WEEK 10
SUBJECT: AGRIC SCIENCE
CLASS: GRADE 8
TOPIC: FARM ANIMAL PARASITES
DEFINITION: A farm animal
parasite is any organism that lives and derives its means of livelihood from
the body of another organism. A parasite obtains its nutrients and water from
the body of another animal (host). A host is the animal on which a parasite
lives and derives its food.
CLASSIFICATION OF FARM PARASITES: Parasites can
be classified (grouped) into two broad groups. These groups are
(a) Ectoparasites: These are
organisms that live on the body (i.e. on the outside) of another organism.
Examples tick, mite
(b) Endoparasites: These are
organisms which live inside the body system of its host organism. These include
tapeworm, roundworm, liver fluke, etc.
GENERAL EFFECTS
OF PARASITES ON FARM ANIMALS: The following are some common effects of parasites on farm animals:
1.
They cause hunger.
2.
They bring about abdominal pains and discomfort to the host animal.
3.
They cause indigestion and vomiting.
4.
They cause disease infection.
5.
Their excretory products are usually poisonous to the host animal.
6.
Heavy infestation causes irritation, distress, blood loss and diarrhea.
7.
They lead to loss of weight and retarded growth.
8.
They cause low productivity of farm animals and crop yield and could lead to
the death of farm animals and loss to the farmer.
METHOD OF CONTROLLING FARM ANIMAL
PARASITES: To
avoid low productivity and the eventual loss of farm animals, a farmer must
adopt some methods to control parasite infestations:
(i) Quarantine: New stock should
be kept separately and checked regularly before allowing such stock to enter
the country.
(ii) Rearing of resistant breed: Animal breeds
that are resistant to the parasite should always be kept and reared by the
farmer in order to discourage the attack by parasites and diseases.
(iii) Good Feeding: Animals should
be properly fed on a good feed and balanced diet. This will go a long way in
preventing the animal from being susceptible to pest and diseases attack.
(iv) Rotational grazing: Animals should
be grazed on a rotational manner from time to time to render the parasite ineffective
i.e. when parasites have no animals to live on for a period of time they die.
(v) Isolation: A situation
whereby all sick and unhealthy animals will be separated from the healthy ones
in order to avoid infestation and contamination.
(vi) Good hygiene: Good, proper
sanitation of farm houses and paddocks should be observed all the time in order
to discourage invasion by parasitic organisms.
ASSIGNMENT:
1. What are farm animal parasites?
2.
Differentiate between endoparasite and ectoparasites.
3.List
three general effects of parasites on farm animals.
4.
List six methods of controlling farm animal parasites and explain two.
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