To a new term

SECOND TERM NOTE ON

AGRICULTURE For year
seven.
 JSS1 SECOND TERM SCHEME OF WORK FOR
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
WEEKS TOPIC CONTENTS
1 BASELINE WEEK BASELINE WEEK
2 FORMS OF FARM ANIMAL - Meaning of farm animals
- Work animal, diary animal, guard animal (its features
and examples)
3 FORMS OF FARM ANIMAL - Poultry, aquatic and pet (its features and examples)

4 CHARACTERISTICS OF FARM ANIMALS AND - Essential characteristics of farm animal and its breed
BREEDS
5 CLASSIFICATION OF FARM ANIMALS. - Based on size, habitat, stomach, feeding pattern etc.

6 USES OF FARM ANIMAL - Work animal, sport, guard, hides and skin.

7 MID – TERM TEST AND BREAK MID TERM TEST AND BREAK
8 FARM ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Systems of farm animal husbandry
- Management requirement in animal husbandry

9 CHARACTERISTICS FEATURES AND - Factors affecting the distribution of livestock in

DISTRIBUTION Nigeria.
10 Revision and exams
11 Exams
12 Closing
Week two
What can you say about the picture?
FORMS OF FARM
ANIMALS
walt
• Define the term farm animal
• Explain the basic characteristics of
farm animal.
• Identify different types of farm animal
Class activity
• In pairs discuss the term farm
animals
• From your discussion define
the term farm animal in your
note book
• Outline five farm animals you
have seen.
Definition of Farm Animals.

Farm animals are animals kept or

domesticated by man for economic or
social purposes. Farm animals are also
referred to as livestock.
These animals depend on man for their
food, shelter and health care. Examples of
farm animals include cattle, sheep, goat,
pigs, poultry and rabbits.
Farm animals
They are vertebrates i.e. animal that have back bone or
vertebral column. Vertebrates are of five main groups and they
are;
1. Mammals
2. Fishes
3. Birds
4. Amphibians
5. Reptiles
They ones that are domesticated are farm animals.
 Some basic characteristics of farm animals include the following;
1. Their limbs are modified for walking as in cattle , sheep and goat ; the fins for
swimming as in fishes while the feathers are modified for flight as in the birds.
BASIC CHARACTERISTICS of farm animal
2. They are domesticated by man and reproduce under his care.
3. They are of economic importance to man through their products (meat, milk,
eggs, manure etc. ).
4. Some animals are mammals , That means that they bear their young ones alive
while others like poultry lay eggs.
5. They provide raw materials for industries.
FORMS OF FARM ANIMALS.

There are different forms of animals depending on the

purpose and reason for which they are kept and they
include;
1. Work animals.
2. Dairy animals.
3. Guard animals.
4. Poultry animals.
5. Aquatic animals.
6. Pets.
WORK ANIMALS
• They are used as primary
sources of farm power .
These are animals raised
to perform certain farm
operations especially in the
northern parts of Nigeria.
Examples of work animals
are camels, donkey,
horses, oxen, buffaloes
etc. Donkey is called the
beast of burden
 Characteristics of work animal

1. They are big in size.

2. They are docile(less aggressive )
and tolerant.
3. They are preferably males.
4. Their docility makes them very
useable by the farmers since they
are submissive to their dictates.
5. They have great strength.
6. They have long, strong and fast
moving limbs.
7. They are rugged in shape.
Home work
• Define the term farm animal.
• Enumerate other forms of farm animal
we have.
• Describe diary animal using five
characteristics.
WEEK TWO
walt
•Describe diary and
guard animal using
their characteristics.
 Dairy animal
The word dairy has to do with milk. They are
animals raised mainly for milk production.
Majority of dairy animals are cattle although other
animal breeds such as goats and sheep can be
used for milk production. Examples of dairy
animals are kuri, Brown swiss, white fulani,
Holstein, Nubian goat etc.
Characteristics of da1ry animal
1. They have well-formed udder with developed milk veins.
2. They are easy to handle i.e. they are less aggressive.
3. They have long, thin and muscular neck.
4. They have light weight.
5. They have deep belly.
 GUARD ANIMALS
These are animals reared specially to defend or protect their owners and their
properties against harm and intruders. A variety of guard animals in use include
dogs, cats, parrot, monkey, llamas etc. Some of these guard animals such as
dogs and llamas are kept with livestock e.g. cattle and sheep to protect them
against wild animals.

