Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science
Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science tests feeding, breeding, housing, health and clean milk production. The exam links ruminant digestion and ration formulation to lactation, growth and reproduction.
Core rules
- Ruminants digest roughage through rumen microbes. A balanced ration supplies energy, protein, minerals, vitamins and water in the right proportions.
- Colostrum is the first milk after calving; it supplies antibodies and must be fed early. It is not market milk.
- Breeding efficiency depends on heat detection, timely insemination, nutrition and health. Repeat breeding has multiple causes and is not solved by one injection.
- Clean milk production requires healthy udders, clean hands and utensils, sanitation, rapid cooling and rejection of mastitic milk.
Worked example
Formulate a 16% crude protein concentrate from maize (9% CP) and soybean meal (45% CP) using the Pearson square. Maize parts = 45 − 16 = 29. Soybean meal parts = 16 − 9 = 7. Total parts = 36. Maize share = 29 ÷ 36 = 80.6%; soybean meal share = 7 ÷ 36 = 19.4%. Check: 0.806 × 9 + 0.194 × 45 = 16.0% CP. Reasoning: the square balances the distance of each feed from the target. The result is a concentrate mix, not the whole ration.
Traps that cost marks
Do not confuse crude protein with total digestible nutrients. Do not feed colostrum as ordinary saleable milk. Do not ignore roughage when formulating; concentrate is only part of the ration. In disease questions, separate prevention, symptoms and treatment. Record withdrawal periods for milk and meat.