Project 2 – Feeding and Caring for Farm Animals | Question Answer | Class 8 Vocational Education – Kaushal Bodh
Page 35
Q1. Name of the place or farmer/animal owner visited.
Ans: I visited the farm of Mr. Ramesh Patil in my village.
Q2. Types and number of animal owned.
Ans: He has 4 cows, 2 buffaloes, 5 goats, and 15 hens.
Q3. Important activities of the day.
Ans: The important activities are:
• Feeding animals with green fodder and dry straw.
• Giving them clean water.
• Milking the cows and buffaloes.
• Cleaning the shelter and collecting cow dung.
• Letting goats and hens out for grazing and pecking.
Q4. Number of people involved in the activities.
Ans: Three people – the farmer, his wife, and his son – look after the animals every day.
Q5. Describe daily activities.
Ans:
• In the morning, animals are fed green fodder and water.
• Cows and buffaloes are milked twice daily.
• The shelter is cleaned and dung is collected for manure.
• Goats are taken for grazing, and hens are left free to search for food.
• In the evening, animals are again given dry fodder, grains, and water.
• At night, they are tied inside the shelter safely.
Feeding
• Food given: Green fodder (Napier grass), dry fodder (wheat straw), grains, and oil cake.
• Food source: Fodder grown on the farm + some grains purchased.
• Feeding method: Both grazing and in-shelter feeding.
• Quantity & cost: Each cow gets ~15–20 kg fodder daily; some feed is purchased, costing around ₹500 per week.
• Times fed: Twice a day.
• Feeding container: Yes, troughs and buckets are used.
• Food free or purchased: Mostly free from the farm, some purchased.
Water
• Source: Tube well water.
• Changed: Twice daily.
• Clean: Yes, fresh water is given.
• Waste collection: Cow dung and urine are collected in a pit.
• Use: Used as organic manure in fields and for making biogas.
Bathing and Cleaning
• Method: Animals are bathed with water and scrubbed.
• Frequency: Once in 2–3 days in summer; less often in winter.
Shelter
• Type: Permanent shed made of bricks and tin roof.
• Number of animals: About 25 animals.
• Decision: Based on space and family’s capacity.
• Light and air: Yes, proper ventilation.
• Floor: Cemented floor with a slope for drainage.
• Cleaning: Done by family members daily.
• Protection: Tin sheets and straw used in rain; gunny bags and warm cloth in winter; shade in summer.
Health
• Common diseases: Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), tick infestation.
• Medicines: Yes, deworming tablets and vaccines are given.
• Home remedies: Neem leaves, turmeric paste for wounds.
• Medical help: Veterinary doctor visits when needed.
• Vaccines: Regular vaccination against FMD and HS (Hemorrhagic Septicemia).
Use of Waste
• Collected daily in a pit.
• Used as organic manure and for biogas plant.
Any other specific observation
• The farmer had named his cows, and they responded when he called them.
• Music was played in the cowshed, and the farmer said it helped cows stay calm and give more milk.
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Q1. The relationship between the farmer/animal owner and the animal is essential for its well-being. For example, does the animal recogniseits owner? How does it react to the presence of the owner?
Ans: Yes, the animals recognise their owner. When the farmer comes, cows wag their tails and goats come close to him. The animals look calm and happy in his presence.
Q2. Does the farmer/animal owner have a specific name for the animals? What criteria were used for naming animals? How do they recognise individual animals?
Ans: Yes, the farmer has given names to his cows like Gauri and Laxmi. He names them based on colour, behaviour, or birth order. The animals respond to their names when called.
Q3. What are the reasons for keeping animals on the farm (e.g., farm labour, dairy, wool)?
Answer:
•Cows and buffaloes are kept for milk.
•Goats are kept for meat and milk.
•Hens are kept for eggs.
•Bullocks are used for ploughing and carrying loads.
