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Introduction

 
Rapid transition is taking place in animal agriculture with an increasing application of science and technology to various animal production systems.  The challenge to education in animal production is to serve science and animal industry. Students of Animal Production should be given an opportunity to learn the accumulated knowledge in the field of Animal Nutrition, Physiology, Breeding, Ecology and Management of various species of domestic animals.

Justification

 
Kenya's economy, like most other developing nations, is entirely based on agriculture. The fast population growth in most regions of the country puts a high demand for increased productivity in agriculture. At the advent of industrialisation, the need to increase agricultural production in order to avail adequate food for the fast growing population as well as providing raw materials for industrial processing is even more.  Within the agricultural sector, Animal Production contributes substantially in providing food, shelter, employment and cash income.  Food, animal protein is essential, especially for proper physical as well as mental development of the youth.

The bulk of Kenya's agriculture is based on smallholder farming units.  It is now quite evident that crop-livestock farming systems are the most appropriate production systems for sustainable farming within the smallholder-farming sub-sector in the country.  The Department of Animal Science is expanding on its previous curricula both vertically and horizontally in order to equip its graduates adequately to face the above-mentioned challenges.

The B.Sc. in Animal Production is broad based, taking foundations in Biology, Physical and Agricultural Sciences with professional skills in Animal Production.  This is necessary in view of the fact that as the country continues to develop, specialist manpower is required in the extension service, public agricultural institutions, private sector and non-governmental organisations.  All the graduands of this course are well equipped for self-employment both as a livestock farmer and livestock unit manager.  Further, the course provides a sound base for those graduates aspiring for advanced training in specialised areas of Animal Science.

The Bachelor of Science in Animal Production is designed to provide students with fundamental knowledge and skills in the fields of Physiology, Nutrition, Breeding, Animal Health, Ecology and Management of various species of domestic animals.  Supporting courses are in Crop Production and Agricultural Economics.

Objectives

 
At the end of the degree programme, the student should be able to:

• Understand the role of Animal Production in the national economy particularly the importance of animal products in human nutrition.
• Apply acquired knowledge in the fields of Nutrition, Breeding, Physiology and Management to various animal production systems in order to increase their productivity.
• Communicate acquired knowledge and skills to various individuals or groups interested in improving animal production.
• Use acquired knowledge to innovate new technologies and management techniques that would further improve productivity of various species of domestic livestock.
• Make an analysis of critical factors that affect efficiency of various Animal Production Systems.
• Utilise the acquired knowledge and skills in gainful self-employment.

Admission Regulation

 
All candidates admitted to the degree programme in Animal Production must satisfy the minimum entry requirement stipulated in the common university entrance regulation.
Applicants must satisfy the minimum entry requirements in Biology or Biological Sciences and Chemistry or Physical Science at K.C.S.E. or equivalent examination.
In addition to 4.2 above, applicants must have passes with at least C+ in Mathematics, Physics   (where Physical Science was not offered), Geography and English at K.C.S.E. or equivalent examinations. An added advantage will be given to applicants who have passed with grade C and above in Agriculture or Economics.
Alternatively, admission may be granted to diploma holders who have passed with distinction and credit or their equivalents in Animal Husbandry, Animal Health, Agriculture, Range, Wildlife Management and related disciplines from recognised universities and colleges.  Such cases will be treated on individual merits

The teaching for the degree shall extend for a period of not less than four years. Each year consisting of two semesters.  The period following the end of the second semester of the third year shall be devoted to field practical work (Field Attachment)
Each semester will consist of 17 weeks, with 15 weeks teaching and 2 weeks examinations.  The weighting of courses is in terms of credit factors. One credit factor is equivalent to 15 lecture hours or 30 practical (laboratory or tutorial or seminar) hours.
EXAMINATION OF COURSES
All examinations for the programme will be conducted in accordance with the examination regulations as stipulated in Statute XXIV of Egerton University.

COURSE CODING
The courses are coded as follows: the code ANSC refers to the Department of Animal Sciences, the first digit represents the year of study, the second digit refers to the field of subject matter and the third digit refers to the series of courses in the particular field.  The second digit represents the different subject matters as follow:
1.    General Introductory and Principles courses.
2.    Basic Sciences e.g. Physiology
3.    Nutrition, Feeds and Feeding
4.    Genetics and Breeding
5.    Production from Ruminant animals
6.    Production from Non-ruminant and other animal species
7.    Experimentation, Projects, Seminars, Visits, and Attachments.

Course Coding

YEAR I SEMESTER I    
CODE    TITLE
ANSC 111    Introduction to Animal Science
BOTA100    General Botany
CHEM102    General Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
ENSC 100    Introduction to Environmental Science
MATH100    General Mathematics
ZOOL 104    General Zoology

YEAR I SEMESTER 2    
AGBM102    Principles of Management
AGBM103    Principles of Entrepreneurship
BOTA 102    General Genetics
BOTA 104    General Microbiology
CHEM103    Organic Chemistry
COMP101    Introduction to Comp. Application
COMS101    Communication Skills
SOIL 100    Introduction to Soil Science

YEAR 2 SEMESTER I    
ANHE 101    Gross Anatomy
ANHE 211    Animal Physiology
AGEN131    Basic Farm Power sources and Utilisation
ANSC 271    Animatics
BIOC 204    Biochemistry
NARE211    Principles of Range Mgmt
MATH141    Introductory Statistics

YEAR 2 SEMESTER 2    
AGEN 341    Farm Structures 1
AGEC 241    Production Economics
ANHE 212    Reproductive Physiology
ANSC 221    Environmental Physiology, Ethology and Animal Welfare
ANSC 231    Animal Nutrition
ANSC 241    Quantitative Genetics and Animal Breeding
ANSC 265    Aquaculture

YEAR 3 SEMESTER I    
AGED 333    Rural Sociology
AGED 348    Technical Report Writing
ANSC 313    Routine Livestock Practices
ANHE 322    Microbial Diseases
ANSC 332    Feeds and Feeding
ANSC 334    Biotechnology in Animal Nutrition
AGEN 331    Introduction to Agricultural Field Machines
AGRO 371    Pastures and Fodder Crops

YEAR 3 SEMESTER 2    
AGED 334    Extension Education
ANSC 342    Biotechnology in Animal Breeding
ANSC 372    Design & Analysis of Animal Experiments
ANSC 351    Dairy Cattle Production
ANSC 362    Pig Production
FOST 346    Meat, Poultry and Sea Food Processing
AGEC332    Human Resource Mgmt & Industrial Relation
AGEC243    Farm Management
ANSC375    Field Attachment (8 weeks during long vacation)

YEAR IV SEMESTER I    
ANHE 423    Veterinary Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases
ANSC 452    Beef Production
ANSC 453    Sheep Production
ANSC 461    Poultry Production
ANSC 472    Research Projects
ANSC 454    Goat Production
AGEC 422    Agricultural Project Analysis
AGEC 451    Agricultural Policy

YEAR IV SEMESTER 2    
ANSC 456    Camel Production
ANSC 464    Equine Management
ANSC 466    Apiculture and Sericulture
ANSC 455    Animal by-products
ANSC 463    Rabbit Production
ANSC 472    Research Projects
ANSC 473    Seminars
ANSC 467     Non-Conventional Farm Animals
NARE 450    Agro-forestry
AGEC 452    Agricultural Law