Animal Husbandry: Role of Animal Husbandry in Human Welfare Management

Role of Animal Husbandry in Human Welfare Management!

Animal Husbandry:

Animal husbandry is a branch of agriculture concerned with the care and management of livestock. Animal husbandry deals with the feeding, breeding, housing and health care of livestock for getting maximum benefits.

Livestock refers to farm animals (domesticated animals) such as cow, sheep, etc. kept by humans for a useful commercial purpose. When we use the word “Animal” in animal husbandry, we mean only those domesticated animals which are reared mostly for economic or for recreation purposes, such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, camel, pig, horse, etc. It also includes poultry farming and fisheries.

Fisheries include rearing, catching, selling, etc. of fish, molluscs (shell fish) and crustaceans (Fresh water prawn- Palaemon, Crabs, etc.). Since long time, animals like bees and silk­worm, have been used by humans. Livestock has been used by humans for products like milk, eggs, meat, wool, silk, honey, etc.

More than 70 per cent of the world livestock population is in India and China. But it is interesting to note that the contribution to the world farm produce is only 25 per cent. Hence in addition to old practices of animal breeding and care, new techniques have to be used to improve quality and productivity.

The word ‘husbandry’ means the management of domestic affair. The term used in connection with animal husbandry includes proper feeding, breeding, health care, housing, etc.

Role of Animal Husbandry in Human Welfare:

1. Dairy Products:

Mammalian livestock can be used as a source of milk and dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese, butter, ice cream, etc.

2. Meat:

It is the production of a useful form of dietary protein and energy.

3. Land management:

The grazing of livestock is sometimes used as a way to control weeds and undergrowth. For example, in areas prone to wild fires, goats and sheep are set to graze on dry shrub which reduces the risk of fires.

4. Fibre:

Livestock produce a range of fibre/textiles. For example, sheep and goats produce wool and deer and sheep can make leather.

5. Labour:

Animals such as horses, donkey and yaks can be used for mechanical energy. Prior to steam power, livestock were the only available source of non-human labour. They are still used for this purpose in many places of the world, including ploughing fields, transporting goods and military functions.

6. Fertilizer:

Manure can be spread on fields to increase crop yields. This is an important reason why historically, plant and animal domestication have been intimately linked. Manure is also used to make plaster for walls and floors and can be used as a fuel for fires. The blood and bones of animals are also used as fertilizer.

Management of Farm and Farm Animals:

Management is the art and science of combining ideas, facilities, processes, materials and labour to produce and market a worthwhile product or service successfully. Some of the management procedures in various animal farm systems are described below.

(1) Dairy Farm Management:

Dairying is the management of animals for milk and its products for human consumption. Cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep are the animals that we would expect in a dairy. Cows and buffaloes generally give more milk than goats and sheep. The yellow colour of cow milk is due to the carotene.

Buffalo milk does not contain carotene. Ghee from cow fed on an abundant green fodder is more yellow than when fed on dry food. In dairy management, the people deal with processes and systems that increase yield and improve quality of milk. These are described below.

1. Four essential methods for livestock improvement:

These are breeding, weed­ing, feeding and heeding, (i) Both the male and female animals selected for breeding should be of superior quality, (ii) Weeding aims that uneconomic animals must be prevented from reproducing, (iii) Feeding is also very important for animals. Each animal should be fed on a balance ration, (iv) Heeding (pay attention to) implies good animal management and general supervision including housing care and maintenance of proper cleanliness and hygiene.

2. Health Care:

According to WHO ‘health’ is the state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease. A healthy animal eats drinks and sleeps well regularly. Therefore, good health is important.

3. Suitable Environmental Conditions:

Adequate ventilation, suitable temperature, sufficient light, water, air and well-drained housing accommodation should be provided.

4. Resistance to Diseases:

If the animal is well looked after, the resistance to diseases develops and animal is protected from the diseases.

5. Regular Inspections:

The above mentioned measures would of course, require regular inspections, with proper record keeping. Regular visits by veterinary doctor would be necessary.

Thus the productive potentialities of live stock are controlled by three principle factors; (i) genetic makeup (ii) nutrition and (iii) environment including the climatic conditions. “Father of white revolution in India” is Verghese Kurein.

