Basically, animal husbandry is the care and rearing of animals. This can include everything from raising cattle to keeping bees. It has a very long history and there are many different types of animals that can be reared, such as dairy animals, poultry, and aquatic animals.
History
Agricultural practices and techniques, including animal husbandry, have been around for thousands of years. The earliest examples of animal husbandry date back to the Stone Age. Humans bred many different types of animals. They used them for transportation, food, companionship, and wool. Some of these animals were tamed and others were not.
Some of the earliest examples of domesticated animals include cattle, goats, and pigs. These were introduced to various regions of the world. They have been adapted to survive in different climates and environments. They are able to adapt to periods of hot summer droughts and mild winters. They are also suited to living in semi-deserts.
Domestication was one of the most important advances in human history. It allowed people to live comfortably, and move away from hunter-gatherer practices. It also marked the first step in the transition from a predator-prey relationship to one of coexistence. The use of animals was an essential part of each frontier settlement.
A study of prehistoric farming sites and pottery provides clues into the early history of animal husbandry. Specifically, lipids in early ceramics suggest high concentrations of dairy residues in early farmers’ habitations in the Mediterranean.
Studies of prehistoric cultures and their technologies show that humans and animals have been in close and interesting relationship for millennia. For example, in the Indian subcontinent, livestock played an important role in settlement.
In modern times, animal husbandry has become a core part of economics. It is now taught in many universities.
Types of animals
Agricultural animal husbandry is the raising of farm animals for food, fiber or breeding. Some of the types of animals in animal husbandry are cattle, chickens, goats and pigs. These animals are raised to provide food, resources like milk, meat, eggs, leather and manure.
Sheep are one of the most popular species in animal husbandry. They are especially common in North Africa and Central Asia. They are also found in New Zealand. They produce fiber, which is a by-product of their wool. They are also a good source of protein.
The animals are also used to control weeds on agricultural land. Their excreta can be used as manure, floor plaster or fuel for fire. They also help plow fields. They can also help slow the spread of wildfires.
They are also important for providing protection to domestic animals. Several farmers depend on livestock for their livelihood. They also help in recycling nutrients.
These animals are raised in specially built areas for production purposes. They are mostly herbivores, but some also eat grass in the wild. They can also graze on dry shrubs that have been consumed by fire. Their blood can be used in fields to increase crop yields. They can also be fed pelleted cereals.
In India, cattle are valued for their dairy products. They are not only used for meat, but they are also revered by Hindus.
Prey Pathway
Various animal species followed different paths to the domesticated state. Aside from agriculture, humankind has managed to domesticate some free-living animals for the sole purpose of obtaining food and ancillary services. In fact, humans have gone so far as to build tight spaces to nab migrating animals. While this may seem like a bad idea in some respects, it does allow for many more people to be fed in an unstable environment.
The prey pathway is a fancy name for the first time humans took control of the animal kingdom. During the late Stone Age, humans managed to tame a plethora of free-living creatures, from the horse to the dog. Assuming that these animals were able to survive in their natural environments, they were eventually bred and shorn into livestock. These animals were then subjected to a series of bespoke breeding programs based on human needs. In the southern Levant, the practice of animal management replaced the hare-brained schemes of the past.
The best example of the aforementioned prey pathway is the horse. The breed was first introduced in the Near East, where it became an integral part of the human community. Today, horses are found throughout the world, from the deserts of Africa to the forests of the Himalayas. As a matter of fact, horse-back riding is one of the hottest hobbies on the planet.
Among the myriad paths to animal husbandry, the horse-and-pony route stands out as the most impressive. It allows humankind to live in a wide variety of climates and environments, including the hot, cold and arid.
Commensal Pathway
Whether you’re a wolf or a fox, the commensal pathway is not as elusive as it may seem. It involves an animal getting used to humans by association. One example is the pig.
The first recorded example of animal husbandry took place in Egypt around 3,500 BC. The practice reached a fever pitch during the time of the pharaohs. By the end of the second millennium, humans were managing a large number of free-living animals for food, clothing, and entertainment. Some examples include camels, horses, and donkeys. Some modern day domesticated species are herbivores while others are omnivores. There are many variations of these animals to choose from. The largest number of domesticated animals is the mammal category.
Some researchers are still debating the merits of the commensal pathway. Other scientists have pointed to the fact that the commensal path was not the only path to domestication. Other paths to domestication included the directed and the impromptu. Some speculate that the commensal pathway may have been a precursor to the direct pathway.
While the commensal path hasn’t been fully uncovered, the prey and directed pathways have been largely mapped out. The biggest question is, how did animals get from the wild to the farm? It’s easy to imagine that human ancestors may have been attracted to human settlements for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they were attracted to the tasty morsels offered by their prey.
Dairy farming
Throughout the world, there are 270 million cows that produce milk. These animals are bred to produce large amounts of milk for human consumption. During peak lactation, a dairy cow can produce 60 litres of milk every day.
The dairy farming industry is one of the most important sectors of agriculture. It produces various types of milk and cheese. It also provides shelter and food for the animals.
Dairy farms follow best management practices. They give the animals a nutritious diet and provide quality veterinary care. They ensure that all their employees learn how to properly care for animals.
Dairy farmers are always looking for ways to improve the health and welfare of their herds. They are also committed to improving the environmental sustainability of their operations.
One of the largest welfare problems faced by dairy cows worldwide is lameness. This problem can be caused by a variety of bacterial infections. It is very painful for the cow.
Newly born calves should be inspected regularly. They should be moved in a manner that avoids pain. They should also be measured for their growth rate, weight and mortality.
If a cow suffers from lameness, it should be treated immediately. This should be done by an expert. Ineffective foot trimming can cause laminitis.
It is vital that all cattle have access to water. The supply of water should be adequate and clean.
Bee farming
Keeping bees is an important form of animal husbandry. The practice involves the breeding, raising, collecting, and selling honeybees. It also includes crop pollination services.
Aside from the production of honey, bees are used to pollinate crops, including many fruits and vegetables. The pollination of these plants increases the yields of the food we eat. It has been estimated that honey bee pollination is worth about fifteen billion dollars a year.
Thousands of years ago, humans collected honey from wild bees. Today, it is estimated that one third of the American diet comes from crops that are pollinated by bees.
It is believed that beekeeping started about 10,000 years ago. Evidence of beekeeping can be found in ancient Egypt, Greece, and China. It is also evident in the art of the Maya.
In the 19th century, Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth developed the movable comb hive, which is now the standard for beekeeping. It is a structure made of wax comb. It can be shaped into hexagonal cells.
The worker bees use the softened wax to build the comb. It is produced by four pairs of glands on the abdomen. The bees then chew the wax with their salivary secretions.
The health of the bee colony is measured by the number of brood and the size of the brood. A healthy pupa is solid and white, and is in the process of becoming an adult bee.
