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Crop production

Here are Form Three KLB Agriculture Notes — clear, well-organized, and matching the Kenyan secondary school syllabus.


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FORM THREE AGRICULTURE NOTES (KLB)

TOPIC 1: SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

1.1 Soil Erosion

Definition: Removal of topsoil by agents like water, wind, gravity or animals.

Types of Soil Erosion

1. Splash erosion – raindrop impact.


2. Sheet erosion – uniform removal of thin soil layer.


3. Rill erosion – small channels formed on the ground.


4. Gully erosion – deep, wide channels.


5. Wind erosion – soil blown away in dry regions.

Factors Influencing Soil Erosion

Soil type

Slope/gradient

Vegetation cover

Rainfall intensity

Human activities (deforestation, overgrazing)


Control Measures

Contour farming

Terracing

Strip cropping

Mulching

Planting cover crops

Agroforestry

Gabions and bench terraces

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TOPIC 2: WATER CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION

2.1 Water Conservation Methods

Mulching

Terracing

Use of ridges and furrows

Water harvesting (roof catchment, pans, dams)

Planting drought-resistant crops

Minimum tillage


2.2 Irrigation Methods

1. Surface irrigation

Furrow

Basin

Border irrigation

2. Sub-surface irrigation


3. Sprinkler irrigation


4. Drip irrigation

Advantages of Irrigation

Enables crop production all year

Increases yield

Improves soil moisture

Reduces crop failure


Disadvantages

Expensive to install

Requires skilled labour

Waterlogging/salinization may occur

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TOPIC 3: LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION – NUTRITION

3.1 Types of Feeds

Roughages: bulky feeds like hay, pasture, silage.

Concentrates: energy feeds (maize meal) and protein feeds (fishmeal, sunflower).


3.2 Components of Livestock Diet

Energy

Protein

Vitamins

Minerals

Water

Fibre


3.3 Digestive Systems

Ruminants: cattle, sheep, goats. 4 stomachs (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum).

Non-ruminants: pigs, poultry.


3.4 Feeding Methods

Zero grazing

Free range

Tethering

Semi-intensive

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TOPIC 4: LIVESTOCK HEALTH (DISEASES & PARASITES)

4.1 Types of Diseases

Deficiency diseases – lack of nutrients (rickets).

Contagious diseases – spread easily (CBPP, FMD).

Non-contagious diseases – not easily spread (bloat, milk fever).


4.2 Parasites

External parasites

Ticks

Fleas

Lice

Mange mites


Control Methods

Spraying, dipping, dusting

Rotational grazing

Keeping housing clean


Internal parasites

Tapeworms

Liver flukes

Roundworms


Control: deworming, pasture management, clean water.


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TOPIC 5: FARM POWER AND MACHINERY

5.1 Sources of Power

Human

Animal

Mechanical (tractors)

Electrical

Solar

Wind


5.2 Tractor Systems

Engine

Transmission

Hydraulic system

Cooling and lubrication systems


5.3 Farm Implements

Primary tillage

Mouldboard plough

Disc plough

Subsoiler


Secondary tillage

Harrows (disc, spike-tooth, spring-tooth)


Planting & Harvesting Tools

Planters, seed drills

Combine harvester

Mowers

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TOPIC 6: CROP PRODUCTION – CEREALS, LEGUMES, CASH CROPS

Cereals: maize, wheat, rice, sorghum.

Legumes: beans, cowpeas, green grams.

Cash crops: coffee, tea, sugarcane, cotton.

Crop Production Steps

1. Land preparation


2. Planting


3. Fertilizer/manure application


4. Weed control


5. Pest & disease control


6. Harvesting


7. Storage


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TOPIC 7: AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

7.1 Farm Records

Cash book

Inventory

Production records

Income statement

Balance sheet


7.2 Labour

Permanent

Casual

Contract


7.3 Farm Planning & Budgeting

Enterprise selection

Budget preparation

Resource allocation

Animal health

TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL HEALTH

1.1 Meaning of Animal Health

Animal health refers to the general well-being of livestock and the absence of diseases, parasites, injuries or stress.

1.2 Importance of Animal Health

Ensures high productivity (milk, meat, eggs, wool).

Reduces mortality.

Reduces veterinary costs.

Ensures safe animal products for consumers.

Improves market value of animals.

Prevents spread of zoonoses.

