Theory question 105
Pasture and Forage Crops(a) Give three reasons for carrying out each of the following practices in pasture management. (i) fencing; (ii) adequate stocking.
(b) Explain each of the following management practices in animal production (i) culling; (ii) dehorning; (iii) castration.
(c) Outline the steps involved in the propagation of oil palm in the nursery.
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(a)(i) Fencing (any three): restricts movement of animals; keeps out thieves, predators and intruders; divides pasture into paddocks for rotational grazing; prevents overgrazing; prevents spread of diseases and parasites from outside animals.
(ii) Adequate stocking (any three): matches the number of animals to the carrying capacity; prevents overgrazing and soil compaction; ensures enough feed for each animal; allows pasture to regrow; reduces disease and parasite spread.
(b)(i) Culling: removing weak, sick, old, unproductive or bad-tempered animals from the flock/herd.
(ii) Dehorning: removing or preventing growth of horns (with a hot iron, caustic soda or saw) to make animals easier to handle and prevent injury.
(iii) Castration: removing or destroying the testicles of males not wanted for breeding, so they are docile and fatten well.
(c) Select good, viable seeds (e.g. Tenera); heat-treat in a germinator at about 39–40 °C for about 80 days to break dormancy; soak in water for some days, then dry; germinate and plant the sprouted seeds in polythene bags in the pre-nursery; transfer to the main nursery; water, weed, fertilise and control pests; harden off and transplant to the field at about 12 months.
Put the nursery steps in order.