University of Namibia

Ogongo Campus

Name : Alexander Eufenia

Student number: 201303614

Field attachment report

17HDAG

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Contents
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 3
1.0Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 4
1.1View of field attachment ...................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Location of field attachment ............................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Motivation of field attachment ............................................................................................................ 4
1.4 Personnel structure of UNAM Ogongo campus ................................................................................. 5
1.5 Functions of the university farm ......................................................................................................... 5
2. Activities carried out at nursery section .................................................................................................... 5
2.1seed collection...................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Collection of fresh and packaging of mangoes ................................................................................... 6
2.3 Watering of seedlings ......................................................................................................................... 6
2.4 pot filling and sowing ......................................................................................................................... 6
3. Diary and beef cattle section ..................................................................................................................... 7
3.1 Feeding................................................................................................................................................ 7
3.2 Milking................................................................................................................................................ 7
3.3 Milking process................................................................................................................................... 8
4. Rice section ............................................................................................................................................... 9
4.1 Pre planting ......................................................................................................................................... 9
4.2 post-planting ....................................................................................................................................... 9
5. Small livestock and piggery section........................................................................................................ 10
5.1 pig feeds ................................................................................................................................................ 10
5.2 Tail docking ...................................................................................................................................... 10
5.3 Iron injection in piglets ..................................................................................................................... 10
5.4 Teeth clipping ................................................................................................................................... 10
5.5 Small animals .................................................................................................................................... 11
6. Garden section ........................................................................................................................................ 11
6.1 weeding ............................................................................................................................................. 11
6.2 Harvesting Swiss chard ..................................................................................................................... 11
7. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 11
8. Recommendation .................................................................................................................................... 12
9. Oral references ........................................................................................................................................ 13

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Acknowledgements
I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to each and every one
that has helped and guided me during the time of my field attachment. I would like to thank the
almighty for protecting me throughout my attachment and to thank the University of Namibia for
the financial help. Moreover I would appreciate my colleagues that I have worked with it was
such an honor interact with you.

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1.0Introduction
1.1View of field attachment
Field attachment is a field based practical training experience that prepares students for the tasks
they are expected to perform on completion of their course. Internships undertaken by students
will follow the general guidelines issued by the university on how student should go about and
gain more skills on field based practical.

1.2 Location of field attachment

On the 4th of December 2018 the second year students at the University of Namibia (Ogongo
Campus) studying towards a Diploma in Agriculture were sent out to different work places for
government and non- government for the purpose of field attachment which is part of academic
training. Fifteen students were attached at Ogongo Campus which lasted for 6 weeks. The purpose
of field attachment is to expose students to different types of duties carried out in the agriculture
sector.

1.3 Motivation of field attachment

 The purpose of field attachment is to produce practical oriented graduates that meet the job
required related competences of their future employees.
 It advances students understanding of work ethics, employment demands and
responsibility as well as issues relevant to their areas of study.
 This is simply to relate students to their theory they are taught in class with real life
situations which is practical.
 It grants students the opportunity t interact with their potential employers

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1.4 Personnel structure of UNAM Ogongo campus

Figure 1 shows organogram

1.5 Functions of the university farm

To conduct research aimed at extending the frontiers of knowledge relevant to Namibia’s
environment, natural resources and agriculture. To provide advisory, consultancy and extension
services on the proper and sustainable use of Namibians agricultural and natural resources to e
communities by increasing production. To instill the skills and knowledge in the community and
students graduates that agriculture is both science and business as well as to develop innovative
ways of crop and animal production as well as environmental management.

2. Activities carried out at nursery section

2.1seed collection
During our third period of the field attachment we were helping at the nursery section we collected
seeds from the farm orchard which are rotten. Seeds are normally collected every day and
scarification were always done on them before planting them for easily germination.

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Figure 2 shows a student doing scarification in mango seeds

2.2 Collection of fresh and packaging of mangoes

Fresh mangos were collected every day and always sorted in different sizes but different varieties
were mixed in order meet the customer’s needs.

2.3 Watering of seedlings

Seedlings were always watered each an everyday using a hose pipe and sometimes sprinkle system
attached in the roof.

2.4 pot filling and sowing

Students and the nursery workers collected sand for pot filling which was collected in the field
under acacia trees with a reason that soil under acacia trees is rich in nutrients. This soil was mixed
with a little bit of water before it was pot filled. The trees that were planted was mostly mangoes.

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Figure 3 mango seeds planted in polly pots and seed bed

3. Diary and beef cattle section

A dairy farm is an agricultural facility dedicated to raising and maintaining animals kept for their
milk. Ogongo campus dairy section consist of 7 dairy cattle which are fed with pellets and Lucerne
each an everyday. Cattles were fed with pellet to improve the palatability of the cow feed making
cows to eat almost anything that is given to them it also makes cow to adapt to a certain kind of
feed/ fodder that you want them to eat in order to increase their efficiency produce more milk. The
milk from dairy section is sold to staff members, students as well as surrounding communities.
Twenty liter of milk was produced per day.

