Livestock farming, rising of animals for use or for pleasure. In this article, we will give the definition, Importance and Types of Livestock Farming.
An efficient and prosperous animal agriculture historically has been the mark of a strong, well-developed nation.
Such agriculture permits
a nation to store large quantities of grains and other foodstuffs in
concentrated form to be utilized to raise animals for human consumption during
such emergencies as war or natural calamity.
Furthermore, meat has long been known for
its high nutritive value, producing stronger, healthier people. Ruminant (cud-chewing)
animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats convert large quantities of pasture forage,
harvested roughage, or by-product feeds, as well as no protein nitrogen such as
urea, into meat, milk,
and wool.
Ruminants are therefore extremely important;
more than 60 percent of the world’s farmland is in meadows and pasture.
Poultry also convert feed efficiently into protein; chickens, especially, are unexcelled in meat and egg production. Milk is one of the most complete and oldest known animal foods. Cows were milked as early as 9000 BCE.
Definition of Livestock Farming
Livestock farming is simply the management and breeding of domestic, livestock or farm animals for the purpose of obtaining their meat and products (milk, eggs, leather, etc.).
It can also be described as the economic activity that involves
raising domestic animals for human consumption and obtaining meat, milk, wool,
fur, honey, among others.
Livestock farming is one of the oldest economic activities of man started by early men. It guarantees food supply, hides, skins, bones, milk and other animal products without going to the forest to hunt.
Livestock farming includes the breeding of
cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry, rabbits, snails, fishes, and honeybees.
What are the Importance and Benefits of Livestock Farming?
Agriculture is one of the oldest sciences, and one of the most important.
Without a firm understanding of agriculture, all humans would struggle to find
enough food, shelter, and clothing to survive.
The main reason for maintaining our animal agricultural populations is to
provide a nutritious and desirable form of food for human consumption.
Only about 11% of the world’s land area is suitable for production of
foods that can be directly consumed by humans. About 75% of energy intake
consumed by ruminants and 30% from nonruminants is from waste materials that
cannot be consumed directly by the human population.
With world food production already inadequately able to provide balanced
diets for people of the world, it is important that we continue to utilize
livestock
1.
Livestock farming is a vital activity in the development of humanity and
continues to occupy a prominent place among the primary activities of the world
economy.
2.
It generates high-quality food products such as meat, egg, milk, cheese, etc.
3.
Other local economic sectors advantage directly or indirectly from its
activity: food processing industries, handicrafts, tourism and hospitality.
4.
It is one of the few human productive economic activities that are truly
sustainable.
5.
It generates employment opportunities and serves as a source of income
6.
It can also serve as a hobby for some people.
7.
It can help a country to generate foreign exchange earnings through the export
of livestock products. This will further strengthen the local currency value.
8.
Bigger animals such as cattle, horse and donkeys can be used for some special
farm operations such as ploughing, harrowing and even beasts of burden.
The Importance of Livestock in the United States
The United States is the world’s largest
exporter of agricultural products. Its agricultural products go to more than
120 countries.
In 2008, farm exports were valued at $115 billion.
Farmers and ranchers of the United States represented
less than 0.1% of the world’s population in 2003 and yet annually produce
approximately 22% of the meat, 32% of the fluid milk, 29% of the eggs, and 41%
of the poultry products of the world.
According to the 2007
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agricultural census, the total value of
agricultural products sold from farms in the United States was $297 billion,
creating a 48% increase since 2002.
The value of the livestock
and livestock products themselves that were sold in 2007 was $153 billion. The
percentage of livestock products sold from farms in the United States
constitutes 51.7% of the total market value of agricultural products sold in
2007.
Livestock producers also create income for
the United States and stimulate the economy with the purchase of goods to raise
livestock.
According to the USDA 2007
agriculture census, producers spent $241 billion on production expenses in
2007, an increase of 39% since 2002.
Of those production
expenses, $49.1 billion was spent on feed, and $38 billion was spent on the purchase
or lease of livestock.
Jobs created from
agriculture should not be overlooked when evaluating the importance of
agriculture to our economy.
Approximately one in every
six jobs in private employment is related to agriculture. These statistics
alone are the reason some economists believe that agriculture is the foundation
of our economy.
Animal agriculture is used to stabilize farm incomes by providing other areas of income for farmers and ranchers.
It also allows farmers and ranchers to save on shipping costs of
bulky feeds by concentrating them into the form of meat through the use of
livestock.
Clothing is supplied through agriculture
with the production of wool, mohair, and cashmere. Wool markets have been
gradually declining in United States for several years now because of the use
of synthetic fibers, although there is still an economic market for the
product. Leather used in shoes, belts, gloves, and clothes constitutes 5% to
10% of the market value of livestock animals.
