[Animal type]: Indigenous Chickens (Village Chickens / Nkhuku Zazing'ono)
Housing: Simple shelter protects from rain, predators and cold nights. Ensure ventilation. Roosts above ground level.
Feeding: Scavenge naturally but supplement with maize bran, rice bran, or broken maize especially during dry season. Feed twice daily. Clean water always available.
Health: Vaccinate against Newcastle disease (Marekwisi) every 3-4 months using I-2 thermostable vaccine. This is the biggest killer of village chickens. Deworm every 3 months with Levamisole.
Newcastle Disease: Sudden death, twisted neck, green diarrhoea, breathing difficulty. Prevention is only option - vaccinate all birds. No treatment once outbreak starts. Cull dead birds, disinfect housing.
Fowl Pox: Scabs on comb, face, legs. Vaccinate preventatively. Isolate affected birds.
Coccidiosis: Bloody diarrhoea, huddling. Treat with Amprolium in water for 5-7 days.
Production: Indigenous chickens lay 40-60 eggs per year. Improved management can increase to 80-100. Eggs hatch in 21 days. Chicks need warmth for first 4 weeks.
Predator control: Protect from hawks, mongoose, snakes. Secure housing at night.

[Animal type]: Broiler Chickens (Nyama)
Housing: 10 birds per square meter. Deep litter system with 5-7cm wood shavings. Temperature: 32-35°C first week, reduce 3°C each week. Good ventilation but no drafts.
Feeding: Starter feed (22% protein) day 1-14. Grower feed (20% protein) day 15-35. Finisher feed (18% protein) day 36-harvest. Feed ad-lib (always available). Water ratio 2:1 (water:feed).
Vaccination: Newcastle disease day 1 (hatchery) and day 10-14. Gumboro (IBD) day 14 and day 21. Infectious Bronchitis with ND vaccine.
Disease management: Marek's disease - vaccinate at hatchery. Gumboro - swollen bursa, high mortality in young birds - vaccinate. Coccidiosis - use coccidiostat in feed. Respiratory disease - Tylosin or Enrofloxacin.
Biosecurity: All-in all-out system. Rest house 2 weeks between flocks. Disinfect thoroughly. Control visitors.
Harvest: 5-6 weeks at 1.8-2.5kg live weight. Local breeds may take 8-10 weeks.

[Animal type]: Layer Chickens (Mazira)
Housing: 4-5 birds per square meter cage or 6-8 in floor system. 14-16 hours light per day needed for maximum production.
Feeding: Chick mash (0-8 weeks), Grower mash (8-18 weeks), Layer mash (18 weeks onwards). Layer mash needs 16-18% protein and 3.5-4% calcium for shells. Always fresh clean water.
Production: Good layers produce 300+ eggs per year. Production starts at 18-20 weeks. Peak production at 28-32 weeks.
Disease management: Same vaccination as broilers plus Fowl Typhoid vaccination. Monitor egg production - sudden drop indicates disease or stress.
Molting: Natural break in laying. Force molt by feed restriction or manage naturally. After molt, production resumes.
Economics: Track feed cost vs egg income carefully. Cull poor layers after 72 weeks.

[Animal type]: Cattle (Indigenous Zebu / Ng'ombe)
Housing: Kraal (cattle pen) with secure fencing. Shade essential in hot season. Clean water trough.
Feeding: Natural grazing main feed source. Supplement dry season with crop residues (maize stover), silage, or hay. Mineral lick (salt block) essential. For dairy: supplement with dairy meal or homemade concentrates.
Health: Vaccinate against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) twice yearly - especially before rainy season. East Coast Fever (Theileria) - control ticks with acaricide dipping every 1-2 weeks. Blackquarter (anthrax-like) - annual vaccination in endemic areas.
Tick control: East Coast Fever is transmitted by brown ear tick. Dip or spray with Cypermethrin, Amitraz, or Flumethrin. Check ears, under tail, between legs for ticks.
Common diseases: Trypanosomiasis (Nagana/sleeping sickness) - transmitted by tsetse fly in some areas. Use trypanocidal drugs Berenil or Samorin. Lumpy skin disease - vaccinate. Bovine respiratory disease - Oxytetracycline injection.
Breeding: Indigenous Zebu adapted to local conditions but low productivity. Cross with Friesian or Jersey improves milk, reduces heat tolerance. AI (Artificial Insemination) available through government.
Milk production: Indigenous: 1-3 litres/day. Crossbred: 5-12 litres/day. Friesian: 15-25 litres/day with good feeding.

[Animal type]: Goats (Mbuzi)
Housing: Elevated slatted floor housing prevents foot rot and internal parasites. 1-1.5 sq meters per adult.
Feeding: Browsers - prefer leaves, shrubs, tree bark. Supplement with crop residues. Mineral lick essential. Avoid wet or mouldy feed.
Health: Deworm every 2-3 months with Albendazole or Ivermectin - resistance is a problem, rotate dewormers. Vaccinate against CCPP (Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia) if in affected area. PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants) vaccination important.
Common diseases: Heartwater - tick-borne, sudden death, nervous signs. Control ticks. Pneumonia - keep dry, avoid drafts. Foot rot - trim hooves, clean housing. Internal parasites (worms) - major cause of death in kids.
Breeding: Doe (female) reaches sexual maturity at 7-10 months. Gestation 145-155 days. Usually twins or triplets. Indigenous goats small but hardy. Boer goats fast growing meat breed.
Meat production: Indigenous goats: 15-25kg adult weight. Boer crosses: 35-50kg. Castrate male kids not kept for breeding.

