SS2 Animal Husbandry Lesson Note on Common Management Practices in Pasture

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Common management practices in pasture

1. Burning
2. Fencing
3. Application of fertilizer.
4. Weed control.
5. Pests and diseases
6. Adequate stocking.
7. Preservation of pasture crops

HAY: Hay refers to the aerial part of a young and succulent grass or herbage cut and dried for feeding animals. Hay is grass, legumes ,or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder. The material should be cut at early stage of maturity. Add carotene as vitamin A might be lost in sun drying.

STRAW: This is the remains of harvested crops, harvested and kept for feeding ruminants in dry season and for bedding materials for farm animals. Straw is high in fiber, is not easily digestible but fed to animals to keep them alive

SOILAGE: This refers to the process of cutting fresh or succulent grasses and legumes from the field and taking them to the animals in their pens. They have high moisture content and high nutrients. Soilage is referred to as zero grazing because animals are not allowed to go out to feed on the grass, but the grass is cut and sent to the animals in their pens.

SUB-TOPIC 2

SILAGE: This refers to the preservation of green and succulent forage crops under anaerobic conditions.

Preparation of Silage

• Dig the pit to the size and depth required.
• Cut pasture species at the right stage of maturity, i.e before flowering.
• Chop the pasture into pieces.
• Wilt the cut and chopped lush(tender) pasture species by spreading them in the sun for about one day
• Line the inside of the pit with palm fronds, banana leaves or cocoyam leaves.
• Load the chopped, mixed pasture into the pit in stages.
• Compress each layer by rolling heavy substances over it to expel much of the air which can cause spoilage.
• Sprinkle dilute mineral acid after each layer.

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