Q4. Talk to a farmer/animal owner or your friends, and find a story about the relationship between a farmer/animal owner and the animal. You can also find any local poem or a folk song about farm animals.
Answer: My friend told me about a farmer whose cow stopped eating when he was sick. When the farmer recovered and visited the cowshed, the cow licked his hand and started eating again. This shows their emotional bond.
Local song: “Govinda Ala Re” sung during Pola festival praises the role of bulls in farming.
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Q1. What are the most common livestock in your locality?
Ans: The most common livestock in my locality are cows, buffaloes, goats, and poultry (hens).
Q2. List the important breeds of livestock in your locality. Try to find out whether they are indigenous or brought from other places.
Ans:
• Cows – Khilari (indigenous), Holstein Friesian cross (imported)
• Goats – Sangamneri (indigenous)
• Poultry – Broiler (commercial), Deshi (local breed)
Table 2.2: Record of information about local farm animals
| My locality | Common farm animal in my area | Common breeds | Common use |
| Shirur block of Pune district | Cow, goat, poultry | Cow: Khilari, Holstein Friesian (HF) cross Goat: Sangamneri Poultry: Broiler, Deshi | Cow: Milk production Goat: Meat & Milk Poultry: Chicken & Eggs |
| Ahmednagar rural area | Buffalo, cow, goat | Buffalo: Murrah (brought from Haryana) Cow: Gir (indigenous) Goat: Osmanabadi | Buffalo: Milk Cow: Milk Goat: Meat |
| Satara district | Sheep, cow, poultry | Sheep: Deccani (indigenous) Cow: Sahiwal (indigenous) Poultry: Broiler | Sheep: Wool & Meat Cow: Milk Poultry: Eggs & Meat |
Q3. Which fodder crops or food sources are used for livestock in your area?
Ans: The main fodder crops and food sources used are:
• Green fodder: Maize, Napier grass, Berseem, Lucerne
• Dry fodder: Jowar straw, Bajra straw, Wheat and Paddy straw
• Concentrates: Grains (maize, wheat), oil cakes, bran
• Other sources: Poultry feed, kitchen waste, grazing on open fields
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Q1. List the common infectious diseases that affect livestock.
Answer: Common infectious diseases that affect livestock
•Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
•Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS)
•Black Quarter (BQ)
•Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in goats
Q2. List three major difficulties farmers face while vaccinating their livestock.
Answer: Difficulties in vaccinating animals
•Farmers do not always know vaccination dates.
•Veterinary doctors are not available in all villages.
•Some animals resist injections and become aggressive.
Q3. What are the other standard healthcare measures farmers take to protect their animals besides vaccination?
• Deworming medicines
• Regular bathing and cleaning
• Applying neem/turmeric paste for wounds
• Proper shelter against weather
Q4. Are there any beliefs associated with vaccinating livestock among farmers (for example, there is a belief that milk or meat becomes poisonous after vaccination)? Try to find out the reasons behind these beliefs. Ask the veterinary practitioner about them.
Answer: Beliefs related to vaccination
Some farmers believe that after vaccination, milk or meat becomes harmful. This is a myth. Veterinary doctors explain that vaccines are safe and protect animals from deadly diseases.
Q5. Are there any homemade medicines or home-based remedies for livestock reared by farmers or animal owners in your locality? List any three with their uses.
Answer: Home remedies used by farmers
i. Neem leaves paste – to kill ticks and lice.
ii. Turmeric and mustard oil paste – applied on wounds.
iii. Ginger, garlic, betel leaves, and rock salt – for indigestion.
Q6. What medical facilities are available for animals in the area? (For example, a veterinary clinic with a residential doctor, or visiting doctor, and medical shops.)
Medical facilities available
• A veterinary clinic in the nearby town with a resident doctor.
• A mobile veterinary van visits the village once a week.
• Medical shop selling animal medicines and vaccines.
