Livestock Production Report January to June 2013

Agriculture grew by 1.44 percent in the first half of 2013. Output increments from the livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors contributed to the overall production gain during the period. The crops subsector suffered a contraction. At current prices, gross earnings in agriculture amounted to P697.2 billion, higher by 0.88 percent than last year's record

The crops subsector which shared 51.79 percent in total agricultural output recorded a 0.54 percent decline. Palay output grew by 1.34 percent. Corn, coconut, sugarcane and banana came down with lower production during the period. The subsector grossed P375.1 billion at current prices. This was 4.30 percent lower than last year's performance.

Livestock production increased by 2.12 percent. The subsector contributed 15.53 percent to total agricultural production. Production increases were noted for hog at 2.36 percent and cattle at 2.28 percent. At current prices, the subsector grossed P111.8 billion, up by 11.43 percent from last year's earnings.

The poultry subsector accounted for 14.58 percent of the total agricultural production. It registered 4.39 percent growth in output. Chicken production which increased by 5.05 percent was the main source of growth. The subsector grossed P86.4 billion at current prices. This was 6.25 percent higher from last year's earnings.

On the average, farmgate prices went down by 0.56 percent in the first half of 2013. The crops subsector posted an average price decline of 3.78 percent. Prices in the livestock subsector increased by an average of 9.12 percent. Poultry subsector had a 1.78 percent price gain this year. In the fisheries subsector, prices inched up by an average of 0.94 percent.

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics

From Evernote:

Disposal of Cattle

			Humane destruction and disposal of stock Agnote DAI-136, first edition, December 1999 Ross Burton, Veterinary Officer (Animal Welfare), Orange Introduction Tough times may force many stockowners to consider on-farm disposal of animals that have no commercial value, or on animal welfare grounds as a result of bushfires, storms, flooding or drought. This disposal must be conducted humanely, efficiently and safely. If euthanasia of animals is considered necessary, all bystanders should be asked to move on, and every effort should be made to keep the procedure out of view of members of the public to avoid causing distress. Experienced operators using the techniques described in this Agnote can handle more than 1000 sheep or 300 cattle per day. Methods for humanely destroying stock Methods for humanely destroying stock include the following: Shooting: This is generally the best choice as it is quick and painless when carried out correctly. Legal considerations regarding the use of firearms must be observed. Lethal injection: Can be administered only by a veterinarian, and is impractical for large numbers. Cutting the throat: May be used as a last resort for sheep only, and should only be carried out by an experienced operator. Disposal options Wherever possible, first contact abattoirs and knackeries to establish the economics of slaughter through these outlets. However, in many cases, the costs of transport and slaughter may exceed the value of the stock. It may also be inhumane to transport severely affected stock. Methods of on-farm disposal need to be costed in order to compare the alternatives. On-farm disposal usually costs $1–$2 per head if machinery is hired. Personal safety Safety must be considered at all times: There should always be at least two people at the pit disposal site—psychological support is essential. Rescue items, such as ropes, should be available in case the pit wall collapses or someone falls into the pit. Planned, methodical use of guns and knives should be determined, with non-operators strategically located to avoid accidents. Personal hygiene factors must be taken into account, especially if the animals are diseased. Scabby mouth, anthrax and Q fever can be contracted by humans from animals, from their carcasses or from their blood. Earmuffs and protective clothing should be used when necessary. Burn or bury? Burning is not usually practical due to the amount of fuel required, possible restrictions on the lighting of fires, the risk of fire getting out of control, and the labour involved. Burial is invariably quicker, easier and cheaper. Advice should be sought from local earthmoving contractors regarding the type of machinery available for the digging and bulldozing, and the machinery operating costs. In some cases, farm machinery can do the job. Burial site The position selected for the burial site should comply with the following: The burial site should be at least 100 m from any watercourse. Sites which slope towards a watercourse should be avoided. The base of the pit must be at least 1 m above the watertable. Access to the site for earthmoving machinery and either stock transports or walking stock must be considered. The soil should be heavy, and should have low permeability and good stability. Appropriate diversion banks should be constructed in order to prevent stormwater entering the pit and consequent diffusion of contamination from the site. One long side of the pit should be kept clear of overburden, and should be levelled. This side can be used for the killing area, with appropriate pens and races built of moveable panels or temporary fences (see Figure 1). Soil should be placed at the ends or along one side of the pit. Figure 1. A suggested layout for the killing pens and holding yards, using moveable panels and temporary fencing Pit construction The dimensions of a suitable, vertical-sided pit will vary according to the number and size of the animals and the type of equipment available to construct the pit. Excavators, bulldozers and front-end loaders/backhoes are all suitable. During construction, topsoil should be separated from subsoil for later return to the top during pit closure. Surplus soil should be heaped as overfill, to form a mound over the pit. Pit dimensions Narrow, deep pits are preferred, as they reduce the need to move carcasses once they are in the pit. It is essential for carcasses to be covered by at least 2 m of soil to ground level. Depth: 4 m recommended (this allows 2 m for carcasses, plus a minimum 2 m of soil fill). Width: 3 m preferred maximum, or 'one blade width'. Length: Depends on number, size, condition and wool length of carcasses to be buried (see calculation of pit length below). As a guide, allow 1 m3 (one cubic metre) for each nine mature shorn Merino sheep in store condition, or 1 m3 per three head of mature cattle in store condition. Calculating the pit length required To calculate the number of carcasses (in sheep equivalents) per metre length of the pit, multiply the width of the pit (in metres) by the depth of carcasses (in metres), and then multiply by 9. The carcass depth is pit depth less 2 m for cover fill. Divide the number of carcasses (sheep equivalents) by this number to get the required length of the pit in metres. For burial of carcasses, one head of cattle is equivalent to 3–4 sheep. Example To bury 500 sheep in a pit 3 m wide and 4 m deep: Carcass depth = 4 – 2 = 2 m No. of carcasses per metre length of pit = 3 × 2 × 9 = 54 Therefore, length of pit required = 500 ÷ 54 = 9.3 m Shooting technique Safety to humans and the humane disposal of stock are the overriding considerations. Either a captive bolt pistol or a rifle can be used for destroying stock. Owners of captive bolt pistols and rifles must comply with the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) and Firearms (General) Regulation 1997. In order to kill stock, the respiratory and cardiac centres of the brain, near the junction with the spinal cord, must be destroyed (see Figure 2). Figure 2. To kill stock efficiently and humanely, aim the shot so that the part of the brain near its junction with the spinal cord is destroyed. Captive bolt pistols Captive bolt pistols are safe for the operator but are heavy to handle and, being single shot, are slow to operate. The bolt may require regular cleaning to prevent jamming, especially with sheep if wool is long. Two operators using two pistols is the best arrangement. One operator does the killing while the other reloads the second pistol. The captive bolt pistol must be held firmly in contact with the head. After the animal is dropped, it must be bled by cutting the throat, even if it appears to be already dead (the captive bolt pistol only stuns the animal). Don't Don't try to use on animals which are not immobilised. Don't use a cartridge strength which is not powerful enough. Check the manufacturer's instructions. Do Always cut the throat after shooting, because animals are only stunned, not killed. Only use in the forehead position, except in sheep where it is more effective at the back of the head. Rifles For sheep, 0.22 rifles are often used, but for cattle the minimum is a 0.22 magnum. Rifles above 0.44 magnum should not be used. Low-power hollow