Animal keeping and breeding
Cheese making on a family farm
Training programme
for people with autism and intellectual disabilities
300 lessons
Written by: Renáta Hirskó
Miskolc
2007
Happy Farm is a two year project subsidized by the Leonardo da Vinci programme of the European Commission..
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the
views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information
contained therein.
[communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which
may be made of the information contained therein.
[communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which
may be made of the information contained therein.
[communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which
may be made of the information contained therein.
[communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which
may be made of the information contained therein.
[communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which
may be made of the information contained therein.
[communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which
CONTENT
PURPOSE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME
I.
STRUCTURE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME
II.
CONDITIONS FOR ORGANISING THE PROGRAMME
III.
OBLIGATIONS AFTER THE TRAINING PROGRAMME
IV.
STRUCTURE OF THE CURRICULUM
V.
THE TRAINING PROGRAMME IN DETAILS
VI.
METHODOLOGICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
VII. MATERIAL CONDITIONS
VIII. SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION
IX.
COMPULSORY PRACTICAL SUBJECTS
X.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
2
I.
PURPOSE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME
The main aim of the animal husbandry and animal breeding training course is to provide both
theoretical information and practical skills to the appropriate treatment of different animal
breeds especially the traditional Hungarian ones. The participant should learn the proper
treatment of different animals and learn how to use them for work. They should also learn
basic breeding practices and everyday activities around the different domestic animals.
II.
III.
STRUCTURE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME
1.
Introduction of animal keeping and animal breeding
2.
Concept and history of domestic animals
3.
Conditions of animal keeping and breeding
4.
Labour safety
5.
Mental and personal hygiene
6.
Forage science
7.
Equipment used in animal keeping and animal breeding
8.
Poultry keeping and breeding
9.
Rabbit keeping and breeding
10.
Sheep keeping and breeding
11.
Pig keeping and breeding
12.
Cattle keeping and breeding
13.
Goat keeping, breeding and goat cheese making
14.
Horse keeping and breeding, horse riding and driving
15.
Fish farming and breeding
16.
Other domestic animals around the farm yard
CONDITIONS FOR ORGANISING THE TRAINING
PROGRAMME
Personal conditions:
3
Theoretical teachers can be persons with a university degree in agricultural sciences or
with college degree in animal breeding or teachers with a proper special teacher
qualification in the field of agriculture.
Practical trainers can be teachers with proper qualification in the field of agriculture and 3
years’ experience in agricultural activities or persons with skilled worker qualifications in
the field and 5 years’ experience with an agricultural firm.
Material conditions:
Practical lessons should be taught and held according to the determined thematic and
should take place on an existing and running farm by showing the every day agricultural
activities. The training programme will be on the Autistic Rehabilitation Farm of
Symbiosis Foundation.
IV.
OBLIGATIONS AFTER THE TRAINING PROGRAMME
To know it as a skill/knowledge:
 Concept of animal and its groups
 Ecological demands of different animal breeds
 Measure the value features of different animals
 Special needs of different animals
 Technical knowledge of machines used in animal husbandry
 Criteria of the most often used chemical fertilizers
To understand it:
 Concept of race and breed
 The importance of animal breeding
To apply it:
 Appropriate names of different breeds
 Biological needs of different animals
 Condititons and process of utilization of nutrition
 Breeding of different animals
 Everyday activities around domestic animals
4
 Knowledge of behaviour of different animals
 Appropriate feeding of animals
 Animal products
 Using animals for work
V.
STRUCTURE OF THE CURRICULUM
Approximate
number of
lessons
Number
Title of the topic
1.
INTRODUCTION OF ANIMAL KEEPING AND
ANIMAL BREEDING
6
2.
CONCEPT AND HISTORY OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS
6
3.
CONDITIONS OF ANIMAL KEEPING AND BREEDING
6
4.
HEALTH & SAFETY
6
5.
MENTAL AND PERSONAL HYGIENE
6
6.
FORAGE SCIENCE
18
7.
EQUIPMENT USED IN ANIMAL KEEPING AND
BREEDING
8
8.
POULTRY KEEPING AND BREEDING (CHICKEN,
GOOSE, DUCK)
30
9.
RABBIT KEEPING AND BREEDING
12
10.
SHEEP KEEPING AND BREEDING
24
11.
PIG KEEPING AND BREEDING
36
12.
CATTLE KEEPING AND BREEDING
26
13.
GOAT KEEPING, BREEDING GOATS FOR CHEESE
MAKING
56
14.
HORSE KEEPING AND BREEDING, HORSE RIDING
AND DRIVING
36
5
15.
FISH FARMING AND BREEDING
12
16.
OTHER ANIMALS AROUND THE FARM YARD
12
Remark: The recommended number of lessons to a certain topic involves the time period
devoted to systematization and estimation of the subject.
VI.
THE TRAINING PROGRAMME IN DETAILS
1. INTRODUCTION OF ANIMAL KEEPING AND ANIMAL BREEDING




