animal husbandry by eguriase s. m. okaka

Animal Husbandry By Eguriase S. M. Okaka Animal husbandry was important in the savannah. It was difficult to rear herds in the south because of lack of pasture. Secondly, tsetse flies posed a great menace to the animals. Unlike in the south where there were no professional herdsmen, the cattle herders in the savannah were famous for the milk, butter and skins which they provided. Like farming, cattle rearing depended on family labor, each pastoral family minding it cattle. The herds were usually large and the herders drove the cattle to where they would get food and also trade in cattle products. In places where the occupation was well established, the supply of cattle was usually high.

One feature which distinguished animal herdsmen from others was their nomadic nature. They moved from place in search of pasture and water, and to exchange their animal products for foodstuffs. It was mainly the scarcity of pasture for the animals that always kept them on the move in search of greener pastures. Except in full migration when the pastoralist moved to a new area, the movement was usually from their homes in the sahara margins to the savannah, and up to areas below the Niger. (From History of Nigeria 1 by T. Falola et al, pages 140 – 141) Comprehension question • It was difficult to raise herds in the south of Nigeria a) Because of the absence of grazing lands. b) Because tsetse flies attacked herders. c) Because the heat in the south was excessive. d) Because cattle-rearing families were not nomadic. • According to the passage, professional cattle herders can be found in the -------------- Nigeria. a) South b) North c) East d) West • Which one of the following statement is supported by the passage? a) Most herds that are raised are usually small. b) Herders hardly trade in cattle. c) Cattle rearing get its labor from herder’s families. d) Young herders are not allowed to rear cattle. • A major characteristics of cattle herders is that a) They were mostly women and children b) They are nomadic. c) They do not exchange their animal products for food. d) Most of them live in areas below the Niger. • As used in the passage, menace means a) Possible source of danger b) Attacking tsetse flies. c) Men holding aces. d) Disease-causing species of tsetse fly. • The passage seem to suggest that a) Cattle herders are not popular for providing butter. b) Cattle herders engage in trade by barter. c) Cattle herders never return to their homes. d) The supply of cattle is low during the rainy season. • Cattle herders are nomadic because a) They need to escape from inter-tribal wars. b) They are searching for pasture and water for their animals. c) They want to sell more cattle in the sahara. d) Their cattle like pasture in the south. Exercise Read the comprehension passage entitled ‘Animal husbandry’ and answer the following question by using a preamble. An example has been done for you. • In three sentences. One for each. State the reason why animal cattle herders move from place to place. • In two sentences, one for each, state why it is difficult to raise animals in the south. Example Answer The reasons why animal cattle herders move from place to place are: • They move to search for pasture for their animals • They look for water for their animals • Animal herders exchange their animal products for foodstuffs. Vocabulary Vocabulary of animal husbandry Use the words below to complete the following passage. • Nutritionally • Hides • Nomads • Livestock • Regularly • Dairy • Pasture • Veterinary • Poultry • Doctor • Cattle stop ------------ (1) ------------ farming or the rearing of animals for food is common among the Fulani. Those among the Fulani who move seasonally from place to place with their ------------ (2) --------------- in search of grass covered land or ----------- (3) ------------- are referred to as -------------- (4) ----------------. Animal husbandry could be a very productivity activity. First, -------------- (5) ---------- Products such as milk, butter and cheese are obtained from cattle. Secondly, --------------(6)--------------- or animal skins are the major material in the leather production, Thirdly, -----------(7)------------- products such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and their eggs are beneficial commercially and -----------(8)------------ , however, to achieve great success in breeding animals, the services of a --------------(9)---------- should be engaged so that animals can be ------------10------------- checked and treated. Words associated with houses Choose one option from each of the pairs of words below to complete the following the sentences. • Washer (washing) • Drying machine (dryer) • Drawer (closet) • Board (border) • Hangers (hangars) • Top-cloth (table cloth) • Stand (stool) • Dining room (bedroom) • Staircase (stairs) • Cooler (conditioner) A. My mother told my brother to take his clothes out of the laundry basket and put them in the --------------- machine. B. Jane, once you finish washing your clothes, put them in the ----------------. C. Paul, why did you put the cutlery in the wrong ----------------? D. To make your clothes super-smooth, use ironing ---------------. E. We were taught to use clothes ----------------- to hang up our clothes. F. I need to get a white -------------------- for our table. G. A chair without arm or back rest is a ------------------. H. My brother ate in the kitchen yesterday because he didn’t feel like sitting in the ------------------. I. A flight of stairs leading to the second floor in a house is known as a -------------. J. An appliance that cools a house is an air- -----------------------. Eguria.blogspot.com