Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, eggs, or other products.
Animal husbandry is a branch of agriculture concerned with the care and management of livestock. Livestock has been used by humans for products like milk, eggs, meat, wool, silk, honey, etc. 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 for meat, fibre, milk, eggs, or other products, mostly for economic or for recreation purposes, such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, camel, pig, horse, etc.
It includes day-to-day care, selective breeding, and the raising of livestock. Animal husbandry and dairy development play a significant role in the development of economy in rural India. Animal husbandry is one of the most important occupations for farmers in India. Livestock, meat, eggs, milk, hides etc. are the major products for the farmers. Farmers, farms and farm animals make up a fine eco-system in India. To farmers, livestocks are not just mere animals; often they treat them as their occupation. This is peculiarly true of cattle and buffaloes. Ox, buffaloes and camels are used as animals on the farm. They help in ploughing, sowing, thrashing and carrying farm animals products. Cows and she-buffaloes furnish milk.
Animal husbandry is an integral component of Indian agriculture supporting livelihood of more than two-thirds of the rural population. Animals provide nutrient-rich food products, draught power, dung as organic manure and domestic fuel, hides & skin, and are a regular source of cash income for rural households. They are a natural capital, which can be easily reproduced to act as a living bank with offspring as interest, and an insurance against income shocks of crop failure and natural calamities.
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