Characteristics of guard animal.

• Dogs barks to alert their owner of an intruder.
• Guinea fowls are good watch animals as they have fantastic eye sight and a
harsh cry.
• Donkeys are extremely intelligent ,with acute hearing and sight. They will run,
chase, attempt to bite and kick an intruder.
• Guard animals are alert, intelligent, brave and strong.
 poultry
It is a collective name used to
describe those species of birds
that thrive under the care of
man. Examples of poultry
include domestic fowl, ducks,
turkey , guinea fowl, goose,
pigeon etc.
 Characteristics of poultry

1. A bird’s body is covered with

feathers of various colors.
2. The mouth is modified to
form a beak. They are
mono-gastric animals (they
have simple stomach).
3. They feed on grains and
they lay eggs.
4. The common domestic fowl
are White leghorn, ply-
mouth Rock and Rhoda
Island Red.
Class activity
1.Is goat a diary animal? Is goat milk good
for consumption.
2.Lions, leopards and tigers are examples of
guard animals? true or false
3.Justify your answer for question 2.
WEEK TWO
walt
•Describe aquatic and
pet animals using their
characteristics
 Aquatic animals
These are called water animals. Aquatic
animals live permanently in water
sources like river, stream, ponds, seas
oceans etc. There are two aquatic
habitats, they are fresh water and
marine or salt water habitat. Examples
of aquatic animals are fish , crayfish ,
crab , lobster , frog etc.

Characteristics of aquatic animals.

1. They have smooth skin as in
mudfish and sometimes their body
is covered with scales as in tilapia.
2. A fish uses a special sense called
the lateral line to feel nearby
object before it can see them.
3. It has streamline body for easy
movement in water.
4. It has gills for breathing and lays
eggs .
 pets
These are animals kept in the house
either for pleasure or for
companionship. Examples
include dogs , pussy cats ,
parrot ,rabbits etc.
Characteristics of pet

1. They are easy to

handle/friendly.
2. They have attractive
appearance.
3. They are loyal and playful.
Class activity

Explain the following

•Aquatic animal
•Pet animal.
 Home work

Farm animals Main product By- product

1. Cattle

2.Goat

3. Pig

4. Sheep Milk, meat, wool Horns, hooves, bones,

blood, manure.

5. Rabbit

6. Poultry
FEATURES OF SOME FARM
ANIMALS(GOAT AND SHEEP)
walt
• Distinguish the features of a
goat and sheep.
• Enumerate different breeds of
cattle and goat
.
Class activity
1. A female goat is called?
2. What is the gestation period of a goat?
3. A male goat is called?
4. Mention two characteristics of a goat.
5. A female sheep is called?
6. A young one of a sheep is called?
7. A ram is a __________
8. The meat of a goat is called _______
9. The meat of a sheep is called ________
10. What is lamping?
goat
• The goat can adapt and maintain itself in very harsh environments. They
are hardy, and can withstand diseases, high temperature, prolonged food
scarcity conditions more than other animals.