History of animal keeping and animal breeding
Economical importance of animal breeding
Traditional Hungarian breeds
Field visits
2. CONCEPT AND HISTORY OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS
 Terms and phrases used in animal keeping and animal breeding
3. CONDITIONS OF ANIMAL KEEPING AND BREEDING
 Basic conditions of animal keeping
 Regulations and laws of animal welfare
4. FORAGE SCIENCE




Seasonal feeding of animals
Different feeding systems and forages
Storing of forage
Field visit
5. EQUIPMENTS USED IN ANIMAL KEEPING AND ANIMAL BREEDING
 Most often used equipments and machinery in animal breeding on a family farm
6. POULTRY KEEPING AND BREEDING (CHICKEN, GOOSE, DUCK)







History of domestication and breeding of poultry
Economic importance of poultry breeding
Measure of value features of poultry
Registration/Certification
Reproduction
Poultry keeping (feeding and grooming)
Main illnesses of poultry
6
 Poultry products
 Field visit
7. RABBIT KEEPING AND BREEDING









History of domestication and breeding of rabbits
Economic importance of rabbit breeding
Measure of value features of rabbit
Registration/Certificate
Reproduction
Rabbit keeping and breeding (feeding and grooming)
Main illnesses of rabbit
Rabbit products
Field visit
8. SHEEP KEEPING AND BREEDING









History of domestication and breeding of sheep
Economic importance of sheep breeding
Measure of value features of sheep
Registration/Certification
Reproduction
Sheep keeping husbandry (feeding, grooming, dipping, shearing)
Main illnesses of sheep
Sheep products (milk, cheese, wool)
Field visits
9. PIG KEEPING AND BREEDING








History of domestication and breeding of pig
Economic importance of pig breeding
Measure of value features of pig
Registration/Certification
Reproduction
Pig keeping and breeding (feeding, grooming)
Main illnesses of pig
Pig products
 Field visits
10. GOAT KEEPING, BREEDING AND GOAT CHEESE MAKING





History of goat domestication and breeding
Economic importance of goat breeding
Measure of value features of goats
Registration/Certification
Reproduction
7
 Goat keeping and breeding (feeding, grooming)
 Main illnesses of goats
 Goat products
 Cheese making and field visit
11. CATTLE KEEPING AND BREEDING









History of domestication and breeding of cattle
Economic importance of cattle breeding
Measure of value features of cattle
Registration/Certification
Reproduction
Cattle keeping and breeding (feeding, grooming)
Main illnesses of cattle
Cattle products
Field visit
12. HORSE KEEPING AND BREEDING, HORSE RIDING AND DRIVING










History of domestication and breeding of horse
Economic importance of horse breeding
Measure of value features of horse
Registration/Certification
Reproduction
Horse keeping and breeding (feeding, grooming)
Main illnesses of horse
Horse products
Using horses for work (horse-riding, driving)
Field visit
13. FISH KEEPING AND BREEDING









History of domestication and breeding of fish
Economic importance of fish breeding
Measure of value features of fish
Registration/Certification
Reproduction
Fish keeping and breeding (feeding, grooming)
Main illnesses of fish
Fishery and fish products
Field visit
14. OTHER ANIMALS AROUND THE FARM YARD
 Useful animals around the farm yard (cats, dogs, birds)
 Harmful animals around the farm yard (bugs, rats, mice)
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VII. METHODOLOGICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
 Theory is taught in the classroom.
 Teaching some of the topics and subjects supported by both team work and individual
work.
 Teaching the subjects is encouraged by illustrating the activities, so audio-visual aids
have to be applied to help create a bridge between theory and practice.
 Changes in technology have to be followed and up-to-date information has to be
provided for the participants.
 Theory and practice have to come together in order to strenghten and support each
other’s influence to establish agreement.
 It is very important to use live animals for illustration, as it has the deepest influence
on students and helps bonding.
VIII. MATERIAL CONDITIONS
Pictures and tables to show reporduction of animals
Slides on illnesses of animals
Diagrams, graphs, tables
Set of slides on different animal breeds
Video films on reproduction of animals, forage production, latest agricultural technology
Live forage material for illustration
Actual magazines, newspapers, books
Tools: kitchen-scale, ingredients for cheese-making (cheese culture)
Equipments for making cheese: filter, shape, pressing machine, etc.
IX.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION
Teaching the subjects is supported by field visits to farms and agricultural firms where the
main profile is animal breeding and the participants can get to know the latest technology.
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X.
XI.
COMPULSORY PRACTICAL SUBJECTS
1.
Equipment used in animal keeping
2.
Poultry keeping
3.
Rabbit keeping
4.
Sheep keeping
5.
Pig keeping
6.
Cattle keeping
7.
Goat keeping and goat’s cheese making
8.
Horse keeping and breeding, horse riding and driving
9.
Fish farming
10.
Other domestic animals around the farm yard
SPECIAL REGULATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The number of participants within each group during practical lessons - according to the
recommentations and laws – is a maximum of 6 persons in the case of people with
learning disabilities. In case of integrated training this number is a maximum of 3 persons.
In the latter case the number of participants within each group has to be reduced
accordingly. During the 3 months training programme at least one study trip has to be
organised to farms, regional or national agricultural exhibitions. In addition, there has to
be a study trip after every topic to a recommended farm or agricultural firm.
10