By-products are any product produced by animals other than meat. These products contribute significantly to U.S. society.
Examples of by-products include organs, fat, bones, and various glands.
Examples of products made with by-products include candy, house insulation,
gum, sandpaper, wallpaper, ice cream, fertilizers, canned meats, buttons,
perfumes, glue, camera film, lanolin, gelatin desserts, marshmallows, dice, piano keys, toothbrushes, cosmetics, rug
padding, waxes, soap lubricants, printing ink, candles, and upholstering materials
for furniture.
By-products are also used as
feeds for other animals. Another major use of by-products includes medications,
such as insulin, cortisone, epinephrine, thrombin, rennet, heparin, and
corticotrophin. Not only do livestock contribute to medications, but they also
supply a research model for scientists to study human and animal health.
Livestock are also doing their part to “go green.”
Sixty-four percent of the U.S. land mass is used for the production of livestock: 36% for grazing and 28% for production of hay and other forage crops and grain. Livestock help conserve soil and soil fertility in the land on which these livestock feeds are grown.
Livestock manure is
applied to these areas to replenish nutrients in the soil used by plants for
growth.
Organic agriculture is becoming a
huge part of U.S. agricultural production, and livestock help play a role in
conservation of our natural resources.
The traditional use of livestock as a power source has come and gone in U.S. society. However, with continued research into more effective ways to produce power, scientists have discovered the use of methane gas, produced from fecal material, as a power source.
Several large feedlots in the United States have built biogas plants. These plants utilize methane gas as a form of energy. Fuel for electricity, cooking, and heating needs of an average U.S. farm could be supplied by the manure from about 40 cows.
The cost of energy contributes
largely to the average cost of food supplied to grocery stores. This trend is
extremely realistic in view of the recent increases in energy costs and jumps in
grocery prices in recent history.
Recreation is another benefit that can be attributed to the use of livestock in the United States. There are an estimated 6.9 million horses in the United States, and their owners annually spend an estimated $8.5 billion for feed and tack.
This fact not only contributes to their economic importance but also signifies the importance of horses as a recreational hobby.
More people attend horse races annually than see minor or major league baseball games or attend automobile races.
Horses are not the only animals used as a form of recreation. If you have ever visited a county or state fair, you have seen people enjoying the exhibition of livestock as well.
Types of Livestock Farming
There are different types of
livestock farming systems that are distinguished by the production processes
that take place in each of them.
The different types of livestock
farming systems are:
1. Intensive Livestock
2. Semi intensive Livestock
3. Extensive Livestock
4. Nomadic Livestock
5. Transhumant Livestock
6. Organic Livestock Farming
Let us explain in details
1.
Intensive Livestock
Farming Intensive livestock farming
is one in which the animals are housed with adequate temperatures, feed and health
care necessary for the production of animals to be healthy and faster. In this
system, the selection of breeds is made for different types of production. It
is both capital and labour intensive.
2.
Semi intensive Livestock
Farming Semi intensive livestock
farming is one in which the animals are housed and fed, but are allowed to
graze or move around the farm to scavenge within in an enclosed area within the
farm area.
3.
Extensive Livestock
Farming Extensive livestock farming
is one that is carried out on large areas of land, such as meadows, pastures or
mountains so that animals graze and take advantage of the natural resources of
various areas. It is usually carried out with animals that are adapted to the
type of field to which they are intended to take. This system promotes the
conservation of the ecosystem.
4.
Nomadic Livestock
Farming Nomadic livestock farming is
characterized by the grazing of animals like cattle on a large expanse of land
so that they have a natural diet. In this system, the animals are taken to
different lands to eat various foods and resources. This type of livestock
farming is known as nomadic or seminomadic. It is typical of people who live
in arid areas where cultivation is difficult to carry out, as in some
territories in Africa and Asia.
5.
Transhumant Livestock
Farming Transhumant livestock farming is one in which the animals are moved to areas whose fields have food, depending on the season of the year. This livestock farming system is very advantageous because it increases the fertility of the soils thanks to the manure of the cattle.
The animals feed on various grasses and vegetables and
contribute to the dispersal of seeds, among others. At the moment, the
transhumant
6. Organic Livestock Farming
Organic farming is a livestock production system with the aim of obtaining the highest quality food without using synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, etc.
In addition, animals need a large space and feed on natural products. Livestock account represents all types of animals like cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, etc. and they are raised mainly for meat, milk or wool production. Livestock farming is associated with the production of meat, milk and eggs from domesticated animals.
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