What is animal husbandry?
Animal husbandry is a branch of agriculture where animals are raised, reared, and reared for meat, fiber, eggs, milk, and other food products. Animal husbandry mainly exploits household animals, hens, pigs, and, more rarely, cattle, as well as pack animals (donkeys, mules, oxen) and herds of goats and sheep, which provide protein to ensure diverse and flexible resources are available (eggs, dairy products, meat), wool, leather, and manure. Let’s check out what is Animal Husbandry, its types, advantages, and importance.
Improving the quality required for humans through livestock rearing, controlled farming, management, and domestic animal production, including breeding. Animals are raised and reared for utility (such as food, fur), pleasure, and research.Animals such as chicken, duck, goat, pig, etc., are raised for meat. In addition to these domestic animals, we have other sources of nutrition, they are marine animals. The seafood we eat is very nutritious.
They are a source of a variety of nutrients such as fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Animal care, breeding, management, etc. are specially supervised under the Department of Animal Husbandry. Animal husbandry is a large-scale business. Animals are bred, cared for, reared, and sheltered in a farm or area specifically designed for them. Animal husbandry includes poultry, dairy farms, bee farming, aquaculture, etc.
Benefits of animal husbandry
- Animal husbandry helps in the proper management of animals by providing adequate food, shelter, and protection to domestic animals.
- It employs a large number of farmers and thus raises their standard of living.
- It helps in crossbreeding to produce high-yielding breeds of animals. This increases the production of food products like milk, eggs, meat, etc.
- This includes proper disposal of animal waste and promotion of a healthy environment.
- It helps in the proper disposal and management of animal waste which creates a clean and safe environment.
- It helps in the production of manure or compost, which can be spread in the field to increase the yield of the crop.
- Wool and leather are also important by-products that are obtained from animals such as sheep, camels, etc. Their market is in high demand all over the world.
- It is good not only for humans but also for animals. Animals are sheltered, feed, and protected from disease.
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Role of animal husbandry in agriculture
Animal husbandry has been introduced as a subsidiary occupation of agriculture. It plays an important role in the recycling of nutrients, whereas in humid tropical areas it is less emphasized in temperate and arid regions. Animal husbandry, training, and nurturing of animals are considered an art in many farming communities.
Animal husbandry’s role in human welfare
- Dairy products such as cows, sheep, and goats are major sources of milk and dairy products including butter, including cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.
- Many animals, including chickens, goats, ducks, pigs, and buffaloes, are used for their meat because of their extreme nutrition.
- Livestock is used to control the growth of weeds on agricultural land as the dry shrubs that are consumed by fire are eaten by different animals. It minimizes the risk and damage that can be faced in unprecedented situations. Therefore, it is essential for land management.
- Wool and leather are by-products of fiber from animals such as sheep and camels. When these animals are raised in large numbers, the products can be obtained in large quantities.
- The importance of animal husbandry is also because the excreta, bones, and blood of animals can be used as manure or compost. They can be spread in the fields to increase crop yields.
- Animals help plow fields, military equipment, and goods transported from one place to another. Example: Horse, yak, and donkey.
What is the need for animal husbandry?
Humans rely heavily on animals for food and work. Livestock animals provide milk, meat, and eggs as food. They also do a lot of heavy work for human beings. To get better yields, proper care has to be taken of domestic animals and better breeds of animals have to be developed. Thus, the study of animal care is necessary for the following reasons;
- To increase milk production
- To increase egg production
- To increase meat production
- Proper use of animal waste
- To increase fish production
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Types of animal husbandry
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is an agricultural technique related to the long-term production of milk, which is then used to obtain dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, etc. This includes the management of dairy animals such as cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, etc.
Poultry farming
Poultry farming involves the rearing and raising of birds for commercial purposes. Birds such as ducks, chickens, geese, pigeons, turkeys, etc., are raised for eggs and meat. It is important to keep animals in a disease-free environment to care for them and get healthy food from them.
