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Lesson 380 min read
Animal Science
Livestock Classification, Digestive Systems, Poultry & Animal Nutrition
In This Lesson
Livestock Classification
Ruminants
Animals with 4-compartment stomach
- * Cattle (cow, carabao)
- * Goats
- * Sheep
- * Deer
Non-Ruminants (Monogastric)
Animals with simple stomach
- * Swine (pigs)
- * Poultry (chicken, duck)
- * Horses
- * Rabbits
Classification by Use
Meat Production
Beef cattle, swine, broilers, goats
Dairy
Dairy cattle, dairy goats, carabao
Eggs
Layer chickens, ducks
Draft/Work
Carabao, horses, cattle
Fiber
Sheep (wool), goats (cashmere)
Companion
Dogs, cats, horses
Digestive Systems
Ruminant Digestive System (4 Compartments)
1
Rumen (Paunch)
Largest compartment; microbial fermentation of fiber; "fermentation vat"
2
Reticulum (Honeycomb)
Traps foreign objects; involved in regurgitation for cud chewing
3
Omasum (Manyplies)
Absorbs water and nutrients; grinds food particles
4
Abomasum (True Stomach)
Like human stomach; secretes enzymes and acid for digestion
Monogastric (Simple Stomach)
- * Single compartment stomach
- * Cannot digest fiber efficiently
- * Requires concentrated feed
- * Examples: pigs, chickens
Avian Digestive System
- * Crop (food storage)
- * Proventriculus (glandular stomach)
- * Gizzard (mechanical grinding)
- * No teeth; uses grit
Poultry Production
Broilers (Meat)
- * Raised for meat production
- * Market age: 35-45 days
- * Market weight: 1.5-2.5 kg
- * Fast growing breeds
- * Examples: Cobb, Ross, Arbor Acres
Layers (Eggs)
- * Raised for egg production
- * Start laying: 18-20 weeks
- * Peak production: 250-300 eggs/year
- * Productive life: 1-2 years
- * Examples: Lohmann, Hy-Line, ISA Brown
Native Chickens in Philippines
- Darag: Yellow-red, Visayas origin
- Paraoakan: Long-legged, Palawan origin
- Banaba: Batangas origin
- Bolinao: Pangasinan origin
Housing Requirements
Broilers
Floor space: 10-12 birds/m²
Layers
Floor space: 5-7 birds/m²
Swine Management
Production Stages
| Stage | Age/Weight | Feed Type |
|---|---|---|
| Piglet | Birth - weaning (21-28 days) | Mother's milk, creep feed |
| Weaner | Weaning - 25 kg | Starter feed |
| Grower | 25 - 60 kg | Grower feed |
| Finisher | 60 - 90+ kg (market) | Finisher feed |
Breeding Data
- * Gestation: 114 days (3-3-3)
- * Litter size: 8-14 piglets
- * Breeding age: 6-8 months
- * Estrus cycle: 21 days
Popular Breeds
- * Landrace (long body, white)
- * Large White/Yorkshire
- * Duroc (red color)
- * Hampshire (black with white belt)
Animal Nutrition
Energy Sources
- * Corn (main energy source)
- * Rice bran
- * Cassava
- * Molasses
- * Fats and oils
Protein Sources
- * Soybean meal
- * Fish meal
- * Copra meal
- * Meat and bone meal
- * Blood meal
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)
Amount of feed required to produce 1 kg of body weight gain:
Broilers: 1.6-2.0
Swine: 2.5-3.5
Cattle: 6-10
Animal Breeding
Breeding Systems
- Inbreeding: Mating related animals
- Outbreeding: Mating unrelated animals
- Crossbreeding: Mating different breeds
- Upgrading: Continuous use of purebred sire
Selection Criteria
- * Growth rate
- * Feed efficiency
- * Reproductive performance
- * Disease resistance
- * Carcass quality
Key Takeaways
- ✓Ruminants: 4 stomachs (Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, Abomasum)
- ✓Broilers: 35-45 days to market; Layers: start at 18-20 weeks
- ✓Pig gestation: 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days)
- ✓FCR: Broilers (1.6-2.0), Swine (2.5-3.5), Cattle (6-10)
- ✓Corn = main energy source; Soybean meal = main protein source