Land And It’s Uses

Land can be defined as the solid part of the earth’s surface that supports production such as crop and livestock production.

USE OF LAND

The use of land can be classified into 2 groups

1.   Use of land for agricultural purpose

2.   Use of land for non-agricultural purposes

1.   Use of Land for Agricultural Purpose: This is an area of land that is specifically used for agricultural production.

2.   Use of Land for Non Agricultural Purpose: This is a piece of land that is used for non-agricultural purposes


USE OF LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSE

1.   Crop Production: Land is used for the production of food and cash crops such as maize, rice, millet cowpea cassava, cocoa, cotton, cashew, kolanut, rubber, groundnut etc.

2.   Livestock Production: Land is also used for the production of livestock such as cattle, sheep, goat, poultry production etc.

3.   Livestock Grazing: Land is used for planting of grasses upon which livestock like cattle, sheep and goat graze.

4.   Forestry: Land is used to establish forest reserves from where some resources are tapped for man’s use

5.   Fishery: Land is used for the construction of ponds where fishes and other aquatic are raised

6.   Wildlife and Games Reserves: Land is used for wildlife conservation which are centres of attraction.    

7.   Construction of Dam: Land is used for the construction of dam for the purpose of irrigation in agriculture.


USE OF LAND FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSE

1.   Housing:  land is used for the construction of residential building, estates, offices and other farm  settlement

2.   Transport: land is used for the construction of roads, railway, airports, seaports etc.

3.   Socio-Economic Activities: Land is used for the construction of schools, hospitals, stadia, churches, mosques, recreation centre etc.

4.   Industrial use: Land is also used for the construction of various industries that produce different goods e.g. oil industries

5.   Mining: land where minerals are found are used for mining.

Livestock Management Practices

Livestock management refers to adequate or intensive care given to animals to ensure maximum production.

The major considerations in livestock management practices system are:

1.   The type of animal and the use of the right animal

2.   Selection of right breed

3.   The housing system to be used

4.   Type of feeding or the feeding system

5.   Hygiene and sanitation practices

HOUSING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

          The housing management practices depend on the size and the type of animal. Generally, we have the following housing management

1.   Free range or extensive system

2.   Intensive system

3.   Semi intensive system

FREE RANGE OF EXTENSIVE SYSTEM

          This is a system of animal management whereby animals are given very little or no care at all.


Animals are to go out to look for food themselves and to sleep anywhere at night.

ADVANTAGES

1.   There is little or no cost of feeding

2.   Spread of diseases is at the minimum level

3.   It does not involve much labour

DISADVANTAGES

1.   Under this system, record keeping is difficult

2.   Animals could be killed by wild animal

3.   Animals can be easily infected with diseases

4.   Disease infected animal cannot be easily identified or located for treatment 




INTENSIVE SYSTEM

In this system of livestock management animals are kept indoor throughout the period of rearing. They are given food, water and other necessary things for their growth and development.

In poultry, intensive management system include the following

1.   Battery cage system: This housing system is considered good for layers and it is a system where birds are kept in cage.




2.   Deep litter system: This is a system where birds are kept in a house with concrete floor and litter (saw dust or saw wood) to absorb the drooping of birds.

ADVANTAGES OF INTENSIVE SYSTEM   

1.   It aids record keeping

2.   Disease infected animal can be identified for treatment

3.   It aids proper monitoring of animal especially the ones kept for breeding.

4.   Animals are provided with required nutrition for their growth and development

5.   Animals under intensive system are not exposed to diseases

DISADVANTAGES

1.   This system is costly

2.   It is labour intensive

3.   Diseases spread faster


SEMI-INTENSIVE SYSTEM   

This is a system of animal management whereby animals are provided with housing and are allowed to move about within a fenced area during the day.


ADVANTAGES OF SEMI-INTENSIVE SYSTEM   

1.   It is not labour intensive

2.   Spread of diseases is minimal

3.   Management cost is relatively low



DISADVANTAGES OF SEMI-INTENSIVE SYSTEM   

1.   Record keeping could be difficult

2.   Theft case could result

3.   They are liable to diseases attack