(2) Poultry Farm Management:

The word ‘poultry’ is used for birds which can be raised under domestication for economic purpose. The term applies to chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, swans, guinea fowls, pigeons, peafowls and quails. In our country, it mainly means chickens, domesticated for eggs and meat. Ducks are also domesticated but to a much less extent.

Poultry farm management includes the following components.

1. Selection of Disease Free and Suitable Breeds:

Selection of breeds is the most important aspect. The breed should be disease free and suitable to the environmental conditions. The most common egg-type variety used for commercial production throughout the world is Single Comb White Leghorn and its various strains. The meat type stocks mainly originated from Plymouth Rock, Cornish and New Hampshire breeds of fowls.

2. Brood House:

Brooder house should be crowd-free, rain proof and protected from predators. It should have windows with wire mesh for adequate ventilation.

3. Sanitation and Hygiene:

The house should be cleaned and disinfected. Good drain­age system is essential to keep the poultry yard clean.

4. Care of Chicks during Brooding:

On the arrival of chicks sweet water (gur 50 g/ litre) is given. The feed in the form of maize dalia should be given in the first 24-28 hours, but later on complete chick feed should be added to the feeders. Additional vitamins should be given in water during the first week.

5. Feed Management:

Feeding constitutes the major management concern in egg and meat production. The groups of nutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins.

6. Light Management:

Light is essential for high egg production. 14 to 16 hours of light including daylight is required for optimum production.

7. Summer Management:

The birds have thick feather covering and do not have sweat glands. The birds can withstand cold, but are more sensitive to heat.

8. Winter Management:

Try to maintain the temperature above 15.5° C. Thus right temperature should be maintained.

Breeds:

Some breeds of Chicken are given below.

Poultry Diseases and their Control:

The following are some of the important diseases of the poultry (i) Viral diseases : Ranikhet disease (New Castle disease), fowl-pox, infec­tious bronchitis, Marck’s disease, chronic respiratory diseases, duck virus enteritis, hepatitis, Bird flu. (ii) Bacterial diseases: Fowl cholera, coryza, typhoid, paratyphoid, Pollorum disease, Salmonellosis, (iii) Protozoanal diseases: Coccidiosis, Spirochaetosis (tick fever). (iv) Fungal diseases: Aspergillosis (brooder pneumonia), mycosis, Aflatoxicosis— is also fungal disease in poultry which reduces immunity and spreads through contaminated food. (v) Parasites (a) External parasites : Lice, mites ticks and fleas (b) Internal parasites: Roundworms, tapeworm, threadworms, (vi) Nutritional diseases : Avitaminosis, rickets, perosis.

An outbreak of diseases like Ranikhet, Coryza or fowl cholera can lead to the death of a large number of birds. However, these and other diseases can now be controlled by preventive measures like good management, proper nutrition, and timely vaccination of the newly born chicks. Administration of sulpha drugs and broad spectrum antibiotic treatment also helps in curing several diseases.

It is also necessary to avoid overcrowding of birds, poor ventilation and dampness in poultry houses as these favour the spread of diseases. The immediate separation of the infected birds from the healthy ones and seeking veterinary aid is recommended to check the spread of the disease and its cure.

How to prevent the spread of ‘bird flu virus’?

Bird flu is caused by a virus H5N1. All sick birds suspected of the disease must be separated from healthy birds. There must be proper disposal of dead birds and excreta. The houses are to be disinfected. The general procedure for control of infectious diseases should be followed. Complete removal of in­fected flock from the farm premises must be done and new flock may be introduced. Burn or bury the dead birds that die of the disease. Discourage visitors to poultry house. They can introduce infection.

Advantages of Poultry Farming:

Poultry farming has the following advantages.

1. Food:

It provides eggs and meat which are highly nutritious foods. They are a rich source of animal protein, minerals, right kind of fat and vitamins (A, В and D) for good health. Unfertilized eggs are called “vegetarian eggs”.

2. Economic Uplift:

By selling the eggs and meat of these birds, the farmers become economically better. Poultry farming provides employment to a large number of people.

3. Manure:

The faecal matter of birds form a rich manure which increases the fertility of soil. It increases crop yields.

4. Feathers:

Feathers of the birds are useful.

5. Recreation:

The birds of poultry are also a means of recreation. Coloured chickens give pleasure look. Cock-fighting is popular in some people.