Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
ECONOMIC PRODUCTION OF PIGS AND FISH
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ECONOMIC PRODUCTION OF PIGS AND FISH
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Agricultural Science
Class: SHS 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 8
Grade code: 3.2.2.LI.2
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 3.2.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 3.2.2.LI.2
Theme: FARMING FOR JOBS AND INCOMES
Subtheme: ECONOMIC PRODUCTION OF PIGS AND FISH
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This lesson focuses on the practical and business aspects of raising pigs (piggery) and fish (aquaculture) as profitable ventures in Ghana. With a growing population and increasing demand for protein, pig and fish farming present significant opportunities for entrepreneurship, job creation, and contributing to national food security. This lesson moves beyond basic animal husbandry to equip you with the knowledge needed to plan, set up, and manage a small-scale pig or fish farm as a business, aligning with the principles of Farming for Jobs and Incomes.
This section is divided into two main parts: Pig Production and Fish Production, followed by a crucial section on the economic considerations that apply to both. PART A: PIG PRODUCTION (PIGGERY)
Pigs are highly prolific (produce many offspring) and have an excellent feed conversion ratio, making them a profitable livestock choice. Site Selection: Choosing the right location is the first step to success. A poor site can lead to disease, environmental pollution, and conflicts with neighbours. Location: The farm should be located away from residential areas to avoid complaints about noise and odour. Water Supply: A reliable, clean source of water is essential for drinking, cleaning the pens, and cooling the animals. Accessibility: The site should be easily accessible by road for transporting feed, piglets, and market-ready pigs. Drainage: The land should have a gentle slope to allow for easy drainage of wastewater and prevent flooding in the pens. Security: The site should be secure to prevent theft of animals and equipment. Breeds and Selection: Choosing the right breed depends on your market and management capacity. Common Breeds in Ghana: Large White: Known for its large size, good mothering ability, and high-quality lean meat. Landrace: Long-bodied pigs, excellent for bacon production, and also good mothers. Duroc: Reddish-brown pigs, known for their hardiness, fast growth rate, and good meat quality. Ashanti Black Dwarf: A local, hardy breed that is more resistant to local diseases but grows slower than exotic breeds. Selection of Piglets (Weaners): When buying young pigs to raise, look for weaners that are active, have a smooth coat, are free from deformities, and come from a healthy, productive sow (mother pig). Housing (The Pigsty): Proper housing protects pigs from harsh weather, theft, and diseases. Flooring: Should be made of hard concrete, sloped towards a drainage channel for easy cleaning. A rough finish prevents pigs from slipping. Walls: Dwarf walls (about 1-1.2m high) made of concrete blocks are common. This allows for good ventilation. Roofing: Should be high enough to allow air circulation and made of materials like corrugated iron sheets or aluminium. Pen Sections: A well-designed pigsty has different sections: Boar Pen: For the breeding male. Farrowing Pen: For pregnant sows to give birth and nurse their piglets. It should have "creep rails" to protect piglets from being crushed. Weaner Pen: For piglets after they are weaned from their mother. Grower/Fattener Pen: For raising pigs from weaning to market weight. Equipment: Feeders (Troughs): Can be made of concrete or metal. Must be easy to clean. Waterers (Drinkers): Automatic nipple drinkers are efficient and keep water clean. Concrete water troughs can also be used but require daily cleaning. Feeding and Nutrition: Feed accounts for 70-80% of production costs, so it must be managed efficiently. Types of Feed: Pig Creep/Starter (for piglets): High in protein (18-20%). Grower Mash (for weaners/growers): Medium protein (16-18%). Finisher Mash (for fatteners): Lower protein, higher energy (14-16%) to build fat for market. Sow and Boar Mash: Specially formulated for breeding stock. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR): This measures how efficiently a pig converts feed into body weight. An FCR of 3:1 means the pig needs 3kg of feed to gain 1kg of weight. A lower FCR is better and more profitable. Feeding Regimen: Feed pigs at least twice a day (morning and evening). Do not provide more feed than they can finish in about 30 minutes to avoid wastage. Always provide clean drinking water. Health Management: "Prevention is better than cure." Biosecurity: This is a set of measures to prevent diseases from entering or spreading on the farm. Restrict visitor access. Use a footbath with disinfectant at the entrance. Quarantine (isolate) new animals for 2-3 weeks before introducing them to the main herd. Common Diseases: African Swine Fever (ASF), Erysipelas, Foot and Mouth Disease. Vaccination & Deworming: Follow a veterinary-approved schedule for vaccinations and deworming to protect the animals. Daily Observation: Check animals daily for signs of illness like loss of appetite, dullness, strange behaviour, or diarrhoea. Isolate sick animals immediately and consult a veterinarian.
PART B: FISH PRODUCTION (AQUACULTURE)
Fish farming in ponds is a popular way to produce fish in areas where rivers or lakes are not readily available. Site Selection: Water Source: A constant, high-quality water source is paramount. This can be from a borehole, river, stream, or spring. The water must be unpolluted. Soil Type: The soil must have high clay content to hold water. To test this, take a sample of soil, wet it, and roll it into a ball. If it holds its shape without crumbling, it has good clay content. Sandy or loamy soils are not suitable as water will seep through. Topography: A gently sloping area is ideal. This allows for filling the pond by gravity and also makes it easier to drain for harvesting. Pond Construction (Dug-out Pond): Clearing and Stumping: Remove all vegetation, trees, and stumps from the selected area. Excavation: Dig out the soil to the desired depth (usually 1.0m at the shallow end and 1.5m at the deep end). Dykes/Embankments: Use the excavated soil to build strong walls (dykes) around the pond to hold the water. These must be compacted firmly. Inlet and Outlet: Construct an inlet pipe at the shallow end to let water in and an outlet pipe (with a screen to prevent fish from escaping) at the deep end to drain the pond. Species Selection: Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Very popular in Ghana. It is hardy, grows fast, and reproduces easily (sometimes too easily, which can lead to overpopulation and stunted growth). African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus): Also very popular. It is an air-breather (can survive in low-oxygen water), grows very fast, and commands a good market price. Stocking: Liming and Fertilization: Before adding water, lime (e.g., agricultural lime) is applied to the pond bottom to neutralize soil acidity and kill pathogens. After filling with water, organic (chicken manure) or inorganic fertilizers are added to stimulate the growth of plankton (natural fish food). Stocking Fingerlings: After a week or two, when the water turns greenish (indicating plankton bloom), you can introduce the baby fish (fingerlings). Stocking Density: Do not overstock the pond. A general guide for semi-intensive tilapia farming is 2-3 fingerlings per square meter (m²). Example: For a 10m x 20m pond (Area = 200m²), you would stock: 200m² x 2 fingerlings/m² = 400 fingerlings. Feeding and Management: Supplementary Feeding: While fish eat natural plankton, supplementary feed is needed for fast growth. Use commercially produced floating fish pellets. Feeding Rate: Feed about 3-5% of their body weight daily. This amount is adjusted as the fish grow. Feed them twice a day (morning and afternoon). Water Quality Management: Oxygen: Monitor for signs of low oxygen (fish gasping at the surface in the early morning). You can add fresh water or use an aerator. Turbidity: Clear water is not good. A healthy greenish colour is ideal. Muddy water can damage fish gills. pH: Maintain a pH between 6.5 and 8.5. Harvesting: Tilapia and Catfish typically reach market size (300-500g) in 6-8 months. Methods: Partial Harvesting: Using a seine net to catch the bigger fish, leaving smaller ones to grow. Total Harvesting: Draining the pond completely and collecting all the fish.