Farm Animals Disease Control

Agricultural Science JSS 2 Second Term

WEEK 3

Farm Animals Disease Control

Performance Objectives

Student should be able to

 1. Define the term disease

2. State the various classes of disease.

Content

Meaning of Disease

Disease is any alteration in the state of the body of an animal or of its organs which interrupts the proper performance of its functions. It can also be referred to as an abnormality in the health of an animal that leads to a deviation in the normal performance of the animal.

There are different causes of disease in farm animals and they include:

1. Unsuitable environment.

2. Contaminated feeds and water.

3. Contact with infected animals.

4. Air

5. Droppings or faeces of infected animals.

Classes of Disease

Animal diseases are classified into three groups according to their causes.

1. Pathogenic diseases: These are diseases caused by living organisms. These organisms include bacteria, virus, protozoan and fungal.

2. Nutritional diseases: These are diseases caused by lack of adequate nutrients in the rations of farm animals. Examples are rickets, ketosis and bloat.

3. Diseases caused by inanimate objects: These are diseases caused by unfavourable changes in the environment of the animal e.g extreme heat or cold, poison or chemical taken in by grazing animals.

Note: A disease may either be contagious or infectious. The contagious is that which is easily transferred from one animal to another by contact. On the other hand, the infectious disease is one that spreads from the sick animal to another animal without direct contact.