Cattle Farming Animal Husbandry

Mar 14, 2023, 16:45 IST

This article's goal is to briefly describe Cattle Farming- Animal Husbandry. Continue reading to understand more about Farm Management and examples of cattle farming and animal husbandry.

Introduction

Animals have always been playing a vital role in the diet of human beings, either food or other basic essentials including milk, egg, meat, etc. As the population is increasing day by day the demand for basic requirements of food, cloth, and shelter is also increasing. Animal husbandry is one of the approaches to fulfill the demand for food. Animal husbandry includes apiculture, fisheries, poultry farming, and cattle farming.

Animal Husbandry

The term animal husbandry is defined as the practice of breeding and raising domestic animals or the production of animal products. It is also known as the science of raising animal livestock which includes breeding and management of livestock. Animal husbandry is a large-scale industry that takes care of animals on a farm or in a place that is designed for them. Various uses include dairy farming, poultry farming, etc.

Fundamentals of Animal Husbandry

1. During Neolithic Revolution, the term ‘’Animal Husbandry’’ was first coined.
2. Sheep, goats, and cattle were reared on farms during the era of early civilizations.
3. The purpose of modern husbandry is based on production design on the accessibility of land.
4. Subsistence farming is being replaced by intensive animal farming in the developed parts of the world like beef cattle are kept in high-density feedlots.
5. Domestication of livestock was developed in response to the need for sufficient food after hunting proved to be illegal. A domesticated animal should have the following qualities.
   • The animal should be beneficial for the domesticator in some way.
   • The animal should be capable of flourishing under the domesticator’s supervision.
   • The animal should be able to produce freely.
6. Innovative concepts for crop production and crop rotation with consideration to winter fodder were established.
7. Animal husbandry grew dramatically over the years, bringing high-scale demand for commercial and merchandise activities over the world. In order to engage in ‘’sustainable employment’’ immigration of inhabitants to large cities is required.

Cattle Farming

Cattles are domesticated members of the family Bovidae and sub-family Bovinae. Cattle have been playing an important role in our livelihood, especially in the area of food as it is a part of day-to-day consumption. Cattle farming is also known as cattle ranching in which rearing and raising of cattle at a large scale can be done for various agricultural purposes.

Two types of rearing and management are involved in cattle farming

1. Dairy - Requirement of food like milk.
2. Draught - Labour work or purposes like plowing, irrigation, etc.

Animals that provide milk are known as milch/dairy animals, for example, buffalo, cow, goats, etc, and animals used for labor work are known as draught animals.

Since milch animals or dairy animals are cared for and bred for milk, we must increase milk production to satisfy demands. Enhancement of milk production is done by the increasing lactation period. For enhancing the quality and quantity of the produced milk dairy farm management manages milch animals by developing high-yielding and disease-resistant breeds. Two varieties of breed help us to enhance the quality and quantity of the produced milk, first foreign breeds like Brown Swiss, and Jersey for the long lactation period and second local breeds like Red Sindhi, and Gir that are known for their disease-resistant traits.

The raising of animals for the livestock of beef and dairy cattle includes pigs, sheep, goats, horses, mules, buffalo, asses, and camels, and for raising birds commercially for meat and eggs.

Farm Management

Farm Management includes the proper management and good care of livestock. Farm management includes the following:

1. Shelter

In cattle farming, animals are maintained with proper housing and strictly hygienic, for this, we need to follow some routine-

• Sheds of the animals need to be washed and cleaned at regular intervals.
• To remove dirt and bugs from the animal should be brushed regularly.
• To protect animals from the rain, heat, and cold shed should be well-ventilated and roofed.
• There should be a suitable drainage system in place to eliminate animal feces.

2. Food

In cattle farming food requirements of animals are maintained for high-yielding and disease-resistant breeds. According to their needs, they must provide adequate water supply and nutrient-rich fodder regularly. Regarding the diet of cattle, two variables are taken into account:

• The food provided to the animals should be healthy and meet farming requirements.
• Animal feed requires high fiber, high protein, and nutrient content at proper concentration, and proper supplements containing micronutrients are provided to animals.

Proper portions of all these promote high output and healthy animals.

3. Disease Management

To maintain disease-free breed vaccination is provided in a particular period. Animals may suffer from numerous parasitic, bacterial, and viral diseases like cowpox that affect the productivity and health of the animal, and also affect the survival period. Sick animals should be isolated and provided them proper treatment and diet until they are healthy again.

Types of Animal Husbandry

1. Fish Farming - The rearing of fish in ponds is commercially called fish farming. It is also known as pisciculture.
2. Cattle Farming - It is the procedure of caring for cattle like buffaloes, cows, and goats for agricultural activities. It also involves plowing, irrigation, or the production of milk.
3. Bee Farming - It is the process of rearing honey bees that helps in the production of honey on a large scale. It is also known as apiculture.
4. Poultry Farming - It is the procedure of rearing domesticated birds for food that involves meat or eggs. For example- chickens, ducks, geese, and some varieties of pigeons.

Types of Cattle Farming

1. Intensive Cattle Farming - The selection of breeds is decided for different types of production, both capital-intensive and labor.
2. Semi-Intensive Farming - In this farming feeding and housing of livestock is done. They are also allowed to graze around the shelter or farm within an enclosed area of a farm.
3. Extensive Livestock Farming - In this animals graze on the natural resources of various areas like mountains.
4. Nomadic Livestock Farming - In nomadic livestock farming animals are taken to different lands to eat various foods and resources. It is also known as semi-nomadic livestock farming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Explain the term Cattle Farming.

Ans. Cattle farming is also known as cattle ranching in which rearing and raising of cattle at a large scale can be done for various agricultural purposes.

Q2. What is Animal Husbandry?

Ans. The term animal husbandry define as the practice of breeding and raising domestic animals or the production of animal products. It is also known as the science of raising animal livestock which includes breeding and management of livestock.

Q3. Define the term apiculture.

Ans. It is the process of rearing honey bees that helps in the production of honey on a large scale.

Q4. Define the term Pisciculture.

Ans. The rearing of fish in ponds is commercially called pisciculture. It is also known as Fish Farming.

Q5. What is the difference between cattle farming and food management?

Ans. Cattle farming is also known as cattle ranching in which rearing and raising of cattle at a large scale can be done for various agricultural purposes. Farm Management includes the proper management and good care of livestock.