Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 3
ANIMAL PRODUCTION
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ANIMAL PRODUCTION
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Subject: Science
Class: JHS 3
Term: 1st Term
Week: 14
Grade code: B9.2.4.2.2
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 4
Content standard code: B9.2.4.2
Indicator code: B9.2.4.2.2
Theme: CYCLES
Subtheme: ANIMAL PRODUCTION
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Animal production is the rearing of animals for food (meat, eggs, milk), income, manure, and other benefits. In Ghana, many homes keep poultry, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, or cattle. Whether the animal grows well or not depends greatly on the type of feed it receives at each stage of growth. Feeding a chick like an adult layer, or feeding a calf like a mature cow, can cause slow growth, poor health, low production, and financial loss. This lesson helps learners differentiate between different types of feed and match them to ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), monogastrics (pigs, rabbits), and poultry at young, growing, and mature stages.
A. Growth Stages of Animals (What they mean) Young stage Newly born/hatched and still developing fast. Examples: chick, piglet, kid (young goat), lamb, calf. Growing stage Not a baby again; body size increases quickly; needs strong muscles and bones. Examples: growers (poultry), weaners and growers (pigs), weaned calves/kids/lambs. Mature stage Fully grown; feed is mainly for maintenance and production (milk, eggs, pregnancy, work). Examples: layers, broilers near finishing, breeding boar/sow, dairy cow, mature ram/buck.
B. Types of Feed (Differentiate clearly) Roughages (Bulky feeds) Meaning: Feeds high in fibre; usually bulky; animals chew more; slower digestion. Examples in Ghana: fresh grass, elephant grass, guinea grass, legume fodder (leucaena, gliricidia), hay, silage, crop residues (maize stover, rice straw, groundnut haulms). Best for: Ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) because they can digest fibre well using microbes in the rumen. Main function: Keeps rumen working well, provides energy (from fibre fermentation), prevents digestive problems. Concentrates (Low fibre, nutrient-dense feeds) Meaning: Feeds rich in energy and/or protein; not bulky; animals eat small amount but get many nutrients. Two main types: Energy concentrates: maize, sorghum, millet, cassava peels (properly dried), wheat bran, rice bran. Protein concentrates: soybean meal, groundnut cake, fish meal, blood meal, cottonseed cake (carefully used), palm kernel cake (moderate protein). Best for: Monogastrics and poultry; also used to support ruminants (especially young, lactating, or fattening animals). Main function: Fast growth, muscle building, milk/egg production. Supplements (Added in small amounts) Meaning: Extra nutrients added to improve a diet that is lacking. Types and examples: Mineral supplements: salt lick, mineral lick, bone meal, oyster shell (layers), dicalcium phosphate. Vitamin supplements: premixes (especially for poultry and pigs). Protein supplements: small addition of fish meal/soybean meal to a cereal-based ration. Main function: Prevent deficiency diseases, improve growth, strong bones/eggshells, fertility. Complete feeds / Compound feeds Meaning: A prepared mixture that contains all nutrients needed (energy, protein, vitamins, minerals) in the right proportions. Examples: chick starter mash, broiler starter/finisher, layer mash, pig starter/grower/finisher. Main function: Convenience and balanced nutrition; reduces guesswork. Forages vs Pasture (Important distinction) Pasture: Animals graze directly on field grasses/legumes. Forage: Green feed cut and carried to animals (cut-and-carry system), common in peri-urban Ghana. Feed additives (Not “feed” but added to feed) Examples: enzymes, probiotics, coccidiostats (poultry), anti-mould agents. Purpose: Improve digestion, reduce disease risk, improve feed efficiency.
C. Matching Feed Types to Animal Groups (Ruminants vs Monogastrics vs Poultry) Ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) Digest fibre well → can live mainly on roughage. Young ruminants (calves/kids/lambs) need: Milk first; then soft, high-quality feed. Creep feed (a concentrate mix for young animals) + tender forage. Growing ruminants need: Good pasture/forage + some concentrates if growth is slow. Mature ruminants need: Roughage for maintenance. Extra concentrates for pregnancy, lactation, fattening, or work. Monogastrics (pigs, rabbits) Cannot digest fibre well (especially pigs) → need more concentrates. Rabbits can handle more fibre than pigs but still need balanced feed. Young pigs need: Highly digestible starter feed (high protein, vitamins/minerals). Growing pigs need: Grower ration (balanced energy + protein). Mature pigs need: Maintenance + production feed (pregnant/lactating sow needs more). Poultry (chicks, growers, layers, broilers) Need complete feeds because they cannot graze enough to meet nutrient needs. Chicks: starter mash (high protein for fast growth). Growers: grower mash (moderate protein; prepares body for laying). Layers: layer mash (more calcium for eggshells). Broilers: starter then finisher (high energy for fast weight gain).
D. Major Functions of Feed at Each Growth Stage (Compare) Young stage Main needs: body building (protein), bone formation (minerals like calcium/phosphorus), immunity (vitamins). Feed focus: starter feeds, milk (for young ruminants), creep feed, vitamin-mineral premix. Growing stage Main needs: rapid growth + energy. Feed focus: balanced ration; good protein + energy; quality forage for ruminants. Mature stage Main needs: maintenance + production (milk, eggs, pregnancy, fattening). Feed focus: maintenance roughage (ruminants) plus supplements; layers need calcium; lactating animals need extra energy/protein.