DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

College of Agriculture and Food Science

Visayas State University
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte 6521-A, Philippines

AnSc 22
(PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION)

Name: Score:
Lab Sched.: Date Submitted: ____________

CLASSIFICATION AND BREEDS OF RUMINANT SPECIES

Laboratory Exercise No. 8

I. Introduction

Ruminant animals include those classified in the order Artiodactyla, which are even-toed,
hooved animals. The word ruminant comes from the Latin word “ruminare” which means to chew
over again, thus ruminants are cud chewing, even-toed, hooved mammals.
Ruminant animals are raised for meat, dairy, wool, and hides/skin production. They differ
from other livestock in that they have a complex stomach and can live on forages or even on fibrous
low quality materials such as the rice straw, corn stover and other crop by-products, and convert
these into important nutrients such as protein, fats and vitamins needed by the body. Fermentation
of these plant based food in the ruminant specialized stomach, is principally through microbial
actions.
In ruminant production, knowledge on the different species, breeds, classes and utility is a
must for a more productive ruminant farming. The decision on the type of production like beef or
dairy farming requires proper knowledge on the traits/characteristics of the type of the animal to be
raised.

II. Objectives

At the end of this laboratory activity the students will be able to:

. Identiify the different breeds, characteristics, origin and economic uses of large and
small ruminants.

. Know how to differentiate dairy animal from meat animals

. Know how to classify and select small and large ruminant animals according to type or
purpose of production.

VISION
A globally competitive university of science, technology and environmental conservation.
MISSION
Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting – edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
 III. Materials:

Goat and sheep DAS project

Beef Cattle Project
PCC

IV. Methods/Procedures

1. Classroom discussion on the on the classification of the large and small ruminant
species, characteristics of a dairy cattle/carabao and goat characteristics of a meat,
draft and dual purpose animals.
2. Guided tour to the cattle, goat and sheep project of DAS and identify breeds of cattle,
goat and sheep available at the DAS.

Table 1. Classes and breeds of large and small ruminants present at the DAS beef cattle
and goat and sheep project.

Characteristic Type/ Economic Use/

Species Breed s Utility
Large
ruminant      
1      
2      
Small
ruminant      
1      
2      

V. QUESTIONS

1. Characterize the following species of ruminants in terms of the body features

(color/body covering, horns, ears, etc.) and feeding habits (prehensile organ).

a. Cattle b. Carabao c. Goat d. Sheep

2. Identify the terms applied to the different ruminant species below:

Cattle Carabao Sheep Goat

______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Young _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Act of giving birth _ _ _ _
Mature male ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________

VISION
A globally competitive university of science, technology and environmental conservation.
MISSION
Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting – edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
 _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Mature female _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Ready-to-breed female _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Male castrated young _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Meat _ _ _ _
Female animal that has not yet
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
giving birth and reaches puberty _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Term for pregnant _ _ _ _

3. Determine the reproductive phenomena of each of the ruminant species

Cattle Carabao Sheep Goat

______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Heat cycle (days) _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Duration of heat (hrs) _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Gestation period (days/mos.) _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Length of lactaion (days/mos.) _ _ _ _
______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
Breeding ratio _ _ _ _

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of raising large ruminants? Small
ruminants?

References

Taylor, Robert E. 1997. Scientific Farm Animal Production. An Introduction to Animal Science.
5th Ed. Prentice Hall, Inc. New Jersey, USA.
The Beef Catle Producton Committee. 1994. The Philippine Recommends or Beef Cattle
Production. Los Banos. Laguna PCARRD. Philippines.

VISION
A globally competitive university of science, technology and environmental conservation.
MISSION
Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting – edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
The Goat Farming Committee. 2006. The Philippine Recommends for Goat Farming. Los Banos
Laguna: PCARRC-DOST DA-BAR. Philippines
Battaglia, R.A. 1987. Handbook of Livestock Management Techniques. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.
Esminger, M.E. The stocksman’s Handbook. 4th ed. The interstate printers andpublishers, Inc.
Danville, Illinois, USA.

VISION
A globally competitive university of science, technology and environmental conservation.
MISSION
Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting – edge scientific knowledge and
innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.