Livestock Production: notes

Main Animals

• Cattle: beef breeds such as Brahman and Mashona, dairy breeds such as Holstein and Jersey.
• Goats: meat, milk and skins. Boer and Mashona goats are common.
• Pigs: fast breeding, give pork and bacon.
• Poultry: layers for eggs, broilers for meat. Broilers are ready at about 6 weeks.

Breeding

• Selection: choose parents with the traits you want.
• Gestation: about 9 months in cattle, 5 months in goats and about 114 days in pigs.
• Brooding: chicks need heat, clean water and feed in their first weeks.

Management

• Housing: dry, ventilated and clean.
• Records: births, treatments, milk and feed let the farmer judge each animal.