SS1 Animal Husbandry Lesson Note on the Introduction to Animal Husbandry

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Week 1:  Introduction to animal husbandry

Meaning of animal husbandry

Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art and science of rearing farm animals for human use and consumption. It includes the breeding, feeding, housing, veterinary/health care, processing, and marketing of farm animals for the benefit of mankind.

Livestock in animal husbandry

• Livestock – cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, camels, and donkeys.
• Poultry – chickens, guinea fowls, ostriches, emus, quails, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons,
• Common pets – dogs, cats.
• Non-traditional animals – honey bees, grass cutters, snails, guinea pigs, etc.

Scope of animal husbandry

Animal husbandry covers raising of food and pet animals following a diligent selection of breeds, proper feeding, adequate housing, good health care system, hygienic slaughtering, processing, and marketing.

Key areas of animal husbandry includes:

1. Breeding and genetics
2. Nutrition
3. Physiology and biochemistry
4. Processing
5. Pasture and range management
6. Marketing and
7. Records and accounts

History of livestock development

Livestock and poultry became important and readily available to humans through the process of domestication. Domestication of farm animals is defined as a process of hereditary re-organization of wild animals into domestic form according to the interests of human beings. Domestication brings about an entirely different animal species which becomes naturally accustomed to living among humans in quite a beneficial relationship.

The fundamental distinction of domesticated animals from their wild ancestors is that domesticated animals are created by human efforts to meet specific needs. Domestication differs from taming. Domestication involves changes in the appearance (phenotype) of the animal concerned. Taming is the process by which an animal becomes adapted or adjusted to the presence of humans. A tamed lion is not domesticated as it still demonstrates all the salvage characteristics of their wild relatives.

Types of animal husbandry

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