ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to examine the Farm structures used in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Livestock Farm and determine ifthe materials used in the structures are of the best quality and ifthe animals reared in these structures are comfortable, the objectives ofthis work includes: to carry out a literature review as it relates the effects on livestock structure on livestock’s and its environment, to investigate the types oflivestock and livestock structure within the study area, to develop a model for analysis ofthe livestock structures and its effect on livestock weights, carry out comparisons of obtained data and performance analysis and result validation. Data used for this research included, number oflivestock, livestock structure type, feeding pattern, drainage type, characteristics of the residents, sources of water supply, domestic water consumption pattern. Data was collected directly from the field with the use of questionnaires, personal interview and collection of data from study area. Materials used includes; Questionnaire, Matlab/simulink for data analysis and comparison, Personal interview, Livestock structure data, Tape for measurement. Data collection and survey analysis from questionnaire response of individuals especially personnel’s working at the livestock farm are used to determine the effect of structure type on the livestock well-being and number of livestock. The study examined how the livestock structure will affect the performances ofthe livestock, questionnaires and analytical surveys of the structure were used as methods to investigate a calculated samples of livestock’s within their farms, measurement of these structure areas were taken and application of derived periodic data were used to determine how the size of these structures affect the livestock. The results presented in this work compares the effect ofstructure size oftwo different structure type, yard with fence line and loose house with free stall on the performance of livestock, also chart were used to interpret data collected from questionnaires as given to respondent. From existing works, models have been developed to help carry out analysis ofstructures on the performance of livestock’s, this work has analyzed the effect of structure size of performance oflivestock, so I recommend that structure characteristics such as structure location, height, roofing type and ventilation be used to investigate their effects on livestock performances. Secondly, I recommend the application of the developed method in this work to analyzing the effects of livestock administrative structure on large livestock farms.