point bullets are recommended, but for bulls and older cattle, hard-point or jacketed ammunition may be necessary. Because of the large numbers of sheep which may be involved, self-loading 0.22 rifles may make the job faster, but safety must be a major consideration. Self-loading rifles may not be available, as they require a special licensing arrangement approved by the police. Rifles will need regular cleaning, and breakages may occur. In addition to adequate supplies of ammunition, spare rifles should be available. One rifle and operator per 1000 sheep or 300 cattle is usually adequate. Operator safety must be foremost in mind at all times, and everyone other than the person using the rifle should be well clear of the killing pens. When working in a race, start from the rear and work towards the front. In pens, start close to the pit and work away from the pit. A moveable panel can be used to keep stock tightly packed together. The rifle is not held in contact with the animal's head. Don't Don't shoot unless the background is clear. Don't shoot over long distances. Don't shoot into mobs of animals. Don't place the muzzle of the rifle directly against the animal's head. Don't shoot in a location where a missed shot might result in a bullet ricocheting off a hard surface near the animal. Don't use a weapon that is not powerful enough—check that the calibre and ammunition are suitable for shooting the class of livestock concerned. Do Always shoot animals in the correct place in the head. When the animal is facing you, aim at a point where two imaginary lines drawn from each ear to the opposite eye meet on the forehead (Figure 3). Point the gun barrel parallel to the animal's neck. Figure 3 When the animal is side-on, aim halfway between the eye and the ear (Figure 4). Figure 4 When no other position can be accessed, cattle can be shot immediately behind the poll (Figure 5). This is the position of choice for sheep (see Humane destruction of sheep), but in cattle it is only to be used as a last resort (see Humane destruction of cattle). Figure 5 Humane destruction of sheep There are two sites for aiming with pistol or rifle—the back of the head or the front of the head. The back of the head is the preferred site for sheep, as head movement is minimal. With hornless sheep the captive bolt pistol can be placed on the top of the upper forehead, aimed for the gullet, or just behind the poll and aimed towards the animal's muzzle (see Figure 6(a)). For horned sheep, the top of the head may not be a suitable position, so use the position just behind the poll and aim towards the animal's muzzle (see Figure 6(b)). Alternatively, when using a rifle, aim at a point in the middle of the face just above the level of the eyes, and shoot towards the spine (see Figure 6(c)). Figure 6. Recommended position and direction of fire for destroying: (a) hornless sheep with a captive bolt pistol or rifle (b) horned sheep with a captive bolt pistol or rifle (c) horned sheep with a rifle Humane destruction of cattle Captive bolt pistols are suitable only for small numbers of cattle that can be adequately restrained. There are two methods of shooting cattle: the temporal method and the frontal method. Temporal method The temporal method is only suitable for rifles. The animal is shot from the side so that the bullet enters the skull midway between the eye and the base of the ear. The bullet should be directed horizontally (see point 'a' in Figure 7). Frontal method The rifle is directed at the point of the intersection of lines taken from the base of each horn (or equivalent position in polled animals) to the opposite eye, aiming at the spine (see point 'b' in Figure 7 at right). For bulls or older animals the bullet should enter about 1 cm to the left or right of this point. Note: Small calves may be shot just behind the nuchal crest (poll) in the mid-line, aiming directly at the muzzle (see point 'c' in Figure 7). Alternatively, a captive bolt pistol may be used. Figure 7. Recommended position and direction of fire for destroying cattle Humane destruction of other stock For advice on the humane destruction of other stock, contact the District Veterinarian at your local Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB). Cutting the throat (bleeding out) Don't Don't cut the throat of an animal unless it has been stunned first. Because of the complex blood supply to the brain, animals can remain conscious for up to 5 minutes after the throat is cut. Don't delay between stunning and bleeding out, or the animal may regain consciousness, and hence pain perception, before consciousness is lost due to the blood loss. Don't use anything but a very sharp knife with a reasonable blade length. Do Always cut down deep to the level of the bones of the neck. All blood vessels in the neck must be cut for quick bleeding, but the spinal cord should not be severed or snapped. Stand behind the animal. Grasp the chin and pull the head back towards you. Cut from ear to ear behind the jawbone. Other methods may be used if the operator is experienced. After killing Judging when an animal is dead Even after an animal has been stunned or shot, it may paddle its legs, gasp or groan, but still be unconscious—this is all reflex action. However, if the animal raises its head from the ground, as if attempting to rise, it is a fairly reliable sign that it is still conscious. A less reliable sign is blinking of the eyelids when a fingertip is placed on the eyeball. When an animal is dead: the heart stops—feel for this on the left-hand side behind the elbow (note that the heart may take several minutes to cease beating); the gums and tongue become bluish-grey; the eye appears glazed and the pupil expands. Always check for these signs and do not assume that an animal is dead just because it is not moving or apparently not breathing. Any unconscious animals (animals which still show signs of life) must be bled out. Slashing the carcass A considerable amount of gas is produced during carcass decomposition. If this gas is trapped inside the carcass, the soil covering the burial pit will be pushed upwards, sometimes allowing fluids and carcasses to 'leak' from the top of the pit. Slashing of carcasses, while not essential for sheep, may reduce the amount of rising that will occur. Cattle carcasses should always be slashed. To be effective, a large slash is required. Insert a knife in the left flank between the last rib and the hip to penetrate the rumen, and slash downwards. When slaughter is completed, all the soil should be replaced to cover the carcasses, forming a mound. This will minimise rising and allow for an eventual return to a more level site. Further information For further information, contact the District Veterinarian at your local RLPB. Acknowledgments This Agnote is based on material originally written by L. C. Pryde, Former Senior Field Veterinary Officer with NSW Agriculture. The contribution by John Bowler is gratefully acknowledged. The information contained in this web page is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (23 December 1999). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of New South Wales Department of Agriculture or the user's independent adviser. ISSN 1034-6848 © NSW Agriculture 2002

