Non -Ruminant Animals

Agriculture And Extension · Level 6  ·  6 Chapters

Compiled by: Bonface Omondi

▣ What this unit covers

In this unit, you will be able to confidently manage the breeding, feeding, and health care of non-ruminant animals by mastering essential skills like selecting and servicing breeding stock, formulating nutritious feed rations, and implementing effective parasite and disease control measures. You’ll learn to handle all tools and equipment safely and keep accurate records that support animal well-being and productivity. By the end, you’ll be equipped to contribute to a healthy, thriving animal environment with professionalism and care.

■ Where this takes you

In Kenya, the abilities you gain in this unit open doors to many hands-on roles where you’ll keep animals healthy, boost production, and turn those results into income. Whether you join a smallholder farm, work with a commercial operation, or start your own venture, your expertise will be in demand across the country.

  • Smallholder poultry farms in Busia and Kakamega - you assemble and maintain breeding equipment, choose the best layers and roosters, carry out breeding, keep detailed records, and earn from selling eggs and broiler chickens.
  • Commercial piggery units in Kiambu and Murang’a - you select breeding sows and boars, perform artificial insemination or natural service, track breeding cycles, formulate balanced swine rations, and profit from pork sales.
  • Rabbit and guinea-pig enterprises in Nyeri and Kirinyaga - you set up breeding cages, pick high-performing breeding stock, manage breeding schedules, keep precise breeding and feeding logs, and generate income from meat and fur markets.
  • Feed-formulation workshops at county agricultural extension centres in Embu - you analyse local feed resources, design rations that meet nutritional standards for chickens, pigs or rabbits, calculate exact feed quantities, and earn fees as a consultant or extension officer.
  • Veterinary supply shops in Mombasa’s coastal towns - you assemble parasite-control kits, advise farmers on the correct personal protective equipment, and receive commissions for selling dewormers and disinfectants.
  • Community animal-health worker (CAHW) programmes in Turkana and Samburu - you develop parasite-prevention calendars, apply appropriate control methods in the field, record health outcomes, and receive stipends for each herd you support.
  • Livestock development projects run by NGOs in the Rift Valley - you draft disease-prevention schedules, train farmers on safe disease-control practices, manage waste disposal of used medicines, and earn a salary while improving community food security.
  • Manure-to-fertiliser processing plants near Nakuru - you handle waste from poultry and rabbit houses safely, keep waste-management records, and profit from selling organic fertilizer to nearby horticulture farms.
  • Agri-tourism farms on the shores of Lake Naivasha - you demonstrate breeding, feeding and health-care routines to visitors, keep routine management logs, and earn from tour fees and the sale of farm-produced eggs, meat or manure.
  • Private livestock-record-keeping service providers serving farms in Kisumu and Eldoret - you maintain accurate breeding, feeding and health records for multiple clients, charge a subscription fee, and help farms make data-driven decisions that raise their profitability.

Mastering these skills means you can move confidently between hands-on farm work, advisory roles, and your own entrepreneurial projects - turning knowledge into real-world success wherever animals are raised in Kenya. Keep pushing forward; the farms and communities that need your expertise are waiting!

Chapters

Practise this unit

Revise this unit

3 more for this unit

Beyond the syllabus