• They are scavengers and are inquisitive. Their gestation period is 145 -150
days, the doe or nanny can give birth to two kids in a year. The act of
parturition in a goat is kidding.
• Goats can be classified according to what they produce . These are
meat( chevon), milk and, hides and skin ( hair, goat fiber).
• Meat producing goats are reared for meat e.g. West African Dwarf goat,
Anglo – Nubians, alpine etc.
• Milk producing goats are raised for milk production e.g. Anglo-Nubian goat ,
Jamnapari and Surati of India, Toggenburger, Saanen, alpine, LaMancha
• Some goats are raised for making clothes. Examples of goats are Angora
goats of southern Africa( it gives mohair) and cashmere.
 Breeds of goat
Breeds refer to kind or variety of animals with hereditary
qualities that are developed by people in controlled way. They
include;
1. West African dwarf
2. Red Sokoto
3. Sahel
4. Alpine
5. Spanish
6. Saanen
7. Kano brown
8. Borno white
9. West African long legged
sheep
• Sheep is raised in all country of the world for their meat
(Mutton), Milk, hides and wool. The originated from Iran
or Iraq in Asia ,only males have horns except the breed
know as Ouda. The gestation period of Ewe is 145 -150
days. The art of parturition in an Ewe is lambing. It
gives birth to one or two lambs.
BREEDS OF SHEEP
1. Balami
2. Ouda
3. Yankasa
4. Merino
5. Lohi
6. Nellore
7. Dorset horn
8. West African dwarf
9. Scottish black face.
WEEK FOUR
walt
• Describe the features of a
cattle, pig, rabbit and poultry.
• Enumerate the breeds of
sheep, pig, rabbit and
domestic fowl.
cattle
• We have the beef and dairy cattle, some cattle are dual purpose( i.e. we
can use them for milk and meat). The beef cattle are reared for meat and
e.g. of some breeds include Black Angus, Hereford, American Braham,
Muturu etc. The dairy cattle are reared for milk and they include; Brown
Swiss, Guernsey, Dairy Shorthorn, Ayrshire etc.
• Cattle are farm animal that have great tolerant to heat and humidity, they
are hoofed mammals. We have humped (Bos indicus e.g. Sokoto Gudali,
white Fulani and red Bororo) and hump less cattle ( Bos Taurus e.g.
Muturu and N’dama ). The cow calves at least once in a year, the
gestation period of the cow is 283 days. The act of giving birth in a cattle
is called calving. Muturu and N’dama are resistance to trypanosomiasis(
sleeping sickness).
Breeds of cattle
1.Shuwa Arab
2.Yola
3.Kuri
4.Zebu
5.Holstein
6.Friesian
7.Jersey
8.Kerry
9.Ayrshere
10.Brown swiss
11.Keteku etc.
pigs
• They are most productive of all farm animals.
A Sow( matured adult female pigs) can
produce between 8 – 16 litters at a time. They
are good converters of feed into meat and they
mature early. Pigs are raised for their meat
(pork) and lard (fat from pig). Their gestation
period is 114 days( i.e. 3 months, 3 weeks and 3
days). The act of parturition in pigs is farrowing.
Breeds of pig

1.West African dwarf pig.

2.Large white
3.Landrace
4.American Duroc
5.Hampshire
6.Large black
7.Chester white
8.Poland china
9.Tam Worth etc.
Rabbit

Rabbits are found in both tropical and temperate

countries. They are prolific animals that can
produce up to four times in a year. They are
raised for their meat, skin (pelt) and hair (fur).
They are easy to handle, managed and housed.
They reach maturity weight about 6- 5 months.
The act of giving birth in a rabbit is called kindling
and the gestation period is 29 – 30 days. Rabbits
carry out coprophagy i.e. they eat their faeces.
Breeds of rabbit

1.Flemish giant
2.California white
3.New Zealand white
4.New Zealand red
5.lop
6.Chinchilla
7.Dutch Spotted rabbit
8.Angora
9.Beveren
Poultry (DOMESTIC FOWL)

• Poultry are birds for meat, eggs or

feathers. They are found in both
tropical and temperate region.
Domestic fowl are grouped into local
and exotic; the local are light in weight,
hardy , resistant to diseases, poor
growth rat, low egg production.
Breeds of domestic fowl

1.White leghorn
2.Brown leghorn
3.Sussex
4.Cornish
5.Cochin
6.Plymouth rock
7.Rhode Island Red
WEEK FIVE
To a new week
CLASSIFICATION
OF FARM ANIMALS
walt
• Classify animal based on their size.
• Classify animal based on their feeding
pattern
• Classify animal based on their habitat.
Farm animals are classified based on the following
criteria;
1. Stomach type.
2. The size of animals.
3. The habitat.
4. The mode of giving birth.
5. Feeding of the young ones and pattern.
6. Body morphology.
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SIZE

Classification based on body size is divided into three; Large

farm animals, medium and small farm animals.
(A) LARGE ANIMAL; these are animals with large body size,
they are tall, and such animals include; cattle, donkey,
horses, camel, ox etc.
(B) MEDIUM ANIMAL; these are animals that are average in
size they include; dog, sheep, goat, pig, etc.
(C) SMALL ANIMALS; These are animals with small body
size and are easy to house or manage. They include;
poultry, cats , rabbits , snail, guinea pig, fish etc.
 Classification based on feeding
pattern.
Farm animals can be classified based on the kind of food which they eat.