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Fish farming
Fish farming is the practice of raising fish in closed tanks or ponds for commercial purposes. There is a growing demand for fish and fish protein. Fish species such as salmon, catfish, cod, and tilapia are farmed on fish farms.There are two types of fish farming or pisciculture;
- Extensive aquaculture based on local photosynthetic production
- Intensive aquaculture based on the supply of external food to fish
Land management
Livestock is sometimes grazed to control the growth of weeds on agricultural land. In areas that are prone to wildfire, dry shrubs are eaten by goats and sheep, which reduces the risk of fires.
Fiber
Livestock animals produce fibers or textiles like wool and leather. For example, sheep are raised for wool where leather can be obtained from camels.
Manure
The animal excreta, blood, and bones are used as manure. Manure is spread in the fields to increase crop yield and crop yield. It is also used as fuel for the fire and as plaster for walls and floors.
Bee farming
It is also called apiculture. It is the process of maintaining bee colonies by humans in man-made hives. Bees are reared for honey, wax, and flower pollination. Honey farming ensures a safe place for bees to work and live. Bees are also important to us because they are involved in the pollination of our food sources. The location of bee farms provides an environment for studying their habitat and behavior.
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Loan for animal husbandry
India has always focused on farm livestock resources, in which agriculture has been adequately supplemented with animal husbandry methods. Various public and private sector companies have various schemes related to animal husbandry and agricultural loans. The purpose of these loans is mainly for the rural population so that they can adopt animal husbandry methods without worrying about the financial issues involved.
Animal husbandry loans are usually offered for the purchase or creation of assets related to poultry, sericulture, piggery, dairy development, fisheries development, and apiculture. Usually, the loans are secured against mortgage of land, hypothecation of acquired assets, or third-party guarantee.
Major banks that offer animal husbandry and related loans
Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, and many other banks offer animal husbandry and agriculture loans.
Features of animal husbandry loan
- Loans are available up to 100% of the cost of assets or projects.
- Usually long repayment term.
- Minimal paperwork and quick loan processing.
- Flexible payment options include cheques, ECS, internet banking, standing instruction, and automatic loan recovery.
- Loans are usually given at low-interest rates.
Types of animal husbandry covered under loans
These loans can be used for various purposes such as dairy development programs, milk production activities such as purchase and care of milch animals, rearing of female calves, raising of cattle through artificial insemination, milk house constructions, financing of the milk processing facility, development of pastures financing and lots more in the dairy side of financing. Loans also include other animal husbandry opportunities such as fishing, pigs, poultry, fish farming, silk farming, and many other techniques.
Animal husbandry’s role in human welfare
Animal husbandry is an agricultural process of raising livestock for the profit of human beings in various ways. It plays an important role in improving the well-being of human beings, for example;
- It provides many useful products such as eggs, meat, wool, silk, milk, honey, etc., which are part of our daily life.
- It helps to increase the employment rate in the country, especially for farmers.
- It provides an increase in food production to meet the needs of a large population.
- At the commercial level, it provides farmers with many opportunities to earn from the exportation of their produce.
- All these together lead to strengthening the economy of the country.
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Choosing an animal husbandry loan
Each bank has its criteria for offering animal husbandry loans and you are advised to contact the banks individually to find out what their loan products cover. Most public sector banks are involved in some form of agriculture and agriculture allied loans, so you should look at your needs and choose accordingly. There are also some government subsidies available for people belonging to backward classes to acquire livestock-related assets. As such, you should also inquire about the benefits of the Animal Husbandry Scheme when applying for a loan.
Documents required for animal husbandry loan
There are the minimum documentation requirements for applying for an animal husbandry loan.
- Proof of identity from PAN card, passport, driving license, voter ID.
- Address proof in passport, lease agreement, sales tax certificate, electricity or telephone bill, ration card, etc.
- Quotations may be sought for assets acquired by the lender.
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