Environmental Influences on Animal Growth, Welfare And Reproduction

The environment plays a major role in the profitability of any livestock enterprise. Therefore, understanding how each environmental factor affects the growth, welfare and reproduction of animals is very important. When the influence that each environmental factor has on the growth, welfare and reproduction is known, the livestock producer can provide solutions that will mitigate the negative effects of these environmental factors on his livestock. The positive influence of any environmental factor can be applied in order to increase production. Hence, the influence that major environmental factors play on animal growth, welfare and reproduction should be known.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

Table of contents…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2

List of Table(s)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3

CHAPTER ONE4

1.0INTRODUCTION4

1.1JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY6

1.2OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY6

CHAPTER TWO7

2.0LITERATURE REVIEW7

2.1WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT?7

2.2ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON ANIMAL PRODUCTION7

2.2.1Heat Stress8

2.2.2Environmental factors that affect animal production11

2.3ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON ANIMAL GROWTH12

2.3.1What is Growth in Animals?12

2.3.2Effect of Environment on Animal Growth13

2.4ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON ANIMAL WELFARE14

2.4.1What is Animal Welfare?14

2.4.2Effect of Environment on Animal Welfare14

2.5ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON ANIMAL REPRODUCTION15

2.5.1What is Animal Reproduction?15

2.5.2Effect of Environment on Animal Reproduction16

2.5.2.1Effect of heat on animal reproduction17

2.5.2.2Effect of nutrition on animal reproduction18

2.5.2.3Effect of handling on animal reproduction19

CHAPTER THREE20

3.0CONCLUSION20

REFERENCES21