a) During selection of livestock for breeding, five characteristics that are typically considered include:
- Productivity: This refers to the animal's ability to produce offspring, milk, meat, eggs, or other products that are desirable for human consumption or use.
- Conformation: This refers to the animal's physical shape and structure, including traits such as size, shape, and musculature.
- Health: This refers to the animal's overall health and resistance to diseases and other health problems.
- Temperament: This refers to the animal's behavior and disposition, including traits such as docility, aggression, or skittishness.
- Adaptability: This refers to the animal's ability to adapt to different environments and management practices, such as changes in feed, climate, or housing.
b) Five characteristics of Zebu cattle include:
- Humped back: Zebu cattle have a distinctive hump of fat and muscle on their shoulders.
- Heat tolerance: Zebu cattle are well-adapted to hot and humid climates, thanks to their sweat glands and ability to regulate body temperature.
- Disease resistance: Zebu cattle are generally more resistant to diseases and parasites than other breeds of cattle.
- Drought tolerance: Zebu cattle are able to survive in areas with limited water and forage resources.
- Longevity: Zebu cattle have a longer lifespan than many other breeds of cattle, often living well into their teens or twenties.
c) Five functions of water in farm animals include:
- Temperature regulation: Water helps animals to regulate their body temperature, especially in hot or humid conditions.
- Digestion: Water is essential for the digestion and absorption of nutrients from feed.
- Waste elimination: Water helps to flush waste products out of the animal's body through urine and feces.
- Milk production: Water is needed for the production of milk in lactating animals.
- Hydration: Water is essential for maintaining proper hydration levels in the animal's body.
d) Five nutritional disorders in farm animals include:
- Vitamin deficiencies: Lack of sufficient vitamins in the animal's diet can lead to a range of health problems, including poor growth, weakened immune system, and reproductive issues.
- Mineral deficiencies: Similar to vitamin deficiencies, lack of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, or magnesium can lead to health problems such as weakened bones or poor fertility.
- Protein deficiencies: Inadequate protein intake can lead to poor growth, reduced milk production, and other health problems.
- Energy deficiencies: Lack of sufficient energy in the animal's diet can lead to weight loss, poor growth, and reduced milk production.
- Acidosis: Acidosis is a condition where the pH of the animal's rumen becomes too low, leading to digestive problems and other health issues. This can be caused by a diet that is too high in fermentable carbohydrates such as grain.