Pig Breeds
Characteristics:
- They are sparsely haired and therefore cannot withstand cold.
- Pigs wallow when it is hot due to absence of sweat glands.
- They breathe fast when it is hot.
- They have bristles instead of hair.
Breeds
Large White
- Origin: Britain
- Kept for bacon and pork production.
- Long, large and white in colour.
- Ears straight and erect.
- Has dished face and snout.
- Most prolific and with good mothering ability.
- Fairly hardy.
Landrace
- Origin: Denmark
- White and longer than large white.
- Ears drooping.
- Good for bacon production.
- Very prolific with good mothering ability.
- Requires high level of management.
Wessex Saddle
- Back Origin: England
- Colour: Black with white forelegs and shoulders.
- Straight snout and drooping ears.
- Good for bacon and pork.
- Good for keeping outdoors.
- Excellent mothering instincts.
Other pig breeds include:
- Berkshire,
- Middle-white
- Duroc Jersey pig.
Pigs can be crossed to obtain hybrids or crosses.
Advantages of Crosses
- Increased litter size.
- Early maturing.
- Increase in body length.
- High proportion of lean meat to fat.
Poultry Breeds
There are three types of chicken breeds:
- The light breeds kept for egg production.
- The heavy breeds kept for meat production.
- Dual purpose breeds - kept for both eggs and meat production.
Characteristics of Light Breeds
- Never go broody hence poor sitters.
- Excellent layers (over 220 eggs per year).
- Poor meat producers (hens can attain 2kg; cocks 3kgs)
- Very nervous and exhibit high degree of cannibalism.
- Hen's comb is large and bent over one eye and cock's comb is large with 5 - 6 serrations.
Examples:
- Leghorns,
- Anconas,
- Silkies,
- Minorcas.
Characteristics of Heavy Breeds
- Can lay few eggs and provide good meat as broilers.
- Can go broody.
- Heavier and bigger in size.
- Grow fast.
Examples:
- Light Sussex,
- Cornish Dark
- White.
Characteristics of Dual-Purpose Breeds
- Go broody.
- Have good meat.
- Disease resistant (do not require high standard of management).
- Rarely exhibit cannibalism.
Examples: Rhode Island Red.
Hybrids
- These are developed by crossing two different breeds.
- They are superior in performance.
- Can attain 2kg in 56 days for broilers and layover 200 eggs per year for layers.
Examples:
- Shavers,
- Thombers
- Isabrown.
Rabbit Breeds
Kept for the following reasons:
- To provide meat, fur, hair or wool.
- To provide skin for leather.
- To provide manure.
- As pet animals.
- Used for research purposes.
Breeds
- Californian white: white, very prolific black ears, nose and feet).
- New Zealand white: (white with pink eyes - good for meat).
- Flemish giant (dark grey - good for meat).
- Angora rabbit (white, kept for wool production).
- Chinchillah (greyish, kept for its fur).
- Earlops (white with droopy ears).
- Kenya white (white, smallest of breeds).
Camels Breeds
Kept for;
- Transport,
- Racing,
- To provide milk, meat and wool.
There are two species of camels.
Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)
- Origin: Arabia and Syria
- Are single humped, have light body
- Good for racing and rapid transport.
Bacterian (Camelus bacterianus)
- Origin: Central Asia
- Has double humps, heavier and has shorter legs.
- Can live in cold regions hence its thick and long coat acts as insulation.
- Capable of shedding the coat during spring.
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