Forage Conservation And Utilization

Overview

Grass grows fastest exactly when livestock need it least. Through the rains, pasture around Kaduna, Makurdi or Jos grows thick and lush, far more than a herd can eat in a day, while by January the same fields are bare and brown and animals lose condition fast. Forage conservation is the answer to that mismatch: cutting the wet season's surplus grass and legume at their best and locking that quality in, as hay or silage, so it is still good feed months later when the dry season bites.

The two methods that do this work in almost opposite ways. Hay making dries forage until it is too dry for anything to spoil it. Silage making seals moist forage away from air until fermentation itself keeps it from spoiling. This lesson takes you through both processes step by step, shows you how to tell one from the other by moisture content alone, and covers how conserved forage is actually fed out and checked for quality once the harmattan arrives.

Objectives

Define forage conservation
Explain the methods of forage conservation
Distinguish between hay making and silage making
Explain the methods of forage utilisation
State the importance of forage conservation to livestock production

Lesson Note

A herder near Sokoto lets the wet season surplus on his range stand uncut; by November his range is bare and his cattle lose weight daily. A neighbouring cooperative baled hay from the same rangeland back in September, and through the harmattan their cattle are fed from that store and hold condition. Neither controls the weather. Only one of them conserved the grass his land already gave him for free.

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Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Forage Conservation And Utilization. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Forage conservation is best described as: A. Growing more pasture during the dry season B. Preserving surplus wet season forage for use when pasture is scarce C. Removing weeds from a pasture D. Fencing a pasture into paddocks Answer: B
The approximate moisture content of properly cured hay ready for baling is: A. 12 to 15 percent B. 30 to 35 percent C. 50 to 55 percent D. 65 to 70 percent Answer: A
Silage is preserved mainly by: A. Drying the forage until it is too dry to spoil B. Sealing moist forage away from air so it ferments C. Adding chemical preservatives D. Freezing the chopped forage Answer: B
Which organisms are responsible for preserving silage through fermentation? A. Moulds B. Lactic acid bacteria C. Nematodes D. Yeasts alone Answer: B
A sign that stored hay is no longer safe to feed is that it: A. Rustles when handled B. Smells musty and shows grey mould patches C. Is stacked in an open sided barn D. Was cut while still leafy Answer: B

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Past Questions

Wondering what past questions for this topic looks like? Here are a number of questions about Forage Conservation And Utilization from previous years

WAEC SSCE - Animal Husbandry - 2021

Question 1 Report

TEST OF PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE QUESTION

Specimen A (Dry groundnut haulm)

Drying and ensiling on nutritive value of groundnut haulms

(a)i. Outline the procedure for obtaining specimen A.

(ii) State three benefits that farm animals could derive from feeding on specimen A.

Specimen B (Guinea grass)

Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) | Feedipedia

(b)(i) Mention two each that could be used to propagate specimen B;

(ii) preserve specimen B.

Specimen C (Kitchen knife)

chef knife uses - Online Discount Shop for Electronics, Apparel, Toys, Books, Games, Computers, Shoes, Jewelry, Watches, Baby Products, Sports & Outdoors, Office Products, Bed & Bath, Furniture, Tools, Hardware, Automotive Parts,

Answer

a) i. To obtain specimen A (dry groundnut haulm), you can follow the steps below:

Harvest the groundnut plant when the pods are fully mature and the leaves have dried up.
Cut the plant near the base, leaving a few inches of the stem.
Hang the cut plants in a well-ventilated area to allow the leaves to dry completely.
Once fully dry, remove the leaves from the stem and store in a dry place until ready for use.

ii. Three benefits that farm animals could derive from feeding on specimen A (dry groundnut haulm) include:

High protein content which can improve animal growth and production.
Rich in fiber which can help improve digestive health and prevent digestive disorders.
Good source of energy which can help improve animal performance and overall health.

b) i. Two methods that could be used to propagate specimen B (Guinea grass) are:

Vegetative Propagation - This involves taking cuttings from existing plants and planting them in soil to grow new plants.
Seed Propagation - This involves sowing seeds in soil to grow new plants.

ii. To preserve specimen B (Guinea grass), you can follow the steps below:

Cut the grass into small pieces and dry it in a well-ventilated area.
Once fully dry, store the grass in a dry, cool place, such as a barn or shed.
To protect it from insects and other pests, you can wrap the grass in plastic or keep it in an airtight container.

c) Specimen C (Kitchen knife) can be used in animal production in the following ways:

For slaughtering animals - A sharp knife is used to humanely slaughter animals for meat production.
For castrating animals - A knife is used to castrate male animals to prevent unwanted breeding.
For dehorning animals - A knife is used to remove the horns of animals, such as cattle, to prevent injuries to other animals and humans.
For tail docking - A knife is used to shorten the tails of animals, such as pigs, to prevent injury and improve hygiene.

Answer Details

a) i. To obtain specimen A (dry groundnut haulm), you can follow the steps below:

Harvest the groundnut plant when the pods are fully mature and the leaves have dried up.
Cut the plant near the base, leaving a few inches of the stem.
Hang the cut plants in a well-ventilated area to allow the leaves to dry completely.
Once fully dry, remove the leaves from the stem and store in a dry place until ready for use.

ii. Three benefits that farm animals could derive from feeding on specimen A (dry groundnut haulm) include:

High protein content which can improve animal growth and production.
Rich in fiber which can help improve digestive health and prevent digestive disorders.
Good source of energy which can help improve animal performance and overall health.

b) i. Two methods that could be used to propagate specimen B (Guinea grass) are:

Vegetative Propagation - This involves taking cuttings from existing plants and planting them in soil to grow new plants.
Seed Propagation - This involves sowing seeds in soil to grow new plants.

ii. To preserve specimen B (Guinea grass), you can follow the steps below:

Cut the grass into small pieces and dry it in a well-ventilated area.
Once fully dry, store the grass in a dry, cool place, such as a barn or shed.
To protect it from insects and other pests, you can wrap the grass in plastic or keep it in an airtight container.

c) Specimen C (Kitchen knife) can be used in animal production in the following ways:

For slaughtering animals - A sharp knife is used to humanely slaughter animals for meat production.
For castrating animals - A knife is used to castrate male animals to prevent unwanted breeding.
For dehorning animals - A knife is used to remove the horns of animals, such as cattle, to prevent injuries to other animals and humans.
For tail docking - A knife is used to shorten the tails of animals, such as pigs, to prevent injury and improve hygiene.

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Forage Conservation And Utilization

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