A report on skills and qualifications attained during industrial training at Aswa ranch- NAGRC& DB.

Abstract

Aswa ranch is a government ranch with two main enterprises i.e.; beef production and bee keeping. It is aimed at producing high quality and quantity beef and honey for the community. The industrial training at Aswa ranch attempted to provide practical skills, field practice and experience to enhance the theoretical knowledge that is leant in class. Therefore, my objectives were to acquaint myself with; • The various animal husbandry. practices and get hands on experience on animal welfare • The various breeds of beef cattle at Aswa ranch. • Animal diseases and their signs, symptoms, and treatment, • Pasture management and prevention • Practically some knowledge on artificial insemination, multiple Ovulation, embryo and in vitro fertilization among others. The training revealed that some of the theory taught in class slightly differs from what is practically done in the field, for example very few welfare practices are applied in the field. The obvious ones that are. observed include; providing shelter, food, treating animals, allowing animals to rest as well as proper restraint of animals during carcus dressing among others but when it comes to moving animals in races, welfare is not followed at all because animals are beaten badly and sometimes. they even bleed.

The training also revealed that production and management in any enterprise are two different broad activities which must move hand in hand to any ranch to get the expected profit or even more. Production and management require a 101 of hard work; sacrifice, dedication and determination. It is therefore recommended that more animal husbandry officers should be trained to guide and advise farmers who are facing hardships in production and management.