Environmental Modification And Stress Management

Gbogbo ọrọ náà

Two farmers in the same town keep the same breed of pig. One farmer's animals grow steadily and breed well through the hottest months of the year. The other's go off their feed every afternoon, pant in a huddle in the corner of a bare concrete pen, and take weeks longer to reach market weight. The difference is rarely the pig. It is almost always the shed: shade, airflow, spacing and a little water make the difference between an animal that copes with Nigeria's climate and one that is fighting it every single day.

In this lesson you will learn what environmental modification means and the practical methods a farmer uses to keep animals comfortable in both heat and cold, what stress in a farm animal actually is and the many things beyond climate that cause it, and the management practices that keep stress low enough for an animal to grow, breed and produce at its best.

Ebumnobi

  1. Define environmental modification
  2. State the methods of modifying the environment of farm animals
  3. Define stress in farm animals
  4. Explain the causes of stress in farm animals
  5. Explain the methods of managing stress in farm animals

Akọmọ Ojú-ẹkọ

A farm animal cannot step into the shade on its own the way a person can; it depends on the housing, spacing and handling the farmer provides. Every animal has a thermoneutral zone: the temperature range within which it keeps its body temperature steady without extra energy cost. Push it outside that zone, or add overcrowding or rough handling, and it responds with stress, diverting energy away from growth, milk, eggs and reproduction just to cope. Environmental modification keeps an animal inside its thermoneutral zone, and stress management is the wider set of practices that keep every other pressure on it low as well.

Ayẹwo Ẹkọ

Ekele diri gi maka imecha ihe karịrị na Environmental Modification And Stress Management. Ugbu a na ị na-enyochakwa isi echiche na echiche ndị dị mkpa, ọ bụ oge iji nwalee ihe ị ma. Ngwa a na-enye ụdị ajụjụ ọmụmụ dị iche iche emebere iji kwado nghọta gị wee nyere gị aka ịmata otú ị ghọtara ihe ndị a kụziri.

Ị ga-ahụ ngwakọta nke ụdị ajụjụ dị iche iche, gụnyere ajụjụ chọrọ ịhọrọ otu n’ime ọtụtụ azịza, ajụjụ chọrọ mkpirisi azịza, na ajụjụ ede ede. A na-arụpụta ajụjụ ọ bụla nke ọma iji nwalee akụkụ dị iche iche nke ihe ọmụma gị na nkà nke ịtụgharị uche.

Jiri akụkụ a nke nyocha ka ohere iji kụziere ihe ị matara banyere isiokwu ahụ ma chọpụta ebe ọ bụla ị nwere ike ịchọ ọmụmụ ihe ọzọ. Ekwela ka nsogbu ọ bụla ị na-eche ihu mee ka ị daa mba; kama, lee ha anya dị ka ohere maka ịzụlite onwe gị na imeziwanye.

  1. The range of environmental temperature within which an animal maintains its body temperature without extra energy cost is called the: A. Stress threshold B. Thermoneutral zone C. Stocking density D. Homeostatic range Answer: B
  2. Which of the following is a method of protecting farm animals from excess heat? A. Insulated, draft-free housing B. Deep dry bedding C. Sprinklers or misting D. A brooder lamp Answer: C
  3. Which of the following is NOT usually listed as a cause of stress in farm animals? A. Rough handling B. Balanced ration C. Overcrowding D. Transport Answer: B
  4. A poultry house measuring 6 metres by 4 metres is stocked using a general guide of 10 birds per square metre. How many birds does this guide recommend? A. 200 B. 240 C. 260 D. 300 Answer: B
  5. Which practice most directly reduces the stress of a long journey on transported livestock? A. Loud handling to keep animals alert B. Adequate rest stops for water and rest C. Mixing them with unfamiliar animals at each stop D. Withholding water until arrival Answer: B