3.1 Feeding
Animals (cows) are moved to their milking position and they are fed with their daily feed 1kg
per cow.

3.2 Milking
Animal teats are cleaned by wiping them before placing the milking machine on their teats using
water. This is done to avoid germs. To ensure hygienic conditions, the inner surfaces of the process
equipment and the pipes are all clean once a day.

Dairy cows are milked once a day using a mechanical vacuum milking machines. After the cow
has given birth the calf sucks for 3 days and later separated from the mother. The cow is milked
for 7 days and this milk is only fed to the calf because they are not good for human consumption
until after 10 days. After the process is done the teats are dipped into a Delaval teat dip to prevent
mastitis.

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 Figure 4 Deleval solution Figure 5 cow being milked

3.3 Milking process

Step 1-The milking machine is placed firmly on the teats and the milk flows from the pipe to a
stainless steel tank.

Step 1- The milk pass through a sieve to remove any sediments that may be present in the milk.

Step 2- The milk is put in a pot filled with water on a gas stove to boil them at 90 degrees Celsius
to kill the bacteria or pathogens this process is called pasteurization.

Step 3- after the milk has boiled it is left to cool down for almost 6 hours and after it has cooled it
is mixed with culture (omaere milk).

Steps 4- This step is for packaging, the milk is packed in plastic bottles and kept refrigerated and
transported to the market (farm shop).

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Figure 6 shows omaere packed in bottles

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4. Rice section
4.1 Pre planting
Students used to soak the seeds in order to improve the germination rate and to prevent seed
dormancy. It was soaked about 2 days and water was always replaced in order throw away the
deoxynated water. Preparation of seedlings trays was done and then planting follow. After planting
seedlings stays about 28 days before they are moved to their permanent places.

Figure 7 shows students planting rice seeds in seeds trays

4.2 post-planting
Students transplanted rice seedlings from the rice nursery using rice transporting machine to their
permanent plots .Rice is transplanted using a transplanted machine and it’s also done by
transplanting by hands. Transplanting is normally done during morning hours.

Figure 8 shows a student transplanting rice seedlings in paddy using a trans-planter

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5. Small livestock and piggery section
This is an intensive pig farming whereby piglets are reared till maturity. Pigs are well taken care
of, by washing, vaccinating and feeding them. Ogongo have landrace breed and are always kept
in pig hocks which is why they practice intensive system. Every morning students usually start of
the day with washing pics and cleaning the pig houses using a hose pipe, this is done to ensure
cleanliness and to prevent diseases.

5.1 pig feeds

Pigs are fed with Dry sow and Boar feeds while small pigs are fed with pig Grower feeds. They
are fed twice a day with 2kg tin while lactating pigs are fed with 3 kg tin. The lactating pigs are
fed 3kg so that they can have more energy as they have suckling piglets.

5.2 Tail docking

Tail docking was done on newborn piglets, their tails were cut off about 12 cm using sterilized
side cutters. Antiseptic is always applied on the wound to avoid bacteria from attacking the wound.
Tail docking is done to avoid cannibalism in piglets as piglets can attack each other sometimes.

5.3 Iron injection in piglets

Students injected piglets with a Dexiron 200 within seven days old after birth. This is done to
prevent iron defiency that can lead to anemia. A dose level of 100-200mg per piglet is given.

Figure 9 shows a student injecting iron in a piglet

5.4 Teeth clipping

This is the removal of the teeth in young pigs as soon as after birth, they are born with eight 8 teeth
this is done to avoid pigs from injuring each other which can lead to cannibalism. It also prevent

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the piglets from biting the mother (sow) during suckling. To do this piglets should be separated
from the sow in order to do this successfully.

5.5 Small animals

At the small stock section, goats and sheeps are farmed always kept in camps. Grass were taken to
the goats camps. At this section goats were given an injection and were dipped in water mixed
with a solution to avoid them being bitten or attacked by ticks.

6. Garden section
Students have to work harder to provide food for the nation. There were crops like, butternuts,
maize, sweet potatoes, water melon.

6.1 weeding
Weeding was done almost every day in the maize, butternut field. Weeding is done to remove
unwanted plants and to avoid plants to compete for nutrients and sunlight. Tomatoes were sown
in seed trays and they were as well transplanted to their permanent places. It was done using a hoe.

Figure 10 shows a student weeding maize

6.2 Harvesting Swiss chard

Harvesting of spinach was done using your own by twisting the spinach. They were sorted and
tied in 1 kg of a bunch and transported to the market are which the farm shop.

7. Conclusion
Field attachment has a reflection on some of the modules that we have learnt in class and able to
put it in practical like: Animal breeding, Animal health, crop production.

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8. Recommendation
The period for field attachment should be extended so that a lot of can be covered and students to
gain more experience. Should students should also be given testimonials after completion of their
attachment.

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9. Oral references
Mr Samuel M, Fram mananger,University of Namibia, Ogongo Campus

Mr. Martin S, Supervisors Horticulture, University of Namibia, Ogongo camous

Mr Shikola, Supervisor livestick, University of Namibia, Ogongo campus

Mr Malyenge, Supervisor dairy section,University of Namibia,Ogongo campus

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