[Animal type]: Pigs (Nkhumba)
Housing: Concrete pen - easy to clean. 1.5-2 sq meters per pig. Good drainage essential. Shade from sun. Mud wallow helps cooling.
Feeding: Omnivores - eat almost anything. Balanced diet: Maize bran + soybean meal + mineral premix. Can use kitchen waste, brewery waste, vegetable waste. Feed 2-3 times daily. Fresh water always.
Health: African Swine Fever (ASF) - MOST SERIOUS DISEASE. No treatment. No vaccine. Kills entire herd. Never feed uncooked kitchen waste from pork. Report immediately to veterinary office. Biosecurity critical.
Common diseases: Swine fever - vaccinate. Foot and mouth disease - vaccinate. Erysipelas - penicillin treatment. Roundworms - deworm with Ivermectin.
Breeding: Sow reaches maturity at 6-7 months. Gestation 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days). Average 8-12 piglets per litter. 2 litters per year possible.
Growth: Piglets to 60-90kg in 5-7 months on good feed. Local breeds slower growing.

[Animal type]: Fish Farming (Tilapia / Nsomba)
Species: Chambo (Oreochromis karongae) - premium quality, slow growing. Tilapia rendalli, Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) - fast growing, most farmed.
Pond construction: Minimum 200 sq meters. Depth 1-1.5m. Clay soil for water retention. Inlet and outlet pipes. Drain ability essential.
Stocking: 3-5 fish per sq meter for Nile tilapia. Stock only one sex (male) if possible to prevent overcrowding from breeding. Get fingerlings from certified hatchery.
Feeding: Natural algae and plankton in fertilized ponds. Supplement with maize bran, rice bran, soybean meal, or commercial tilapia pellets. Feed 2-3% body weight daily. Feed twice daily.
Water quality: Change 20-30% water weekly if no flow. Maintain pH 6.5-8.5. Dissolved oxygen essential - aerate if fish gasping at surface.
Fertilization: Add cow manure or chicken manure to pond to grow natural food (phytoplankton). 200-300kg/acre fresh manure monthly.
Harvest: Nile tilapia: 200-400g in 6-8 months. Net harvest or drain pond. Sell fresh or dried (matemba).

[Animal type]: Beekeeping (Uchi)
Hive types: Log hive (traditional, still common in Malawi), Kenya Top Bar Hive (KTBH - better management), Langstroth hive (commercial).
Location: Place hives in shade, elevated on stands (ant guards on legs). Near water source. Near flowering trees and crops. Face entrance away from main paths.
Management: Inspect hives monthly. Check for queen, eggs, brood, honey. Replace old comb. Control swarming by providing space.
Harvesting: Harvest honey in dry season (May-September) when honey is capped. Smoke bees to calm. Harvest only sealed (capped) honey. Leave 25-30% honey for bees to survive.
Common trees for bees: Msangu (Faidherbia albida), Msuku (Uapaca kirkiana), Brachystegia (Miombo trees), flowering crops (sunflower, pigeon peas), mango flowers.
Pests: Small hive beetle - pest in hot areas. Wax moth - clean out debris. Ants - use ant guards. Honey badger - protect with metal roofing.
Processing: Extract honey by squeezing comb in strainer bag. Allow to settle 24 hours. Bottle in clean containers. Beeswax valuable byproduct for cosmetics and candles.
Colony Collapse: Caused by pesticide use, disease, habitat loss. Use pesticides early morning or evening when bees not foraging.

[Animal type]: Sheep (Nkhosa)
Housing: Simple shelter. Slatted floor prevents foot rot. Separate from goats if possible.
Feeding: Grazers - prefer grass. Supplement dry season. Avoid wet feed which causes bloat. Mineral lick.
Health: Deworm regularly. Foot rot common in wet conditions - trim and treat with zinc sulfate or copper sulfate foot bath. Pneumonia in cold/wet weather - penicillin.
Breeds: Indigenous fat-tailed sheep adapted to Malawi. Dorper and Blackhead Persian crosses for faster meat production.
Production: Ram (male) ready to breed at 7-8 months. Ewe (female) delivers 1-2 lambs after 147-150 day gestation.

[Animal type]: Rabbits (Kalulu)
Housing: Wire cages off ground. 0.5 sq meter minimum per adult. Separate bucks and does. Breeding box for doe with young.
Feeding: Grass, vegetable leaves, sweet potato vines, banana leaves, maize bran. Pellets if available. Fresh water daily. Never feed wet or wilted grass.
Health: Coccidiosis (bloody diarrhoea) - Amprolium treatment. Mange (skin mites) - Ivermectin. Keep housing clean and dry.
Breeding: Doe ready at 4-5 months. Gestation 31 days. Average 6-8 kits per litter. 5-6 litters per year possible.
Production: Market weight 2-2.5kg at 12-16 weeks. Fast turnover makes rabbits economical meat source.

[Animal type]: Donkeys (Bulu)
Care: Donkeys are hardworking and low maintenance. Provide adequate water and shade. Feed with dry grass, hay, crop residues.
Health: Hoof care - trim every 6-8 weeks. Deworm twice yearly. Check for sores from harness (use padded harness). Eye problems common - treat promptly.
Work: Draft power for ploughing, transporting water and produce, grinding. Rest during hottest hours. Do not overload. One donkey can plough 0.5-1 acre per day.
Common disease: African horse sickness can affect donkeys - vaccinate in affected areas. Tetanus - vaccinate.