nipple drinker better than a bowl of water on the floor of a chicken house? Think about droppings and spilled water.
3. Think: why should a farmer be careful about using grease or oil near equipment that touches milk or animal feed?

Evaluation

1. What is mechanisation in livestock farming?
2. State four benefits of using machines on a livestock farm.
3. Name one piece of equipment each for animal housing, feeding and watering, and milking, and state what it does.
4. List four ways of maintaining farm machines.

Assignment

Explain how each of these helps a livestock farmer: a manure scraper, a nipple drinker and a pulsator.