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TOPIC 2: SIGNS OF HEALTH AND ILL-HEALTH

2.1 Signs of a Healthy Animal

Bright eyes

Smooth hair coat

Normal appetite

Active and alert

Normal respiration and temperature

Normal faeces and urine

Good body condition

Social behaviour

2.2 Signs of Ill-Health

Dull eyes

Rough hair coat

Loss of appetite

Isolation from others

Diarrhoea or constipation

Laboured breathing

Discharge from nose/eyes

Coughing, sneezing

Lameness

Abnormal behaviour (biting, kicking, weakness)

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TOPIC 3: DISEASES IN LIVESTOCK

3.1 Meaning of Disease

A disease is any abnormal condition that affects the normal functioning of an animal.

3.2 Classification of Diseases

A. Contagious (Infectious) Diseases

Caused by pathogens and easily spread.

Examples:

CBPP (Cattle)

FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease)

CCPP (Goats)

Newcastle disease (Poultry)

Rinderpest (historical)

B. Non-contagious Diseases

Not easily spread.

Examples:

Milk fever

Bloat

Acidosis

Ketosis

C. Deficiency Diseases

Caused by lack of nutrients.

Examples:

Rickets (calcium/vitamin D)

Anaemia (iron)

Pica (phosphorus)

D. Parasitic Diseases

Caused by internal/external parasites.

Examples:

Liver fluke

Tapeworm

Mange

Tick fever (ECF)

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TOPIC 4: PARASITES AND PARASITISM

4.1 Types of Parasites

A. External Parasites

Ticks

Fleas

Lice

Mites

Tsetse flies

B. Internal Parasites

Roundworms

Tapeworms

Liver flukes

Lungworms

4.2 Effects of Parasites

Loss of appetite

Poor growth and weight loss

Anaemia

Transmission of diseases (ECF, trypanosomiasis)

Reduced milk and egg production

4.3 Control of Parasites

Dipping, spraying or dusting

Deworming

Rotational grazing

Maintain hygiene and dry housing

Vector control (traps, clearing bushes)

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TOPIC 5: VACCINATION AND IMMUNITY

5.1 Immunity

The ability of an animal to resist diseases.

Types of Immunity

1. Natural immunity – born with it.

2. Acquired immunity – through vaccination or recovery from disease.

5.2 Vaccination

Introduction of weakened or killed pathogens into the body to stimulate immunity.

Importance of Vaccination

Controls disease outbreaks

Protects young stock

Reduces mortality

Reduces treatment costs

Common Vaccines

CBPP vaccine

Anthrax vaccine

FMD vaccine

Newcastle vaccine (for poultry)

CCPP (goats)

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TOPIC 6: HANDLING AND RESTRAINT OF LIVESTOCK

6.1 Reasons for Restraint

Treatment

Examination

Marking/identification

Shearing, dehorning, castration

Transportation

6.2 Methods of Restraint

Cattle

Crush/stockade

Ropes and halters

Nose grips

Goats & Sheep

Holding by horns

Straddling

Lifting and turning

Pigs

Snare

Boards

Ropes

Poultry

Holding legs together

Holding wings against the body

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TOPIC 7: ANIMAL HEALTH PRACTICES

7.1 Routine Practices

Deworming

Vaccination

Dipping/spraying

Hoof trimming

Dehorning

Castration

Ear notching/ear tagging

Proper housing sanitation

7.2 Animal Health Records

Vaccination records

Deworming records

Treatment records

Mortality records

Production records (milk, eggs, weight gain)

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TOPIC 8: COMMON LIVESTOCK DISEASES

8.1 Cattle Diseases

East Coast Fever (ECF)

FMD

CBPP

Anthrax

Mastitis

8.2 Sheep and Goat Diseases

CCPP

Sheep pox

Foot rot

Enterotoxaemia

8.3 Poultry Diseases

Newcastle disease

Gumboro (IBD)

Fowl pox

Coccidiosis

8.4 Pig Diseases

ASF (African Swine Fever)

Erysipelas

Swine fever

Worm infestations

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TOPIC 9: FIRST AID IN LIVESTOCK

Steps in First Aid:

1. Remove the a

nimal from danger

2. Restrain properly

3. Stop bleeding (apply pressure)

4. Clean wounds

5. Control shock

6. Call a veterinarian

7. Keep records

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TOPIC 10: ANIMAL WELFARE

The Five Freedoms

1. Freedom from hunger & thirst

2. Freedom from discomfort

3. Freedom from pain, injury & disease

4. Freedom to express normal behaviour

5. Freedom from fear & distress