(a) Explain each of the following mating methods in farm animals: (i) hand mating (ii) pen mating (iii) pasture mating. (b)(i) Mention two advantages of eac...

(a) Mating methods

• (i) Hand mating: The buck or bull is brought to a selected female under the direct supervision and control of the farmer for a single service, after which the two are separated. The farmer decides which male serves which female.
• (ii) Pen mating: A selected male is confined in a pen together with a chosen group of females for a period so that it serves each female as she comes on heat.
• (iii) Pasture mating: The male is allowed to run freely with the whole herd or flock on the pasture and mates the females naturally as they come on heat, without the farmer controlling the service.

(b)(i) Two advantages of each method

• Hand mating: Parentage is accurately known for record keeping; it prevents overworking or injury of the male and controls inbreeding.
• Pen mating: Requires less labour than hand mating; ensures a high conception rate since the male serves females at the right time.
• Pasture mating: Requires the least labour and skill; almost every female in heat is served, giving high conception.

(b)(ii) Two disadvantages of each method

• Hand mating: It is labour intensive and requires skill; heat has to be detected and few females are served.
• Pen mating: The male may be overworked; the exact sire of each offspring may not be known and disease can spread.
• Pasture mating: Records of parentage are not kept and inbreeding is likely; the male is easily overworked and disease spreads readily.

(c) Two methods of collecting semen from a bull

• Use of the artificial vagina.
• Electro-ejaculation (electrical stimulation).