What is Animal husbandry?
Animal husbandry is the scientific management of animal livestock. It includes various aspects such as feeding, breeding and disease control.
What is the need for animal husbandry?
Since the population of humans is on the rise, it is necessary to provide food for their needs. Animal husbandry takes care of the growing needs of the population to a large extent.
Which are the occupations that fall under the umbrella of animal husbandry?
There are a few occupations. But we shall be looking at these.
- Cattle farming
- Poultry farming
- Fish production
- Beekeeping
What is Cattle Farming?
Cattle farming involves rearing and management of two types of animals.
- Milch animals
- Draught animals
What are Milch Animals?
This group of animals is reared for food requirements like milk. For example, goat, buffalo, cows etc.
Milk, as we know, is the crux of the dairy industry. A variety of dairy products require milk as their raw material.
However, the milking period of milch animals is very short. Farmers ensure a constant supply of milk production throughout the year by increasing the lactation period of these animals. The lactation period is the period during which the mother feeds the young cattle.
Exotic or foreign breeds like Jersey, Brown Swiss are selected for long lactation periods, while local breeds like Red Sindhi, Sahiwal show excellent resistance to diseases. The two can be cross- bred to get animals with both the desired qualities.
What are the Draught Animals?
This group of animals are reared for purposes like tilling, ploughing, irrigation, etc. For example, bullocks, oxen, bulls etc.
There are two species of cattle that are most commonly used,
- Bos indicus cows
- Bos Bubalis buffaloes
Which are the measures taken to ensure good outcomes of cattle farming?
- Proper cleaning and shelter facilities for cows and buffaloes are required for the good health of the animals and for production of clean milk as
- Animals require regular brushing to remove dirt and loose
- They should be sheltered under well-ventilated roofed sheds that protect them from rain, heat and
- The floor of the cattle shed needs to be sloping so as to stay dry and to facilitate
- The food that they are provided with should sustain their needs for maintenance of the body.
- Secondly, additional food must be provided to suffice their bodily needs for producing milk.
- Cattle feed must consist of roughage which is nothing but fibre. They should also be provided with
- In order to protect cattle from diseases which can be seen as well as those which are internal, cattle must be
- They must be closely monitored and proper medical facilities must be made available to them.