Grow your own meat?

Professor Mark Post: "The basic problem with current meat production is that it's inefficient"

Mark Post has been given €300,000 to make a hamburger, in one year. Easy money, you might think, but try doing that without using meat that has come from an animal.






Professor Post is one of the few people on the planet who can. As head of the department of vascular physiology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, he is in the vanguard of a new wave of research to create a way of producing meat that cuts out the need for animal husbandry altogether. [More . . .]

An Update on Paiwi or Paalaga System

For the last 8 years as practiced we are on a paiwi or a paalaga system for backyard cattle raising. As we understand the advantages we think in having this kind of setup is that we don’t extend that much effort in taking care of the cattle at the same time we’re helping small time farmers to have the opportunity of having their own cattle and the option of an additional income for them since the farmer’s share can always be convertible into cash with an agreement with the cattle owner.




But recently we saw a disadvantage in this kind of method. We encountered a situation in which the care taker sold the cow without the owner’s consent and knowing. The owner have only known about what had happened after 3 days in which the caretaker disappeared with the cash in hand and bound never to return back.

In this kind of scenario this is what has been learned.
1. Get to know the person in which the owner will in-trust the cow
2. Make sure that the cattle is marked so that it can’t be sold right away since it bears the mark of the owner and for identification purposes as well.
3. The cattle owner or in-trusted person of the owner should visit the cow on regular basis.
4. Another option would be to implement latest technology for cattle identification. This is a good option but requires investment for implementation

Backyard Cattle Fattening

The source of this document came from the Department of Agriculture.

Backyard cattle fattening has gained prominence as an important business project of the livestock industry in the Philippines. It gives the farmer year-round work and provides him with extra income. He can make use of cheap, plentiful farm by-products such as corn stovers, rice straw, copra meal, rice bran and sugarcane tops, which ordinarily go to waste. Most importantly, it helps meet the urgent demand for high-protein foods in the Filipino diet.

Backyard cattle fattening or on a large scale can be profitably undertaken. It consists of buying healthy stock, feeding and fattening them for 120 to 180 days, and selling them at anytime of the year. Minimum space for housing is required: 1.5 to 2 sq. meters per head for a sheltered feeding area, and 5 meters per head for a fenced loafing area.

Given the proper care, there is less danger of diseases and parasites affecting confined animals and the fattening period is shorter. Marbling or inter mixture of fat and lean in meat is better obtained through feedlot fattening. This is preferred by customers.

Selecting Feeder Stock

To make profit and produce good meat, consider the following points:

1. Age
Two to three year- old animals need less feed for every unit of weight gain

because they digest more efficiently and consume larger volume of feed in proportion to body weight.

Younger animals cost less because of lesser weight. They require longer period of feeding and higher feed quality to reach the desired finish.

Older feeder stock (4 years and above) need less time in the feedlot and will eat a wider variety of feed and roughage than young stock. If nutritious feed is abundant, younger cattle are generally more economical to fatten. If only roughage and plant by-products are available, older stock are preferable.

2. Sex
Steers (castrated males) are preferred to heifers (unbred females) because they are readily available and easier to manage. Steers also gain weight and grow faster than heifers.

3. Breed
Improved breeds and crossbreeds gain weight faster than native animals. Tropical breeds are more adaptable to local climatic and feed conditions than temperate breeds. Some of the recommended tropical breeds are:

a. Brahman -color is silver gray, some are reddish. This breed is resistant to diseases and can withstand heat better.

b. Ongole or Nellore -color is white. The bulls may have dark gray head, neck and hump.
Knees may be black.

c. Indu-Brazil- colors vary from light to silver gray and brownish dark gray to red.

d. Batangas cattle -this is not really a distinct breed of cattle in the Philippines. Cattle fattened in Batangas comes from Mindoro, Masbate and other provinces. The term Batangas beef has become popular because of the good quality cattle produced by the "supak" method of Batangas.

