Animal Husbandry Food Animals

May 09, 2023, 16:45 IST

Animal husbandry deals with the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock, including buffaloes, cows, pigs, horses, cattle, sheep, camels, goats, etc. Additionally, it includes rearing, catching and selling fish, molluscs (shellfish) and crustaceans (prawns, crabs, etc.).

According to a current estimation, more than 70 percent of the world's livestock population is in India and China. But surprisingly, the productivity per unit is very low as it contributes only 25 percent to the world farm produce. So there is an urgent unmet need to apply newer technologies to improve quality and productivity.

Management of farm animals

For better productivity, professional approaches provide the best results compared to traditional approaches. Let's understand some management procedures applied in various animal farm systems.

Dairy Farm Management

Dairy farms include the management of animals for milk and milk-related products. It majorly involves processes and management which increase the yield and quality of milk production. A disease-free, adequate water and food supply can provide better yield. The selection of high-yielding breeds can potentiate the yield and add traits like disease resistance.

Milk and Milk Product Technology is essential to dairy farm management as it deals with the science and technology of milk production, processing, and preservation. Effective dairy farm management requires a thorough understanding of this subject to ensure the production of high-quality milk and milk products that meet the demands of consumers.

In dairy farm management, the following aspects of Milk and Milk Product Technology are crucial:

Milk Production - Knowledge of the factors that affect milk production, such as genetics, nutrition, and health, and appropriate management practices to optimise milk yield and quality.
Milk Composition and Quality - Understanding of the composition and quality of milk and the factors that affect it, such as breed, age, and nutrition, and the implementation of practices to ensure the production of high-quality milk.
Processing and Preservation of Milk and Milk Products - Knowledge of the techniques used in the processing and preserving of milk and milk products, such as pasteurisation, homogenisation, and fortification, and their implementation in the dairy farm.
Packaging and Labelling of Milk and Milk Products - Knowledge of the importance of proper packaging and labelling of milk and milk products to ensure food safety and consumer protection and the implementation of appropriate packaging and labelling practices in the dairy farm.
Market Demand - Awareness of the market demand for different types of milk and milk products and the ability to respond to these demands by producing and marketing the appropriate products.

By incorporating the principles of Milk and Milk Product Technology into dairy farm management, dairy farmers can produce high-quality milk and milk products that meet the demands of consumers and contribute to the growth and success of the dairy industry.

Poultry Farm Management

It mainly includes the domestication of fowl like chicken, duck, geese and turkeys for food like eggs and meat. Selecting high-yielding breeds and adequate food and water supply can aid in a better yield and disease-free environment.

Poultry products play an essential role in poultry farm management as they are a significant food source and income for poultry farmers. Effective management of poultry products requires a comprehensive understanding of the following aspects:

Poultry Breeds - Knowledge of different breeds of poultry and their suitability for the production of meat or eggs, and the implementation of appropriate breeding programs to optimise poultry production.
Feed and Feeding - Understanding poultry's nutritional requirements and providing balanced and nutritious diets to optimise poultry growth and production.
Health Management - Awareness of the diseases and parasites that can affect poultry and the implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures and veterinary practices to prevent and treat these conditions.
Housing and Management - Knowledge of the design and construction of poultry houses and the implementation of appropriate management practices to ensure the comfort and health of the birds.
Egg and Meat Production - Understanding the physiology of egg and meat production and implementing practices to optimise the production of high-quality eggs and meat.
Processing and Preservation of Poultry Products - Knowledge of the techniques used in the processing and preserving of poultry products, such as refrigeration and packaging, and implementing these techniques to ensure food safety and extend the shelf-life of the products.
Marketing of Poultry Products - Awareness of the market demand for poultry products and the ability to market the products effectively to maximise profits.

By incorporating the principles of poultry product management into poultry farm management, poultry farmers can produce high-quality poultry products that meet the demands of consumers and contribute to the growth and success of the poultry industry.

Fisheries

Fisheries hold an important role in the growing Indian economy. It is the chief source of income and employment for millions of fishermen in the coastal states. Different techniques have been employed to increase production to meet the increasing demands on fisheries. For example, with advanced techniques like aquaculture and pisciculture, farmers can increase the production of freshwater marine aquatic plants. Implementation of the ‘Blue Revolution’ is also contributing to the yield.

Bee-keeping

Bee-keeping/apiculture is the maintenance of hives of honeybees for the production of honey. Honey is rich in nutritive value and also has medicinal properties. A successful apiculture practice involves a thorough knowledge of nature and the habit of bees. Beeswax is one of the products produced by honeybees. It is used in cosmetic preparation. The increasing demand for honey production has led to large-scale beekeeping practices; it has become an active and established income-generating industry, whether practised on a small or large scale.

Animal Breeding

Animal breeding is an essential aspect of animal husbandry. The main goal of animal breeding is to produce high-yielding and disease-resistant animals.

Inbreeding - Breeding between the same breed. It can also lead to homozygosity and inbreeding depression, reducing fertility and productivity.

Outbreeding is the cross between different breeds, including outcrossing, i.e., breeding involved between the same breed but no common ancestors up to 4-6 generations. Another type is crossbreeding, where the breeding is between different breeds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why is it called animal husbandry?

Ans. It involves the various techniques and skills involved in caring for and domesticating animals for obtaining commercial products. Cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry, and fish are common animals used in animal husbandry.

Q2. What are the advantages of animal husbandry?

Ans. It produces various essential foodstuffs and other economically significant products, such as eggs, beef, yarn, silk, milk, honey, wax etc.

It mainly contributes to the country's socio-economic status by employing farmers.
Increasing population of the country can be supplied by increasing food production through sustainable animal husbandry practices.

Q3. Give one example of animal breeding and animal husbandry?

Ans. Cross-breeding involves the production of desirable qualities of progeny derived from two different breeds. The obtained progeny will be a hybrid animal that can be further used for commercial production. This approach has developed many new animal breeds. Hisardale is a new breed of sheep developed in Punjab by crossing Bikaneri ewes and Marino rams.

Q4. What common infectious agents can cause infection in domesticated animals?

Ans. The disease could be infectious and caused by agents like-