Animal Husbandary Techniques 1 Ruminant

1. Apply appropriate animal husbandry techniques for ruminants.
2. Implement effective fattening strategies for sheep and goats.
3. Manage breeding programs for sheep and goats.
4. Estimate animal age and body weight using practical methods.
5. Perform essential procedures such as castration, identification, and hoof trimming.
6. Apply artificial insemination techniques to improve livestock genetics.

13 weeks, about 48 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Fattening of Sheep and Goats

   • Fattening of Sheep and Goats · 3 hours

     Understand the advantages of fattening sheep and goats.. Explore traditional and agro-industrial byproduct-based fattening systems.. Review Table 1: Molasses based rations..

2. Week 2Module 1: Fattening of Sheep and Goats

   • Fattening of Sheep and Goats · 3 hours

     Learn how to select sheep and goats for intensive fattening based on condition, skeletal frame, breed, sex, weight, and age.. Understand the management of finishing sheep and goats, including feed supplies, minimizing movement, and providing rest and water.. Review health considerations and feeding strategies for finishing sheep and goats..

3. Week 3Module 2: Sheep Production

   • Sheep Production · 3 hours

     Understand the management techniques for ewes, including handling, feeding, and care during pregnancy.. Learn about lamb management from birth to slaughter age, including gestation period and steps to assist newborns.. Explore pre-weaning management of lambs, including navel care, data collection, and creep feeding..

4. Week 4Module 3: Goat Production

   • Goat Production · 3 hours

     Understand the management techniques for breeding goat stock, including bucks and does.. Learn about the physiological phases of breeding does: dry period, pregnancy period, and lactation period.. Explore the management of kids, including immediate care after birth and navel care..

5. Week 5Module 4: Pasture Production and Management

   • Pasture Production and Management · 3 hours

     Identify and manage sensitive areas in pastures.. Understand the importance of subdividing pastures for improved yield.. Learn about strip grazing and set paddocks.. Determine when to terminate grazing and manage pastures prior to a killing frost..

6. Week 6Module 4: Pasture Production and Management

   • Pasture Production and Management · 3 hours

     Learn about sacrificial paddock use and management.. Understand how to manage forage balance.. Explore strategies for dealing with variable rates of forage growth..

7. Week 7Module 5: Estimating of Age Using Dentition

   • Estimating of Age Using Dentition · 3 hours

     Understand the dentition of sheep and goats.. Learn how to estimate age using dentition.. Study Table 3: Sheep and Goat Dentition and Table 4: Cattle Dentition.. Review the dentition of aged goats and yearlings..

8. Week 8Module 6: Determination of Body Weight

   • Determination of Body Weight · 3 hours

     Understand the procedures for estimating the weight of small ruminants.. Learn about weight bands, visual appraisal, and body linear measurements.. Explore precautions to take while taking body linear measurements..

9. Week 9Module 7: Castration

   • Castration · 3 hours

     Understand the methods of castration.. Learn about the Burdizzo emasculatome method, the banding or elastrator method, and the knife method.. Study the step-wise procedures for each method..

10. Week 10Module 8: Identification

    • Identification · 3 hours

      Understand the methods of identification.. Learn about tattooing, ear tagging, and ear notching.. Study the procedures for each method..

11. Week 11Module 9: Catching and Holding and Artificial Insemination

    • Catching and Holding of Sheep and Goats Easily · 3 hours

      Learn techniques for catching and holding sheep and goats easily.. Understand the speculum method and the recto-vaginal technique for artificial insemination.. Study the principal steps for carrying out insemination..

    • Artificial Insemination Technique · 3 hours

      Learn techniques for catching and holding sheep and goats easily.. Understand the speculum method and the recto-vaginal technique for artificial insemination.. Study the principal steps for carrying out insemination..

12. Week 12Module 10: Artificial Insemination and Estrus Synchronization

    • Artificial Insemination · 3 hours

      Discuss semen collection techniques through live animal practices.. Properly handle, thaw, and prepare semen for insemination.. Learn about the use of artificial vagina, electro ejaculator, and rectal massage for semen collection..

    • Oestrus Synchronization · 3 hours

      Understand the techniques of heat detection/gadgets.. Learn about estrus synchronization.. Study examples of work schedules for synchronization..

13. Week 13Module 11: Milking, Drenching, Hoof Trimming and Dehorning

    • Methods of Milking · 3 hours

      Learn about milking utensils and their cleaning procedures.. Understand the methods of milking: hand milking and machine milking.. Study the advantages of machine milking..

    • Dehorning · 3 hours

      Understand drenching techniques.. Learn about hoof trimming procedures.. Study dehorning methods: chemical method, hot iron method, use of clippers and saws, and cosmetics dehorning..