LPM 102: Ruminant Production
Credit Hours: 2 (1+1)
Full Marks: 50 (Theory: 25, Practical: 25)
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify different breeds of ruminants (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat).
- Understand care, management, and housing principles for ruminants.
- Learn artificial rearing of newborns, grooming, shearing, and other routine practices.
- Gain skills in castration, dehorning, milking methods, use of draft animals, and farm record-keeping.
I. Syllabus Overview
Topics include:
- Prominent breeds of buffalo, cattle, sheep, and goat.
- Care and management of pregnant and lactating ruminants.
- Housing principles and types for ruminants.
- Artificial rearing of calves, kids, and lambs.
- Castration, dehorning, grooming, dipping, dusting, and wool shearing.
- Judging, selection, and use of draft animals.
- Milking methods and recording milk production.
II. Course Outline
A. Lecture Topics (15 Lectures)
| S.N. | Topic | No. of Lectures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction, scope and statistics of ruminants | 1 |
| 2 | Prominent breeds and characteristics of buffalo | 2 |
| 3 | Prominent breeds and characteristics of cattle | 1 |
| 4 | Prominent breeds and characteristics of sheep | 1 |
| 5 | Prominent breeds and characteristics of goats | 2 |
| 6 | Care and management of cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats (pregnant & lactating) | 1 |
| 7 | Housing principles and housing of ruminants | 1 |
| 8 | Artificial rearing of newborn ruminants | 1 |
| 9 | Importance and methods of castration, dehorning, grooming, dipping, dusting; shearing of wool | 2 |
| 10 | Judging and selection of animals | 1 |
| 11 | Uses of draft animals | 1 |
| 12 | Milking methods and practices | 1 |
| Total | 15 |
B. Practical Topics (15 Sessions)
| S.N. | Practical Activities | No. of Practicals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study of different types of housing systems on a farm | 2 |
| 2 | Castration of bull, goat, and ram | 3 |
| 3 | Dehorning of buffalo and cattle | 2 |
| 4 | Grooming of cattle and buffalo | 1 |
| 5 | Cleaning the barn and milking parlour | 1 |
| 6 | Milking practices | 2 |
| 7 | Preparation of milk production records and other farm records | 2 |
| 8 | Identification, characterization, and familiarization with different breeds of cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
References
- Banerjee, G.C. (1991). A Textbook of Animal Husbandry. Oxford & IBH Publishing, New Delhi.
- Thomas, C.K., & N.S.R. Sastry (1991). Dairy Bovine Production. Kalyani Publishing, India.
- Ross, C.V. (1989 or latest). Sheep Production and Management. Prentice Hall, Inc., New Jersey, USA.