Table 2.4: Annual vaccination schedule
| Name of disease | Associated farm animal | Vaccination schedule | Remarks |
| Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) | Cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pigs | Every 6 months | Free of cost |
| Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) | Cattle, buffalo | Once a year (before monsoon) | Prevents sudden death |
| Black Quarter (BQ) | Cattle, buffalo | Once a year | Given with HS vaccine |
| PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants) | Goats, sheep | Once a year | Prevents viral disease |
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Q6. How do respiration rate and body temperature relate to animal health? Explain it in relation to your own health.
Ans: Normal respiration rate and temperature show good health. If temperature is high, it means the animal may have fever or infection. If breathing is too fast, it may show stress or disease. Just like in humans, fever or difficulty in breathing signals illness.
Table 2.5: Recording health parameters
| S. No. | Animal details | Visual observations | Body temperature | Respiration (rate/min) |
| 1. | Cow, Gir breed, 5 years | Eyes clear, skin shiny, nostrils clean | 101.5 °F | 30 |
| 2. | Goat, Black Bengal, 2 years | Eyes bright, slight tick infection | 102 °F | 20 |
Table 2.6: Body measurement of animal
| S. No. | Animal | Length (inches) | Girth (inches) |
| 1. | Goat | 30 | 28 |
| 2. | Cow | 55 | 65 |
Table 2.7: Record of weight of animals using body measurement
| S. No. | Animal | Length (inches) | Girth (inches) | Estimated weight (kg) |
| 1. | Goat | 30 | 28 | (30 × 28²) ÷ 600 = 39.2 kg |
| 2. | Cow | 55 | 65 | (55 × 65²) ÷ 330 = 701 kg |
Table 2.9: Feeding chart for animals
| Particulars | Weight of the animal | Given DM % | Concentrate feed | Dry fodder | Green fodder | Actual green fodder requirement |
| Goat | 40 kg | 3% (1200 g) | 300 g | 225 g | 675 g | 3375 g |
| Cow | 400 kg | 2.5% (10,000 g) | 2500 g | 1875 g | 5625 g | 28,125 g |
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Q1. Have you seen storage spaces for green fodder in farms or animal shelters? How do farmers/animal owners store green fodder? Do they use fresh fodder everyday?
Ans: Yes, many farmers store green fodder in small pits or heaps covered with plastic sheets. Some use silage bags. Usually, fresh fodder is cut daily from the field, but in summer or drought, stored silage is used.
Q2. How is the fodder requirement calculated? Is there any wastage of fodder? Approximately how much green fodder gets wasted daily? What are the reasons for wastage?
Ans: Fodder requirement is calculated based on the weight of the animal (2–3% of body weight as Dry Matter). Sometimes fodder gets wasted if animals don’t like it, if it spoils in rain, or if it is given in excess. On average, 2–3 kg may get wasted daily per cow.
Q3. What are the key challenges in gathering green fodder, silage bags, and chopping? Do farmers/animal owners think silage is useful in overcoming these challenges?
Ans: Challenges include shortage of labour, cost of silage bags, and difficulty in chopping fodder. Yes, farmers find silage very useful because it reduces wastage, stores fodder for months, and maintains nutrition.
Q4. What were the key difficulties you faced while making silage? What, in your opinion, would you do differently next time?
Ans: The fodder was difficult to press tightly into the bag, and air removal was not perfect. Next time, we will use a fodder-cutting machine and press the bag better to make good-quality silage.
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Q1. How do farmers/animal owners store dry fodder? Do they chop dry fodder before feeding it to the animals? If not, why?
Ans: Farmers store dry fodder in bundles or heaps under sheds. Some chop it before feeding, but many do not, because it takes extra time and effort.
Q2. Do you see any advantages of chopping dry or green fodder? Explain your response.
Ans: Yes, chopping makes fodder easier to eat and digest. It reduces wastage and helps animals chew better.
Q3. What were the key difficulties you faced while making dry fodder? What, in your opinion, would you do differently next time?