4. Health Condition
A healthy animal is alert and active, has bright eyes, smooth haircoat and moist muzzle. Avoid animals with rough skin and those which are blind and lame. Make sure that the animals have been properly vaccinated against common diseases before bringing them to the feedlot.

When to Buy Stock
Feeder stock usually comes cheap during the dry season (January to April). Country roads are more accessible during these months, making it easy to transport animals from ranch or auction markets to the farm.

Cattle Nutrition

Feed is a key to profitable cattle raising. Cattle need food nutrients for maintenance, growth and production. The animal raiser must formulate feeds based on his animals' sex, age, weight gain desired and the moisture content of available roughage and feeds.

The feed ration should be adjusted to the requirements for fattening cattle based on the availability of feed materials in the locality. Cattle can be fattened on all rough- age rations or on roughage-concentrate ration. Give good quality grass-legume mixture in the form of pasture herbage. It is best to restrict animal movement at all times, so that it uses less energy and gains weight quickly.

The moisture content of feed is important. There is maximum dry matter intake if the ration has only about 34% moisture content. Cattle becomes fatter during summer eating dry grass than during the rainy season when the animals are allowed to eat large amounts of young, fresh grass. Cattle will consume feed at a rate of about 2.5 percent of its body weight. The animals need the following nutrients:

a. Dry matter that satisfies the animal 's appetite and promotes good digestion;
b. Protein in amounts based on age, sex, body weight and desired productivity;
c. Energy from carbohydrates, fats and excess protein;
d. Essential minerals like salt, calcium and phosphorus. Salt intake increases the water intake of the animals. The daily intake should be about 0.045 kg per 45.45 kg of body weight;
e. Vitamins A, D, and E; and
f. Water is a most important nutrient. Its intake by cattle depends on the temperature, humidity, moisture content of the roughage, dry or wet feeding, and salt content of feed nutrients.

To estimate the daily feed requirement, young fatteners consume about 3 per- cent of their body weight in air-dry feed. A fresh grass has about 75% moisture con- tent. Therefore, a 250 kgs. feeder cattle will require 7.5 kgs. of grass with a 12-14% moisture. However, given fresh grass it requires 35 kgs.

Roughage - concentrate ration is the combination of forage or farm by-products and concentrates. Some common concentrates are rice bran, copra meal, ipil-ipil leafmeal and corn by-products, including meat and bone meal and salt. The farm by- products could be utilized as concentrate mixtures and given to cattle at least twice a day.

Recommended Concentrate Mixtures used for Cattle Fattening

Sample 1
Copra meal 60%
Rice bran 39%
Salt/powdered
Shell 01%
--------
100%

Sample 2
Copra meal 50%
Rice bran 25%
Dried chicken manure 24%
shell/ground limestone 01%
---------
100%

Utilization of Farm By-Products to Cattle Feed

1. Rice Straw -chopped rice straw can be fed to growing-fattening cattle up to 40%
of the total ration. If baled or stacked and adequately protected from weather, rice straw can be used as additional source of energy anytime of the year when feed supply is short. It contains 3-4% protein, 0.04-0.08% phosphorus and 0.20- 0.30% calcium.

2. Corn Cobs -(without kernels) can be coarsely ground and fed to cattle up to 45% of total ration. It contains 45% total digestible nutrients and 3% crude protein. Although containing higher crude fiber, it is more digestible than rice straw.

Housing
Proper housing is important in successful cattle fattening operation. Adequately protect animals against the adverse effects of weather when they are raised in relatively small areas. Animals in backyard cattle farms are usually tethered along roadsides and in backyards during the day and confined in a shed or corral at night. The permanent type of housing consisting of GI roofing, timber frames, concrete floor, feed trough and water troughs are used in most farms. The shelter is open-sided and is located near the farmer's house or under the shade trees. Building height ranges from 1.7 to 1.9 meters while the width varies from 2.1 to 2.7 meters. Each animal can be allocated with 1.5 to 4.5 sq. meters. The plan of the cattle shed is presented in Figure I.

