Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE IN FOOD PRODUCTION
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE IN FOOD PRODUCTION
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Agriculture
Class: SHS 1
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 3
Grade code: 1.3.1.LI.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 1.3.1.CS.3
Indicator code: 1.3.1.LI.2
Theme: FOOD PRODUCTION AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION
Subtheme: PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE IN FOOD PRODUCTION
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.
This lesson introduces the systematic grouping, or classification, of farm animals. In Ghana, animals are a vital part of our food, culture, and economy. We see goats and sheep tethered in our communities, buy tilapia and chicken at the market, and enjoy meals like fufu with goat light soup or waakye with a boiled egg. Understanding how to classify these animals is not just an academic exercise; it is the first step for any successful farmer or agriculturalist. It helps in making critical decisions about feeding, housing, breeding, and marketing, ultimately contributing to food security for our families and the nation.
A. What is Classification?
Classification in agriculture is the process of grouping farm animals based on their shared characteristics. Think of it like organizing your books in a library. You can group them by subject (Science, English), by author, or by size. Similarly, we can group animals in different ways to better understand and manage them. B. Major Criteria for Classifying Farm Animals
We can classify farm animals using several criteria. The most common and useful ones for a farmer are: Classification Based on Stomach Type (Digestive System) This is one of the most important classifications as it determines what an animal can eat. Monogastric Animals (Simple Stomach): These animals have a single-chambered stomach, much like humans. Their digestive system cannot break down tough, fibrous plant materials like grass very well. Characteristics: Simple stomach, efficient converters of concentrated feeds (like grains). Ghanaian Examples: Pig: Can eat kitchen scraps, corn, cassava peels. Chicken / Poultry (Akoko): Eat grains, insects, and household leftovers. Rabbit: They are a special case called "hindgut fermenters" or pseudo-ruminants but are generally grouped with monogastrics for simplicity at this level. They eat their own soft faecal pellets to get more nutrients. Grasscutter (Akrantiɛ/Bushmeat): A popular micro-livestock in Ghana with a simple stomach. Ruminant Animals (Polygastric/Complex Stomach): These animals have a stomach with four distinct compartments: the Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, and Abomasum. This complex system allows them to digest tough, fibrous vegetation like grass and hay through fermentation and "chewing the cud" (regurgitating and re-chewing their food). Characteristics: Four-chambered stomach, can thrive on grasses and forages. Ghanaian Examples: Cattle: (e.g., N'dama, Sanga, West African Shorthorn) Goat: (e.g., West African Dwarf Goat) Sheep: (e.g., Djallonké sheep) Classification Based on Diet (Feeding Habits) This is closely related to stomach type. Herbivores: Animals that feed exclusively on plants. Examples: Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Rabbits, Grasscutters. Omnivores: Animals that feed on both plants and other animals (or animal products). Examples: Pigs (eat grains, roots, insects, leftovers), Chickens (eat grains, seeds, worms, insects). Carnivores: Animals that feed on meat. These are less common as primary farm animals for food production but can be part of the farm ecosystem. Example: Farm dogs (for security), Cats (for pest control). Classification Based on Purpose/Use (Economic Importance) This helps a farmer decide which animal to raise to meet a specific market demand. Meat Production: Animals raised primarily for their flesh. Examples: Broiler chickens, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, "Beef" Cattle, Rabbit, Grasscutter. Egg Production: Animals raised to produce eggs. Examples: Layer chickens, Quails, Ducks. Milk (Dairy) Production: Animals raised for their milk. Examples: Dairy cows, Dairy goats. Draught/Work: Animals used for farm labour like ploughing and transportation. Examples: Cattle (especially in Northern Ghana), Donkeys. Fibre/Skin Production: Animals raised for their wool, hair, or hide. Examples: Sheep (for wool), Goats and Cattle (for leather). Classification Based on Habitat (Where they live) This is a broad classification based on the animal's natural environment. Terrestrial Animals: Animals that live on land. Examples: All the animals listed above except fish and snails. (Cattle, Goats, Chickens, Pigs, etc.) Aquatic Animals: Animals that live in water. The practice of farming them is called aquaculture. Examples: Tilapia, Catfish (Adwene), Shrimps/Prawns. Classification Based on Zoological Grouping (Phylum) This is a scientific classification. Vertebrates: Animals with a backbone. Mammals: (Give birth to live young, have fur/hair, produce milk) - Cow, Goat, Pig, Rabbit. Birds (Aves): (Have feathers, lay eggs, have beaks) - Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Guinea Fowl. Fish (Pisces): (Live in water, have gills and fins) - Tilapia, Catfish. Invertebrates: Animals without a backbone. Molluscs: (Soft-bodied animals, often with a shell) - African Giant Snail (Achatina achatina) is a very important micro-livestock in Ghana. Insects: Bees (for honey and pollination).
Guided Practice (With Solutions)