Abstract:
This industrial training report was written and carried out at NaSARRl (National Semi Arid Resources Research Institute) in Serere District and the training lasted for 8 weeks as it started on 28th /02- 22nd/04/2022.
I was posted to train in Livestock unit with my fellow colleagues consisting of 8 male students and I female student. And the livestock unit consisted of 2 Sections i.e., Goat section having three breeds namely; Boer, Teso local goats and Mubende goats, while cattle section had Dairy and Beef herds comprising of breeds such as sahiwal, zebu, Ankole and Jersey cattle.
The allocation for training was one month per section after which you move to the next section, and the routine practices included; daily activities like cleaning the Goat pen, monitoring, census, health inspection, record keeping, accompanied with weekly activity- spraying and monthly weighing. Other activities included; deworming, castration, surgical operation, hoof trimming, aging, pregnancy Diagnosis, prophylaxis treatment, training draft animals, temperature check, Dehorning, fencing and all these activities were carried out under close supervision, guidance and mentorship of the field Supervisor Mr. Egadu George William and his assistant Elapar Sadock.
And during my time in goat section, I observed that Boer goats gained more weight and suffered oftenly from diseases such as pneumonia, diahorrea and mange skin disease while in Teso local and Mubende goats lost more weight and suffered less from diseases. The Boer goats gave birth to 06 kids while both Mubende and Teso local goats gave birth to 10 kids (Boer -51, Teso local- 38, Mubende- 33) rising the total to 122 goats.
While in cattle section I observed that cattle lost weight, reduction in milk and meat production, increased spread of diseases resulting into mortality cases of 03 calves and one Ankole cow. The major contributors to this re shortage of pastures, diseases and other challenges such as weak fences, lack of animal dispensary. With a census of 55 dairy and 58 beef cattle giving a total of 113 animals.
Therefore, I recommend that the farm should preserve hay and silage to be feed to animals in times of scarcity, construct an animal dispensary clinic for easy supervision of sick animals.