Marketing of Fattened Cattle
Six months after the date of purchase, fattened cattle should weigh approximately 275 to 325 kilograms and be ready for market.

Properly handle animals during transport to the market to prevent serious injury or even death. See to it that animals are safely loaded. Avoid steep ramps. Do not lift animals bodily into the truck. A gradually sloping ramp with side railings is advisable. To ensure better footing see to it that animals do not slip and fall during transport. Provide adequate rice straw or rice hall bedding. Remove all protruding objects such as nails and splinters from trucks. Also, check for cracked or missing boards that may injure the animals.

Overloading and under loading of trucks cause crippling and bruising of animals. Load them quietly and gently. Pushing or sticking them may cause stress, resulting in weight loss and lower profits. It is better to transport animals in the evening if trucks are not covered.

The market for beef cattle is classified into three groups: consumers, processors and institutional buyers. The last group include hotels, restaurants, burger joints, fast food chains, cafeterias, supermarkets and hospitals.

COMMON DISEASES OF CATTLE

A. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
Cause : Enterovirus of major strains -A, O & C

Transmission: Direct contact with sick animals excreting the virus; Indirect
transmission by ingestion of contaminated feeds; Contact with infected products and animal excretion by inhalation.

Symptom: High fever, depression, appearance of vesicles and blisters with
fluid on tongue, gums, udders and inter digital spaces; flowing saliva; animal refuses to eat, becomes lame and refuses to stand.

Control: Regular FMD vaccination every 6 months in areas where the disease is common

A. Hemorrhagic Septicemia

Cause: Common bacterial disease characterized by hemorrhage (escape
of blood from the blood vessels) and septicemia ( a condition manifested by the generalized presence of pathogenic bacteria and the associated poisons in the blood). The disease is rapid in onset and runs a relatively short course.

Transmission
1.) Direct contact with infected animals
2) Ingestion of contaminated feedstuffs
3) By aerosol

Symptoms
1. Sudden increase in body temperature (41-42°C)
2. Profuse salivation
3. Severe depression
4. Development of hot, painful swelling on the throat, dewlap
5. Difficulty in breathing
6. Development of signs of pulmonary alimentary involvement in the later stages.

Disease Control
1. Isolate and quarantine infected premises.
2. Promptly dispose of carcasses of dead animals by burning
or burying in soil.
3. Segregate sick animals and treat them with antibiotics.
4. Vaccinate apparently healthy and unexposed animals.
5. Sterilize and .disinfect used instruments and equipment.

A. Anthrax
Description : Anthrax is a per acute disease characterized by septicemia and
sudden death with the exudation of tarry blood from the natural body openings. It is a disease virtually of all warm-bloodied animals, including man.

Disease Transmission
1. Direct Contact -Spread from one animal to another, wherein the bacili are excreted in the urine, feces, saliva and from the natural body openings contaminating the area
2. Ingestion
3. Indirect transmission through airborne via respiratory tract (inhalation) or vector borne through stable files and mosquitoes.

Cause
Caused by large, gram-positive, aerobic spore-forming rod-shaped
bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. In cultures, it forms long chains which, unstained, appear as solid filaments because the square ends of the individual cells fit very closely together.
Under low magnification, the margin of the colonies which lie in parallel formation look like locks of hair. It is for this reason that they are sometimes described as "Medusa head" colonies.

Symptoms
1. Per acute form (1-2 hours)
a. Sudden death
b. Unclotted blood comes out from the natural openings
2. Acute form (24-48 hours)
a. depression
b. fever
c. difficulty in breathing
d. loss of appetite
e. swelling in hind quarters
f. hemorrhage in many parts of the body
g. death
h. diarrhea stained with unclotted blood coming from the natural body openings

3. Chronic form (48 hours or more)
a. swelling (ventral muscle, thorax, shoulder)
b. edema
c. difficulty in breathing
d. death

Prevention/Control
1. Control by immunization
2. Proper disposal of dead animal by burning or deep burial. Quicklime should be used to cover the body before covering with soil. The depth should be 2 meters.
3. Decontamination of all contaminated pens, feeding materials, bedding, etc.
4. Avoid contact with infected animals and contaminated animal by- products
5. Reduce movement of animals
6. Quarantine infected areas
7. Practice environmental and personal hygiene
8. Control insects and flies
9. Notify the proper authority in case of outbreak.

