VKU 250 – COMPLETE MASTER SUMMARY (ALL
WORK)
1. BIG PICTURE (CORE IDEA)
Livestock production =
Animal (genetics) + Environment + Management (humans)
Humans are the most important factor (Bonsma)
Everything links:
Environment → Feed → Animal → Production
2. VALUE CHAIN
Full process:
• Production → Processing → Distribution → Retail
Role players:
• Farmers
• Processors
• Transport
• Retail
3. LIVESTOCK BASICS
Livestock = animals used for:
• Meat
• Milk
• Eggs
• Wool
• Leather
PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
• Extensive → low input, natural adaptation
• Intensive → high control (feedlots)
• Semi → in-between
Feedlot = INTENSIVE
4. SOUTH AFRICA = LIVESTOCK COUNTRY
• 80% land = agriculture
• 69% = grazing
Therefore:
Livestock dominates
, 5. MAIN INDUSTRIES
• Poultry → largest
• Beef → major
• Dairy → high value
• Sheep → wool + meat
• Goats → meat + fibre
6. DOMESTICATION (VERY IMPORTANT)
Definition:
Genetic adaptation of animals to humans
WHY IT HAPPENED
• Climate change (Ice Age)
• Food shortage
TAMING vs DOMESTICATION
• Taming → behaviour
• Domestication → genetics
SELECTION
• Natural → survival
• Artificial → human choice
• Unconscious → accidental
7. GENETICS & BREEDS
DEFINITIONS
• Species → can interbreed
• Breed → same species, different traits
TRAITS
• Fitness → survival
• Production → output
• Type → body
• Behaviour → temperament
• Quality → product quality
WORK)
1. BIG PICTURE (CORE IDEA)
Livestock production =
Animal (genetics) + Environment + Management (humans)
Humans are the most important factor (Bonsma)
Everything links:
Environment → Feed → Animal → Production
2. VALUE CHAIN
Full process:
• Production → Processing → Distribution → Retail
Role players:
• Farmers
• Processors
• Transport
• Retail
3. LIVESTOCK BASICS
Livestock = animals used for:
• Meat
• Milk
• Eggs
• Wool
• Leather
PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
• Extensive → low input, natural adaptation
• Intensive → high control (feedlots)
• Semi → in-between
Feedlot = INTENSIVE
4. SOUTH AFRICA = LIVESTOCK COUNTRY
• 80% land = agriculture
• 69% = grazing
Therefore:
Livestock dominates
, 5. MAIN INDUSTRIES
• Poultry → largest
• Beef → major
• Dairy → high value
• Sheep → wool + meat
• Goats → meat + fibre
6. DOMESTICATION (VERY IMPORTANT)
Definition:
Genetic adaptation of animals to humans
WHY IT HAPPENED
• Climate change (Ice Age)
• Food shortage
TAMING vs DOMESTICATION
• Taming → behaviour
• Domestication → genetics
SELECTION
• Natural → survival
• Artificial → human choice
• Unconscious → accidental
7. GENETICS & BREEDS
DEFINITIONS
• Species → can interbreed
• Breed → same species, different traits
TRAITS
• Fitness → survival
• Production → output
• Type → body
• Behaviour → temperament
• Quality → product quality
