Types of Animal Husbandry

What is animal husbandry? Animal husbandry is the practice of raising and breeding animals. Management and care of animals serve as a laboratory for furthering animals’ genetic characteristics and behaviours to generate revenue. Animal husbandry is a major source of income for a substantial proportion of the farming community.

The rising need for food necessitates the commercial breeding of animals. Dairy products are sources of protein and are derived from animals such as cattle, buffaloes, and goats. 

Chicken, duck, oxen, goats, and pigs are all bred to provide meat. Other than domestic animals, we have access to marine creatures as a source of nutrients.

Types of Animal Husbandry

There are four primary animal husbandry types based on the type of animal. The following practices are only a few examples:

Cattle farming 

Cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep are some of the types of livestock that can be used for milk production or agricultural tasks like ploughing and irrigation. Most farmers raise and maintain these animals to boost their earnings. Milch animals are those that provide milk for human consumption. Curd, cheese, cream, and butter are all examples of dairy products made from milk. Products like these are mass-produced in factories and sold for a profit. Cattle are also used for their meat. Healthy food, veterinary care, and other necessities are provided to the animals on these farms.

Dairy animals are raised and bred primarily for their milk. Thus, increasing milk output is a priority. The lactation phase refers to the time immediately following the birth of a calf, during which a cow begins to produce milk. However, milk quality must also be taken into consideration. Dairy farm management is the management of milking animals to increase milk production and quality. As a result, breeders work to create high-yielding varieties that are also resistant to disease.

Poultry farming 

‘Poultry’ refers to the farming of domesticated birds for food (meat or eggs). These include laying birds such as chicken and other poultry and some pigeon variations. It is important to distinguish between broilers and layers in the poultry industry.

India’s poultry industry has grown to be one of the country’s most important, generating substantial revenue for farmers and creating numerous jobs. Cleanliness and hygiene must be maintained often in this profession.

Fish farming 

To raise fish commercially in tanks or ponds is referred to as “fish farming” or “pisciculture.” Many aquatic species, such as fish, are excellent suppliers of protein. As a result, there is a tremendous demand for these. There are two ways to farm fish: using natural resources or artificially. A wide variety of fish can be found in natural resources such as the sea, lakes, rivers, etc. 

As long as they are kept isolated from wild fish populations and hence don’t impair the long-term productivity of those populations, aquaculture-based fisheries can give several advantages over their natural counterparts. Even though fish farming is practised worldwide, 62% of the world’s total supply comes from China.

Beekeeping 

Honey bees are raised in large-scale artificial combs to extract honey in the bee farming industry. An alternative term for beekeeping is apiculture. Keeping bees in an apiary or bee yard is known as an apiary. Bees are bred for honey and beeswax, which are used in the food industry. They are also employed in the floral industry as pollinators. There are numerous ways to use honey, such as in food, medicine, cosmetics, etc. As a result, apiculture is also an important sector of industry.

Honey has long been the primary reason for keeping bees, dating back at least 9,000 years. This has become less and less true over the twentieth century. In present times, bees are farmed for pollinating and other goods, such as wax and propolis. The majority of beekeepers have fewer than 25 hives, and the majority of beekeeping operations are non-profit and non-commercial. Many people keep small hives of bees as a hobby.

Role of Animal Husbandry 

The agricultural practice of raising livestock for human benefit in various ways, such as meat and milk production, is called animal husbandry. It has a major impact on human well-being, as evidenced by the following examples:

• It provides a wide range of essential foodstuffs, such as eggs, beef, yarn, silk, milk, honey, etc.
• It contributes to boosting employment in the country, particularly among farmers.
• It increases the amount of food that can be produced to suit the needs of a large population.
• Exporting farm products opens up a slew of new revenue streams for farmers on the commercial level.
• It all adds up to a stronger economy for the country.

Conclusion 

Agricultural animal husbandry deals with raising animals for meat, fibre, milk, or other purposes. Day-to-day care, selective breeding, and livestock raising all fall under this umbrella term. There has been a long farming history before the first crops were grown. Animals have first domesticated some 13,000 years ago, during the Neolithic revolution. Cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs were raised on farms in early civilisations like Egypt. Except for pigs and hens, which are omnivores, most animals are herbivores. It is possible to feed ruminants like cattle and sheep pelleted cereals or higher-energy meals, such as hay, or they can graze for grass in the wild.