GENERAL GUIDE FOR CATTLE FARMERS
A. Selection of Feeder Stock
Purchase feeder stock from reliable breeders or select good quality steers from the livestock market.

B. De worming and Spraying.
Have fecal examination conducted to determine proper drugs for deworming. Spray animals to control external parasites such as ticks, lice and flies.


C. Disease Prevention

1. Never buy sick cattle. Make sure the animals are not stressed. Provide good sanitation.

2. Proper nutrition will help ensure the health of cattle and increase their resistance to diseases. Salt in the diet will help prevent footrot.

3. Don't mix newly arrived animals with cattle already on feed. New arrivals should receive good quality roughage as a starter ration and then give water three to four hours later.

4. Bathed the animals at least once a week to clean them and to improve their
feed intake.

5. Be alert for signs of illness. Isolate sick animals right away. Deworm and immunize the animals from major infectious diseases. Spray the animals with insecticide to eliminate parasites like ticks and blood sucking fleas. In coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) or the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, vaccinate against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Hemorrhagic septicemia and other common diseases.

D. Feeding Management Practices
1. Feed animals daily with concentrate one to two kilograms per day during fattening period. Give roughage daily at 3% of body weight if given air dry or 8.75 if given fresh.
2. Give clean water without limit or ad libitum. Provide ordinary table salt about 30-50 grams per head per day.
3. Give the animals fresh, palatable feed and clean water at all times. Reduction of feed intake by 5 percent will reduce weight gain by 10 percent. Do not overstock feeds in the feed bunk since the bottom portion will develop heat and make the feed stale.
4. Mix feed properly. Have at least 15-20 percent roughage in feed to prevent bloat and other digestive disorders.
5. During rainy days, cattle will eat more during the daytime. During summer, they will eat more at night and during the cooler hours. Provide enough feeds during these periods.
6. Digestion will be more efficient if roughage is eaten separately from concentrates. Roughage consumption tends to stimulate saliva secretion up to as much as 80-120 liters per day.
7. Providing l2-14 inches of bunk space per head will allow cattle to eat slowly. This will help increase the rumen's efficiency thereby facilitating digestion.
8. Schedule manure removal. If allowed to remain with the animals, deep, wet manure will reduce both feed intake and weight gain.

E. Confinement of Animals
Provide proper and adequate space for confinement.

F. Bathing the Animals
Bathe and wash animals at least once a week to increase feed consumption and promote sanitation.

D. Marketing of Animals
The desired finishing weight of fattened cattle of 275-325 kilograms is attained in 180 days after date of purchase. Visit the "Oksyon" Market nearest your place.

Plan backyard cattle shed

Cattle Breeds

All this years we've been doing backyard cattle raising and I didn't know anything on the different kinds of cattle breeds . . . I am a cattle raiser that means it's a must that I should know this information . . . Let's begin with with history on how it came into being why cattle is being domesticated. I found this sites which provides a list of cattle breeds from all over. Here's some sites that provides information about cattle breeds. Embryo Plus, Cattle Today and this site which is called Breeds of Livestock.

Cattle Pictures February 2010

We started raising cattle way back in 2004 starting with a single head. Over the years it multiplied and we added additional heads. Currently we own 15 heads distributed to different individuals in Lupao Nueva Ecija Central Luzon Philippines. Lately last February my wife took some pictures on some of the cattle.

A view of a cattle raising enthusiast

In this current economy we need to find some ways to earn some extra income at the same time helping others earn as well. That's why we've decided to continue with our investment on backyard cattle raising. Cattle raising is a very good agribusiness alternative since it doesn't take your time away from you. What we normally do is let somebody you trusted take care of the cattle or if you have lots of cattle it can be distributed to any individual who is willing to take the responsibility. As I've said as a cattle owner you know and trust those individuals who will be taking care of your cattle.

For profit sharing this is how it works. If it's a bull the profit sharing would be . . .gross sale less agreed amount of the bull when the time the caretaker took the responsibility, whatever is the remaining amount would be divided into two as a share of the owner and the caretaker.

If it's a cow the profit sharing would be like this, the first born calf would go to the owner then the second calf goes to the caretaker. It's an alternate sharing. If the owner decides to sell the cow then profit sharing scenario of the bull applies to the cow.