What are the factors put into consideration during selection of the breeding stock
- Age of the animal: Select young animals which have given-birth not more than three times because production and breeding efficiency declines with age and have long productive life.
- The level of production: Select animals with the highest production depending on the type using performance records
- Health: Select health breeding stock as they are resistant to diseases, produce well and economical to keep
- Body conformation/appearance: Select animals according to proper body appearance depending on the purpose e g dairy or beef cattle
- Behavior/temperament of the animals: Select animals with good behavior. Those with bad behavior such as kicking, aggressive, egg eating and cannibalism should not be selected
- Quality of the products: Select animals that give high quality products e g milk, wool, eggs and meat
- Mothering ability: Select animal with ability to rear the young ones up up weaning
- Adaptability to the environment: Select animals that are suited or adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions of the area
- Prolificacy: Select highly prolific animals i.e. have the ability to give birth to many young ones at a time (large litter in pig and rabbits)
- Fertility: Select fertile animals that breed regularly
- Genetic and physical defects: Selected animals should be free of physical defects such as broken leg, limping and genetic defects such one eyed, over shot, under shot, irregular number of teat etc.
- Growth rate: Select animals that give birth to fast growing and maturing off-springs
Outline the factors that influence the choice of building materials.
- Availability of the materials
- Durability of the materials
- Cost if the materials in relation to capital available
- Suitability of the materials to prevailing weather conditions
- Strength of the materials
- Work ability of the materials/availability of skills required to use the materials
- Kind of the structure I e permanent or temporary. Suitability of the materials in relation to the structure/farm enterprise.