Introduction
- The term livestock is used to refer to all domesticated animals.
- These animals include cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, pigs, rabbits, camels, bees, fish and donkeys.
The Importance of Keeping Livestock:
- Source of food.
- Source of income.
- Cultural values.
- Source of animal power.
- Provision of raw materials for industries.
- Farmyard manure from the animals is used in maintaining soil fertility.
- Cattle dung is used in the production of biogas.
Cattle Breeds
- Cattle can be classified into two groups based on their origin.
These are;
- Indigenous cattle.
- Exotic cattle.
Indigenous Cattle
Zebus –
- They are small in size and with a distinct hump and include:
- Nandi,
- Bukedi
- Maasai cattle.
The Borana
- These are the cattle kept in the Northern parts of Kenya.
- They are larger than the Zebus.
- Indigenous cattle are hardy hence able to tolerate the harsh environmental conditions in the tropics.
- They are the major suppliers of beef in Kenya.
Exotic Cattle
- Foreign cattle from the temperate regions.
- They have distinct breed characteristics and are classified into various breeds.
General characteristics:
- They have no humps.
- They have low tolerance to high temperatures hence popular in cool climates of the Kenya highlands ..
- They are highly susceptible to tropical diseases.
- They have fast growth rates leading to early maturity.
- They are good producers of both meat and milk.
- They cannot walk for long distances.
- They have short calving intervals of one calf per year if well managed.
Exotic cattle breeds fall under the following groups:
- Dairy cattle breeds.
- Beef cattle breeds.
- Dual purpose breeds.
Dairy Cattle Breeds
- They include;
- Friesian,
- Ayrshire,
- Guernsey
- Jersey.
Characteristics of Dairy Cattle
- Wedge or triangular in shape.
- Large stomach.
- Docile with mild temperament.
- Large, well suspended udders and teats.
- Lean bodies.
- Lean and smooth neck.
- Large and long mammary milk wells and veins.
- Cylindrical; uniform and well spaced teats.
- Wide and well set hindquarters to accommodate the udder.
Friesian-Holstein (largest of all dairy breeds)
- Origin: Holland
- Colour: Black and white
- Size: Cow weighs 550-680kgs Bull weighs 950 kg.
- Highest milk producers of all dairy breeds about 9150 kg per lactation but with least butterfat content; 3.5%
Ayrshire
- Origin: Scotland
- Colour: White with brown markings.
- Size: Cow weighs 360-590kgs Bulls weighs 500-720kg.
- Conformation:
- Straight top lines, horns are long and face upwards.
- Milk production is second to Friesian about 6100kg per lactation with butter content of about 4%.
Guernsey
- Origin: Guernsey Island off the coast of France.
- Colour: Yellowish brown to red with white legs, switch and girth ..
- Size: Bulls 540-770kg. Cow weighs 450- 500kgs
- Conformation:
- Udders are less symmetrical.
- Average milk production is about 5185kg per lactation with a butterfat content of 4.5% hence the yellow colour of milk.
Jersey (smallest of all the dairy breeds)
- Origin: England
- Colour: Yellow brown with black muzzle and switch.
- Size: Bulls weigh 540-700kg. Cow weighs 350-450kgs
- Conformation:
- Dished forehead, have straight top-line and level rumps with sharp withers.
- Have protruding black eyes.
- Average milk production 1270kg per lactation of butterfat content 5%.
- They tolerate high temperatures.
Beef Cattle
Examples:
- Aberdeen Angus,
- Hereford,
- Shorthorns,
- Galloway,
- American Brahman,
- charolais
- Santa Getrudis.
Characteristics of Beef Cattle
- Blocky or square conformation.
- Have thick muscles or are well fleshed.
- Early maturing.
- Deep chest and girth and short legs.
- Straight top and lower lines.
Aberdeen Angus
- Origin: North East Scotland.
- Colour: Black
- Shape: Cylindrical, compact and deep; It is polled.
- Size:
- Mature bulls weigh 900kg.
- Mature cows weigh 840kgs.
- It is found in Timau area of Kenya
Hereford
- Origin: England.
- Colour: Deep red and white-faced.
- Size:
- Average weight of bulls is 1000kg.
- Cows weigh 840kgs.
- It is found in areas such as Naivasha.
Shorthorn
- Origin: England.
- Has easy fleshing ability
- Colour: Red, Roan or white
- Shape: Cylindrical, compact and deep.
- It is polled.
- Size:
- Bulls weigh 700-900kg,
- cows weigh 545-630kgs.
Galloway
- Origin: Scotland.
- Colour: Black
- Kept in the highland areas like Molo in Kenya.
Charolais
- Origin: France.
- Colour: Creamy white.
- Size: Bulls weigh 1200kg, cows weigh 1000kgs.
- It is found in ranches in Laikipia District.
Dual Purpose Breeds
Examples: Sahiwal, Red Poll and Simmental.
Sahiwal
- Origin: India and Pakistan ..
- Colour: reddish brown.
- Size: Bulls weigh 650kg, and cows 400kg.
- Milk production averages 2700-3000 per lactation with a butter fat content of 3.7%.
- It has a pendulous udders which does not let down milk easily.
- It is therefore said to be a difficult milker.
- It is kept in semi-arid areas such as Naivasha.
Red Poll
- Origin: England.
- Colour: Deep red with a white nose.
- Conformation: Polled-deep girth and short legs.
- Kept in semi-arid areas such as Nakuru, Mogotio.
Simmental
- Origin: Switzerland.
- Colour: Light red and white patches on the head.
- Conformation:
- It has broad and straight back, with well-sprung ribs and deep girth.
- It is well fleshed at rear quarters, well suspended udders and large teats.
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