Basic 7 · Science · Animal Production

Uses of Domestic Animals

In this topic you will discuss the domestic and commercial uses of different types of animals and compare the uses of various domestic animals.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

Describe the domestic uses of animals
Describe the commercial uses of animals
Compare the uses of different domestic animals

What you already know

Domestic animals and their classification

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Lesson 1

Strand: Cycles
Sub-strand: Animal Production
Indicator: B7.2.4.2.1 – Discuss and write the domestic and commercial uses of different types of animals

Introduction

In many Ghanaian homes, a few chickens supply eggs, a goat may be kept for a festival and a dog guards the house at night. Animals serve families in many ways.

1. Food

Animals provide protein-rich food: meat from goats, sheep, cattle, pigs and poultry; eggs from chickens and guinea fowls; and milk from cattle and goats. In northern Ghana, fresh cow's milk is made into local cheese called wagashi. Protein from animal food helps children grow and builds strong muscles.

2. Other Household Uses

Domestic uses

Use	Examples
food	meat, eggs, milk
security	dogs guard homes; guinea fowls make noise when strangers come
companionship	dogs and cats as pets
pest control	cats catch rats and mice
manure	dung for home gardens
ceremonies	sheep at Eid al-Adha, goats and fowls at festivals and rituals, cattle as bride price in some communities
transport and work	donkeys carry loads in northern Ghana

A donkey pulling a cart or carrying a load in northern Ghana

Figure 1: Working animal Draw an animal at work and describe its use.

3. Animals in Culture

Animals are important in Ghanaian culture. Sheep are slaughtered at Eid al-Adha. Goats and fowls are offered during festivals and traditional rituals. In some northern communities, cattle are given as part of marriage arrangements and show wealth and status. Animals also appear in proverbs, folktales and adinkra symbols.

4. Caring for Domestic Animals

Because animals serve us, we must care for them: provide clean water, suitable food and shelter, keep their houses clean, vaccinate them against diseases such as Newcastle disease in poultry and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in goats and sheep, and treat them kindly.

New words

protein: A nutrient for growth found in meat, eggs and milk.
wagashi: A local cheese made from cow's milk.
companionship: Friendship and company.
vaccinate: To give a substance that protects against disease.

Summary

Animals provide food such as meat, eggs and milk for the household.
They also give security, companionship, pest control, manure, transport and are used in ceremonies.
Animals must be cared for with food, water, shelter, vaccination and kindness.

Class activity: Animal Uses at Home

List the animals kept by your families.
Record the uses of each at home.
Present the most common uses to the class.

You need: Printed Ghanaian goat, Pig, Chicken photo cards, Printed animal-product cards, Chicken feather, Eggshell samples

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. Which animal is commonly kept to guard homes?
- A. dog
- B. rabbit
- C. duck
- D. sheep
Show answer
Answer: dogSecurity.
2. Wagashi is made from…
- A. cow's milk
- B. eggs
- C. goat meat
- D. chicken
Show answer
Answer: cow's milkLocal cheese.
3. Cats help control rats and mice.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TruePest control.
4. A nutrient for growth found in meat and eggs is ______.
Show answer
Answer: proteinBody building.
5. State four domestic uses of animals.
Show answer
Answer: Food, security, companionship, manure (or transport, ceremonies).Any four.
6. Explain why vaccination is important for domestic animals.
Show answer
Answer: It protects animals from deadly diseases such as Newcastle disease and PPR, preventing losses.Disease prevention.

Lesson 2

Strand: Cycles
Sub-strand: Animal Production
Indicator: B7.2.4.2.1 – Discuss and write the domestic and commercial uses of different types of animals

Introduction

Some people keep a few animals for home use, but others rear thousands of birds or hundreds of pigs to sell. Animal farming is an important business in Ghana.

1. Income from Animals

Farmers earn money by selling live animals, meat, eggs and milk. Poultry farms around Kumasi, Dormaa and Accra produce eggs and broilers for markets, hotels and restaurants. Livestock markets, such as the large cattle markets in the north and at Ashaiman, bring buyers and sellers together.

2. Animal Products for Industry

Commercial animal products

Product	Animal	Industrial use
hides and skins	cattle, goats, sheep	leather for shoes, bags and drums
wool	sheep (some breeds)	cloth and blankets
feathers	poultry	pillows, decoration
bones and horns	cattle	buttons, crafts, animal feed
manure	all livestock	sold as fertiliser
honey and wax	bees	food, candles, cosmetics

Rows of chickens in a commercial poultry farm

Figure 2: Poultry farm Draw a poultry house and list three products sold from it.

3. Jobs in Animal Production

Animal production creates many jobs: farmers, feed millers, veterinary doctors and nurses, butchers, meat and egg sellers, leather workers, transporters and processors. The Tamale and Kumasi leather industries depend on hides and skins from goats and cattle.

4. Challenges in Commercial Animal Farming

Commercial farmers face high feed costs, diseases such as bird flu and African swine fever, theft, poor roads to markets and competition from imported frozen meat. Good management, vaccination, loans and government support programmes help farmers succeed.

