Important Guide to Good Cattle Production in Ghana

Cattle is one of the livestock species predominantly kept by both local farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Ghana.

They are commonly kept for meat and this accounts for about 33% of all locally produced meat. A Recent investigation by the Ministry of Agriculture and some NGO has given some farmers the opportunity to keep dairy animals. There are a number of cattle species in Ghana but the dominant ones are; Sanga, West African Shorthorn, Ndama and their crosses.

Read also: What is the Agricultural Solution for Nomadic Fulani Herdsmen and Crop Farmers in Ghana?

Cattle are classified into:

• Beef cattle for meat production
• Dairy cattle for milk production
• Dual purpose cattle for beef and milk

Raising Cattle

Things to consider before starting cattle production

• Breeding stock (1 bull – 25 cows).
• Housing and equipment.
• Feeding.
• Health management.

Read also: Detailed Guide to Pig Production and Management in Ghana

Breeding Stock

Breeds for cattle production are local (indigenous) or foreign (exotic). You may use cross breeds which have certain advantages and not exotic which have difficulties withstanding the harsh climatic conditions.

Selection of breeding stock

Cows

• Cows should have well-developed udder and teats
• They should have large hindquarters
• Cows must be docile and have good mothering ability
• They should have good body conformation

Bulls

• They should have well-developed testes of equal size
• Bulls should have very strong hind legs
• They should be very active and not shy ( a shy breeder is a bull that will neither allow any bull to cross a cow nor cross itself)
• Bulls should have good body conformation.

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Mating

Mating takes place when the cow is on heat. Heat is repeated every 21 days. The main sign of heat is that the female mounts other cows and allows others to mount it. It becomes restless and the vulva becomes red.

Housing and equipment

Farmers use simple housing made from locally available materials to construct kraals. Materials required for housing include bamboo tree branches wood scantling and thatch, floor space for housing is 2.5-3m² per cattle. Site the housing on the outskirts of the town and have an adequate supply of water. It should be well ventilated.

Equipment required include

Weighing scale, burdizzo, dehorners, watering and feeding troughs, milking utensils etc.

Feeding

Cattle are ruminant herbivores and for that matter, they feed mainly on grass. For the semi-intensive system, they send cattle out to graze during the day. Pastures may also be developed to feed the animals. About one acre of developed pasture may be adequate for matured cattle a year. Example of grass and legumes used on pastures include Panicum maximum (Guinea grass) Leucaena spp, elephant grass, Centrosema, etc. Also, you may use supplementary feeds such as wheat bran, spent malt and concentrates. To enhance feed utilization and steady growth especially during the dry season, they recommend it, to give minerals block or urea-molasses block.

Read also: Paddock Grazing System: A Solution to Cattle Production in Africa

Health Management

Improved health management requires regular cleaning of kraals and vaccination of the animals against scheduled diseases such as foot & mouth disease, Anthrax, Brucellosis, Lumpy skin and Rinderpest.

Husbandry Practices

• Castrate males at 3-6 months
• Trim hoof when required
• Dehorn/disbud at 1-2 months old
• Clean kraals and pens daily
• Dip/spray against ectoparasites often in the wet season.
• Deworm young animals regularly

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Production parameters involving improved breeds (crossbreed)

Reference: http://mofa.gov.gh