Ans: The mixture of jaggery and salt was sticky and hard to spread evenly. Next time, we will dissolve it properly in water and sprinkle more carefully so all fodder gets coated.
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Q1. Does the animal accept the silage and treated dry fodder? If yes, do you think it was consuming it happily or just finishing it because it was hungry? If the animal is not accepting the feed, ask the farmer/animal owner for the probable reason.
Ans: Yes, the goat and cow both accepted the feed happily. They ate the silage faster, showing they liked its smell and taste. The dry fodder was also eaten without much hesitation.
Q2. What was the farmer/animal owner’s reaction or feedback on the fodder you prepared? Does the farmer/animal owner find it useful? If not, what are the reasons?
Ans: The farmer was happy with the silage and said it would be useful during dry months. He also liked the jaggery-treated dry fodder as it improved taste and reduced wastage.
Table 2.10: Preparation of home diseases
| Symptoms / Disease | Ingredients used | Preparation method | How to use |
| Indigestion in cow/goat | 10 betel leaves, 20 g ginger, 10 g pepper, 10 g garlic, 50 g rock salt | Pound all ingredients, mix in lukewarm water | Give to large animals every 6 hours |
| Tick / parasite infection | Neem leaves, turmeric powder, lantana leaves | Crush leaves, mix turmeric in water to make paste | Apply on skin of animal to repel ticks |
Page 56
Q1. Design a first-aid medical box for livestock. List the materials you will add to the box, with ingredients and precise measures.
Ans: The first-aid box will contain:
•Digital thermometer – for checking temperature
•Antiseptic solution (Dettol) – for cleaning wounds
•Cotton and bandages – for dressing
•Scissors and small knife – for cutting ropes/bandage
•Neem oil – for skin infections and ticks
•Turmeric powder – for minor wounds
•Rock salt – for indigestion remedy
•Deworming tablets – for internal parasites
•Vaccination schedule card – to record vaccine dates
Q2. Do you use similar home remedies at home? List a few examples.
Ans: Yes, at home we also use simple remedies like:
• Turmeric milk for cold and cough
• Ginger with honey for sore throat
• Aloe vera gel for burns or skin rashes
Q1. What did you learn from farmers/animal owners and friends while doing the project?
Answer: I learnt that farmers work very hard every day to feed, clean, and protect their animals. They treat animals with love and care as part of their family. I also learnt how they prepare fodder, use home remedies, and depend on animals for milk, manure, and farm work.
Q2. Name any three skills that you have learnt while working with the experts.
Anwers:
i. How to measure animals and estimate their body weight.
ii. How to prepare silage and treat dry fodder.
iii. How to observe animal health and record temperature and respiration rate.
Think and Answer
Q1. What were the challenges you faced?
Answer: Some animals were scared or aggressive, so it was difficult to go near them. Pressing fodder tightly into the silage bag was also hard. Another challenge was understanding scientific terms.
Q2. What will you do differently next time?
Answer: Next time, I will prepare better by carrying proper tools, follow safety rules more carefully, and work in a group to divide the tasks.
Q3. Do we provide proper care and health treatments to our farm animals? Do we have appropriate technologies and infrastructure?
Answer: In many villages, animals do not get full medical care because veterinary clinics are far away. Some farmers use traditional remedies, but vaccines are not given regularly. However, new technologies like mobile veterinary vans and animal healthcare apps are improving the situation.
Q4. How has the role of farm animals changed with changes in human society?
Answer: Earlier, animals were the main source of farm labour and transport. Now tractors and machines have reduced their use in farming and carrying loads. But animals are still very important for milk, eggs, meat, wool, and manure.
Q5. Identify a few examples of jobs related to the work you just did.
Answer:
• Veterinarian – treats and vaccinates animals.
• Animal scientist – researches animal nutrition and health.
• Herder – takes care of goats, sheep, or camels.
• Farmer – rears animals for milk, meat, eggs, or wool.
• Dairy worker – works in milk collection and processing centres.