System Of Cattle Rearing | Types, Importance

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In this article we are studying the followings about system of cattle rearing, the advantages of the intensive system of rearing ruminants, the breeds of cattle, characteristics of West Africa breed of cattle, the importance of cattle rearing, Common diseases of Cattle And management of cattle.

What is Cattle: Cattle belongs to the group of animals known as bovidae. They are ruminants, having hollow horns and hoofs with an even number of toes. Cattle are reared for Thier meat, milk, hides and skin, manure and as draught animals for work on the farm.

In Cattle Rearing, Cattle are domesticated mammals raised for various purposes, including meat, milk, and labour.

BREEDS OF CATTLE

  • Azawal
  • Sokoto gudali
  • Wadara (shuwa)
  • White Fulani.
  • Red Bororo
  • Muturu
  • N’dama
  • Keteku (Borgu)
  • Kuri.
  • Brown Swiss
  • Hostein
  • Jersey.

The breeds of cattle can also be categorized into three groups. These groups are:

1. BEEFS CATTLE: Beef cattle are the cattle which have the ability to produce milk. Examples are:

  • N’dama
  • Red Bororo
  • Sokoto Gudali
  • Keteku (Borgu)
  • Kuri
  • Brown Swiss
  • Rahaji

2. DAIRY CATTLE: Dairy cattle are the cattle which are reared mainly to produce milk. Examples are:

  • White Fulani.
  • Jersey
  • Red poll
  • Kerry
  • Dexter.
  • Hostein
  • Ayshere
  • South Devon
  • Dairy Short horn.

3. DUAL PURPOSE CATTLE: These are cattle capable of producing milk and meat. Examples are:

  • Azawal
  • Muturu
  • Biu
  • Wadara (shuwa).

Characteristics of west African breed of cattle.

  1. Very Hardy
  2. Have greater tolerance to heat and humidity.
  3. Tolerance to some diseases. E.g. trypanosomiasis.
  4. Can Withstand stress and travel long distances without water.
  5. Late mature.
  6. Have compact blocky/shaped body.
  7. Are mostly of dual (purpose produce milk and meat).
  8. Generally long legged animals.
  9. some are humped.
  10. Powerful shoulder for use as drought animals.
  11. Loose thin and pigmented skin
  12. Low milk yield/small udder.
  13. Slow growth rate.
  14. Small body weight.

IMPORTANCE OF CATTLE.

  • Can provide meat and milk for man.
  • Some cattle help to pull ploughs and work as drought animals.
  • They provide hides and skins.
  • They provide blood meal and bone meal for farm animals as feed.
  • Fertilizers can be obtained from blood, bones, and offals of cattle.
  • Cattle Dung ( feaces) is a very good source of manure.
  • Cattle provide employment and income to people.
  • Cattle are also a source of revenue to some countries.
  • Cattle are also used for religious purposes as well as festivals in some places.
  • Cattle are used for research work or educational purposes
Important of cattle Rearing and system of Rearing.
Importance of cattle Rearing

Terminologies Used In Cattle

  1. Bull – An adult male cattle.
  2. Cow – An adult female cattle
  3. Calf – A young or Baby cattle.
  4. Heifer – A growing female up to her first calving.
  5. Bull calf – A young male cattle.
  6. Heifer calf – A young female cattle.
  7. Steer – A castrated male cattle
  8. Ox – A castrated adult male cattle.
  9. Vealer – A castrated female cattle.
  10. Serving – Act of mating in cattle
  11. Calving – Act of giving birth (parturition)
  12. Beef – Meat of cattle.
  13. Dairy Cattle – Cattle kept for milk production.
  14. Beaf cattle – Cattle reared for meat production.
  15. Herd – A group of cattle
  16. Polled – Cattle without horns.
  17. Horned – Cattle with horns.
  18. Humped – Cattle with Hump.
  19. Humpless – Cattle without Hump.

SYSTEM OF REARING CATTLE: There are three systems of rearing cattle. These are extensive, semi intensive and intensive systems.

Extensive Grazing systems of cattle Rearing: extensive system of rearing ruminants, e g. Cattle, sheep and goat is the same. It involves the following:

Cattle are allowed to move freely from one place to another in search of pasture for grazing or browsing. The cattle fend for themselves and graze on a wide range of pastures. There is no special housing unit provided. In most cases, animals and not provided with medication. It is a very cheap system of rearing livestock. No supplementary feed is usually provided. Animals are exposed to weather hazards such as excessive heat, heavy rainfall and strong windstorm. Disease outbreak cannot be easily controlled. Animals can be stolen or killed by wide animals. There is also indiscriminate mating and the cow delivered their young ones in the field. Cattle and other ruminants generally destroy cultivated crops; thereby causing community disputs.

Semi-Intensive System Of cattle rearing: Under this system, housing is provided for the cattle and they are also allowed to move out and graze on Pasture. The animals spend more time outside their pens. Houses are built with suitable materials that can permit free circulation of air. The houses are not completely walled, and rails are preferred to solid walls which should be about 2m high.

The grasses or pasture must be managed properly to provide the necessary food for the cattle The system needs less capital investment but large labour requirements, disease and parasite incident are slightly high.

Intensive Grazing system of cattle Rearing: In this system, the cattle are confined within a building with limited access to grazing. Grasses (by zero grazing), water, medications are supplied daily to the cattle.

ADVANTAGES OF INTENSIVE SYSTEM OF REARING RUMINANTS

  • It gives animal protection against environmental hazard and exposure to adverse weather condition.
  • There is proper supervision of animals.
  • record keeping is made easier.
  • It allows for automation e.g. used of automatic feeders and drinkers.
  • protection against theft
  • protection against predators.
  • indiscriminate mating is reduced.
  • sick animals are easily identified.
  • Another advantages of intensive system of rearing cattle is that it reduces incidence of disease infection.
  • Ensures adequate and balance feeding.
  • Ensures provision of better healthcare.
  • Animals do not destroy farmers crops.
  • Allows efficient use of labour.
  • High stocking density for all species of animals.
  • It gives animals protection against physical hazard.
  • It enhances performance of the animals

COMMON DISEASES OF CATTLE

Common diseases of cattle include foot and mouth disease, rinderpest disease, anthrax, tuberculosis, trypanosomiasis and red water fever. These diseases should be prevented through the use of appropriate drugs and vaccines.

Management of Cattle: The management of cattle from bringing to market size can be grouped into Three faces

1. From breeding to calving. 2. From birth of calf to weaning and 3. From weaning to finishing (market size).

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