They are grouped into three; herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

HERBIVORES; They feed mainly on vegetable matters (grasses and legumes) .They have
complex stomach which contains micro- organisms that help in the digestion of
cellulose. Some animals are pseudo ruminant ( false ruminant) they have simple
stomach that possess large caecum and colon. Examples are cattle, goat , sheep,
horse, donkey, guinea pig, etc.
CARNIVORES ; They feed on flesh. Examples are dogs and cats.
OMNIVORES; They feed on both plant and animal( fleshy) materials. Examples are pigs, rabbits and
poultry.
Classification based on habitat

The term habitat means the natural home of organisms

with their characteristics. It is subdivided into two; aquatic
farm animals and terrestrial farm animals.
(A) Aquatic animals; These are animals whose living
place are permanently in water bodies. Examples of
aquatic animals are crabs, crayfish, prawn, lobsters,
shrimps etc. Aquatic habitat with salt water are termed
marine while those that contain no salt are fresh water.
(B) Terrestrial animals; These animals live on land.
Examples are cattle, goats, snails etc.
Classification based on THE STOMACH TYPE

Farm animals are classified based on their digestive system, and they
are;
(a) The ruminant and
(b) The non-ruminant animals.
RUMINANT ANIMALS.
These are animals with four stomach compartments, namely Rumen
(the largest) Reticulum, Omasum and Abomasum (the true
stomach - because it functions like the stomach of the non –
ruminants during digestion).
The ruminants chew the cud, that is, they bring back food already
swallowed from the rumen stomach (regurgitation or rumination)
The rumen contains millions of bacterial that
promote fermentation which breaks down roughage.
It also contains micro- organisms that synthesize
amino acids and B- complex vitamin. Amino acids
are essential for growth and development and
maintenance of cells.
When grasses are eaten by ruminants, it enters
rumen where it is store temporarily. Examples
include cattle, sheep and goat. Pseudo –ruminants
eats large amount of roughages but does not have
stomach with several compartments.
B) NON-RUMINANT ANIMALS;

They are also referred to as Mono - gastric

animals because they have simple stomach
chamber. Due to the simple nature of the
digestive system, the non –ruminant do not
have the power to handle volumes of grasses
like the ruminants. Non –ruminants depend on
concentrate feeds like maize, wheat etc.
Examples are dogs, rabbits, cats, pig, guinea
fowl, poultry etc.
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RUMINANT AND NON – RUMINANT

Ruminants Non- ruminants

1 Their diet comprise mainly of 1 Their diet comprise of concentrate.

grasses and legumes.

2 They chew cud 2 They can not chew their cud.

3 Have four chambers 3 Have a single stomach.

4 They can synthesize amino acid and 4 They can not synthesize amino acid
B- complex vitamins and B-complex vitamins.

5 They can regurgitate 5 They can not regurgitate.

Classification based on THE MODE OF GIVING

Farm animals are classified into two groups; Mammals and non
–mammals based on mode of giving birth.
(A)Mammals; they give birth to their young ones alive
(viviparous).
• They breastfeed their young ones with milk from their
mammary gland.
• They have their body covered with fur or hairs.
• They have backbone (vertebrates ).
• They are warm–blooded animals.
• Examples are cattle, goat, cats, human, pigs etc.
(B) Non- mammals

