Workshop Module 10: Animal Systems 295
Creative thinking : Community animal management plan
Method : Participatory planning and designing 3-D models
Tools : See preparations below
References : PC Book MOD 10 – Animal Systems
Objective : Participants create a community animal management plan
Preparation
- Enough soil so that groups of 8-10 participants can each work together to create
models of 3-D hillsides. - A supply of water and at least 1 watering can per group (if regular watering cans
are not available, use large tin cans with small nail holes in the bottoms). - Shovels, spades, hoes, and rakes for modeling the hillsides.
- Hand trowels and smaller tools for the finer detail of the models.
- Other items that can be useful for making creative models (twine, cardboard,
pens, small stones, cards or models to represent animals, etc).
Step 1 - Exercise orientation
With the participants, the facilitator should discuss the key principles of animal manage-
ment that will benefit from a community approach. The following components can be
listed on a board or a large piece of paper so all the participants can see.
Encourage the participants to include as many of the following principles as possible in
their models:
- Animal health - Identifying diseases, separating diseased animals from other
animals, preventing diseases, and quickly treating disease. - Animal breeding - The healthiest males for breeding can be used to improve
stock quality, reduce individual costs and labour, and improve the overall wealth
of the community. - Land animal feeding - Labour time is reduced and resources such as water
supply can be shared. - Animal yards and houses - Provides many benefits including:
- Less labour and resources to build 1 big shelter than many small shelters.
- Manure can be easily collected for fertilizer, trading, or selling.
- Easier to provide feed and water.
- Better for marketing and selling animals.
EXERCISE
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