5. Government Support for Animal Farming

The government of Ghana supports animal farming through programmes such as Rearing for Food and Jobs, which provides improved breeds of goats, sheep, pigs and poultry, vaccines and training to farmers. Veterinary services help control diseases, and research institutes develop better breeds and feeds. These efforts aim to increase local meat and egg production and reduce imports.

New words

commercial: Done to make money.
hide: The skin of a large animal such as a cow.
broiler: A chicken reared for meat.
layer: A chicken reared for eggs.

Summary

Farmers earn income by selling animals, meat, eggs and milk.
Animal products such as hides, wool, bones and manure are used in industry.
Animal production creates many jobs but faces challenges such as disease and feed costs.

Class activity: Animal Business Plan

Choose one animal to rear commercially.
List the products you would sell and the costs involved.
Present your simple business plan.

You need: Printed Ghanaian goat, Pig, Chicken photo cards, Printed animal-product cards, Chicken feather, Eggshell samples

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. A chicken reared for meat is a…
- A. broiler
- B. layer
- C. drake
- D. cockerel only
Show answer
Answer: broilerMeat bird.
2. Leather is made from…
- A. hides and skins
- B. feathers
- C. wool
- D. eggs
Show answer
Answer: hides and skinsAnimal skin.
3. Animal production creates jobs.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueMany careers.
4. A chicken reared for eggs is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: layerEgg producer.
5. Name three commercial products from animals and their uses.
Show answer
Answer: Hides for leather, eggs for food, manure as fertiliser.Any three.
6. State two challenges of commercial animal farming and a solution for each.
Show answer
Answer: Diseases (vaccination) and high feed costs (local feed production) (or theft, poor roads).Challenge and solution.

Lesson 3

Strand: Cycles
Sub-strand: Animal Production
Indicator: B7.2.4.2.2 – Observe and compare the uses of the different types of animals

Introduction

Which animal is most useful? The answer depends on what you need. Comparing animals helps families and farmers choose the right ones.

1. Comparing Uses

Uses of domestic animals compared

Animal	Food	Products	Work and other uses
cattle	beef, milk, wagashi	hides, horns, manure	ploughing (bullocks), bride price
goat	meat, milk	skins, manure	festivals and rituals
sheep	mutton	skins, wool (some breeds), manure	Eid al-Adha
pig	pork	lard, manure	fast-growing income
chicken	meat, eggs	feathers, manure	rituals, quick income
dog	not commonly eaten	—	security, hunting, companionship

2. Choosing Animals to Keep

A family with little land may keep chickens or rabbits, which need little space and grow quickly. A farmer with large grasslands may keep cattle. In Muslim communities, pigs are not kept for religious reasons, so goats, sheep and poultry are common. Climate also matters: cattle and donkeys are more common in the drier north.

A livestock market with goats, sheep and cattle

Figure 3: Livestock market Write which animal you would keep and why.

3. Animals Serving Many Purposes

Many animals serve more than one use. A cow gives milk daily, can pull a plough, produces manure for crops and finally gives meat and leather. A chicken lays eggs, controls insects in the compound, provides manure and later meat. Such multi-purpose animals are especially valuable.

4. Comparing Productivity

Animals also differ in how fast they produce. Broilers are ready for market in about six to eight weeks, while cattle take two to three years. Rabbits and pigs produce many young each year, while cattle usually have one calf a year. Farmers consider these differences when planning.

New words

multi-purpose: Serving many uses.
productivity: How much an animal produces in a given time.
mutton: Meat from sheep.
bullock: A castrated bull used for work.

Summary

Domestic animals differ in the food, products and work they provide.
The choice of animal depends on space, religion, climate and needs.
Multi-purpose and fast-producing animals are especially valuable.

Class activity: Best Animal Debate

Each group chooses one domestic animal.
Argue why it is the most useful, comparing it with others.
Vote on the most convincing argument.

You need: Printed Ghanaian goat, Pig, Chicken photo cards, Printed animal-product cards, Chicken feather, Eggshell samples

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. Meat from sheep is called…
- A. mutton
- B. beef
- C. pork
- D. chevon
Show answer
Answer: muttonSheep meat.
2. Which animal is ready for market in about six to eight weeks?
- A. broiler chicken
- B. cow
- C. goat
- D. sheep
Show answer
Answer: broiler chickenFast growing.
3. A cow can provide milk, manure, work and meat.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueMulti-purpose.
4. A castrated bull used for work is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: bullockDraught animal.
5. Compare the uses of a goat and a pig.
Show answer
Answer: Goat: meat, milk, skins, rituals; pig: pork, lard, fast income.Comparison.
6. Why might a family with little land keep chickens instead of cattle?
Show answer
Answer: Chickens need little space and feed, grow quickly and provide eggs and meat.Space and cost.

Homework

Interview a farmer about the animals they keep and the uses of each.