The following group of animals belong to

non – mammals;
i Birds; They lay eggs that hatch out to
produce young ones if fertilized. They are
warm blooded animals. Their bodies are
covered with feathers. Examples of birds
are chicken, peacock, geese etc.
ii Reptiles; They are non –mammals with the following characteristics.
• They are cold blooded animals.
• They creep in movement.
• They lay eggs.
• Majority of them live on land while others live in water.
• Examples are lizard, snake, turtles etc.
iii Fishes; They live in water and lay thousands of eggs which hatch out to
produce young ones.
• They breathe through their gills. Most of them have scales on their bodies.
They are cold blooded animal.
• Examples are shark, tilapia, catfish etc.
iv Amphibians; They live partly on land and partly in water. They are of little
or no agricultural importance. Examples are frogs , toads etc.
Classification based on morphology

• Based on the body morphology

(i.e. the size, shape and structure),
animals can be grouped into;
mammals, birds and fishes
WEEK SIX
 walt
• Explain the uses of farm
animals.
• Discuss the problems of farm
animals.
 USES OF FARM ANIMALS.

(A) Source of food and feed; They supply food to us in form of meat and eggs which
are rich in nutrients , especially animal protein, vitamins and minerals . Good
feeding makes for good health. Animals products serves as supplement to
livestock feed. Examples are blood meal, bone meal etc.
(B) Work; In northern Nigeria, cattle is used for ploughing the field. camels are used for
transportation of loads across the deserts.
(C) Source of materials for clothing; Wool is usually collected from certain breeds of
sheep like the merino sheep. This wool is used in textile industry for making socks,
cardigans etc.
(D) For security; Some animals are kept mainly for the protection of their owner and
their properties. They are also used for hunting . Dogs are trained to track down
cocaine pushers.
(E) Medicine; In the field of medicine, animals are raised for the production of
hormones used in curing certain diseases in man . An example is the use of cattle
insulin to cure diabetes in man.
(F) For recreation; Some animals are used for sporting activities e.g. horse are used for polo
game, horse race, dogs for dog race, fishing as a sport as in Argungu fishing festival in kebbi state
in Nigeria.

(G) Source of manure; The grasses eaten by animals is converted to manure when the waste
is passed out as dung .it serves as farm yard manure which highly maintains soil fertility.
(H) Source of by -products which an be used as raw material for industries ; By-
products gotten from livestock industry are:
i Feather; which can be used to make pillow, hand-fan etc.
ii Horns of animals can be used in making combs, buttons, kitchen utensils etc.
iii Animals fat e.g. pig lard can be used for lubricants, candles and glues.
iv Hide and skin can be used for making shoes, belt, bags etc.
(I) For celebration; Cattle, chickens and rams are used for festivals like Christmas, new - yam etc.
 PROBLEMS OF FARM ANIMALS

There are a number of constraints confronting the farm

animals preventing growth and development. some of
these problems are
• Nutrition and feed supplies –The provision of feed that is
inadequate both in quality and quantity and accessible to
animals all year round is the most outstanding problem of
farm animals.
• Disease and pest infestation - In the tropical
environment ,a number of diseases of farm animals easily
thrive. In cattle, for example, mouth disease and
anaplasmosis occur limiting production and increasing
morbidity.
Animal parasites – thy are organisms living in or on another
organism called the host. A parasite gets all its food
requirement from its host.

The host usually is bigger in size than the parasites and is

always of a different specie.
CLASSIFICATION OF FARM ANIMAL PARASITES.
(a) Internal or endo- parasites
(b) External or ecto-parasites.
Endo-parasites are the parasites that live inside the body of
the host . Examples are tapeworm, roundworm and hook
worm.
Ecto-parasites are parasites that live on the body of their host
 EFFECTS OF PARASITES ON ANIMALS.
1. They cause loss of appetite.
2. They cause body weakness.
3. They cause loss of blood.
4. Heavy infestation can lead to the death of animal.
5. They lead to low productivity.
6. They cause contamination of meat and milk.
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF FARM ANIMALS.
7. Isolation of new stocks to ensure that they are free from infection
8. Hygiene refers to all practices that are helpful in maintaining good
health . These are good sanitation , provision of clean ,
uncontaminated water and feeds.
9. Use of chemicals like acaricides for ticks , dipping the animals in
insecticides and treating pastures with lime to kill eggs of liver fluke.