a) Define the term artificial pasture as used in animal production. b) State six advantages of grass-legume mixtures in a pasture. c) (i) Mention three mana...

Answer Details

a) Artificial pasture: Artificial pasture refers to an area of land that has been specifically prepared for the production of forage crops for grazing animals. It is a managed system that involves the cultivation of specific grasses and legumes that are well-suited for the nutritional needs of the animals being raised.

b) Advantages of grass-legume mixtures in a pasture:

• Improved forage quality: Legumes are high in protein and help to improve the nutritional value of the forage for grazing animals.
• Nitrogen fixation: Legumes are able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and make it available for the surrounding plants, which can help to reduce fertilizer costs.
• Increased yield: Grass-legume mixtures can produce higher yields of forage than pure grass stands.
• Improved soil health: Legumes can help to improve soil fertility and structure, which can lead to better crop growth and yields over time.
• Longer grazing season: The mix of grasses and legumes in a pasture can provide a longer grazing season, as some species will continue to grow and produce forage even as others start to decline.
• Reduced risk of bloat: The inclusion of grasses in the mixture can help to reduce the risk of bloat in ruminant animals that are grazing on legumes.

c) Management systems used in keeping small ruminants:

(i) Three management systems used in keeping small ruminants:

• Intensive management: This system involves keeping the animals in a confined space and providing them with a controlled diet and environment.
• Semi-intensive management: This system involves allowing the animals to graze on pasture during the day and providing them with supplementary feed and shelter at night.
• Extensive management: This system involves allowing the animals to graze on open pasture for most of the day and night, with minimal human intervention.

(ii) Three characteristics of each of these management systems:

• Intensive management: In this system, the animals are kept in a small area and have limited access to pasture. They are usually fed a controlled diet of hay, silage, or other feed, and may be housed in a barn or other enclosed structure. This system requires a high level of management and can be expensive to set up and maintain.
• Semi-intensive management: In this system, the animals are allowed to graze on pasture during the day, but are provided with supplementary feed and shelter at night. This system can be less expensive than intensive management, but still requires regular monitoring and management.
• Extensive management: In this system, the animals are allowed to graze on open pasture for most of the day and night, with minimal human intervention. This system requires the least amount of management, but can be challenging in areas with limited pasture resources or harsh weather conditions.

Overall, the choice of management system will depend on factors such as the size of the operation, available resources, and the goals of the producer. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to choose the one that is most appropriate for the specific situation.