What Is Animal Husbandry (Livestock Farming) | Types | Importance

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Meaning of Animal Husbandry (Livestock Farming)

Animal husbandry, also known as livestock farming, is the branch of agriculture that deals with the rearing, breeding, and management of farm animals for useful purposes.

It involves taking care of animals such as cows, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry (chickens, ducks, turkeys), and rabbits to obtain meat, milk, eggs, wool, hides, manure, and other products.

Simple Explanation:

Animal husbandry means keeping and caring for animals so that they grow healthy and produce things that humans need for food and income.

Examples of Animal Husbandry Activities:

Dairy farming – Rearing cows and goats for milk.
Poultry farming – Rearing chickens, ducks, or turkeys for meat and eggs.
Pig farming – Raising pigs for pork.
Sheep and goat rearing – For meat, milk, and wool.
Fish farming (Aquaculture) – Rearing fish for food.

Week 8|S S 1 | Animal Nutrition II (Feed Formulation)

Types of Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry means the rearing, breeding, and caring for animals to obtain useful products like meat, milk, eggs, wool, and hides.
There are different types of animal husbandry based on the kind of animals being raised and their purpose.

Below are the main types of animal husbandry:

1. Dairy Farming

This is the rearing of cows and goats mainly for milk production.

Products obtained: Milk, butter, cheese, and yogurt.
Example animals: Cows, goats, buffalo.

2. Poultry Farming

This involves the rearing of domestic birds for meat and eggs.

Products obtained: Eggs, chicken meat, feathers.
Example birds: Chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowls.

3. Fish Farming (Aquaculture)

This is the rearing of fish and other aquatic animals in ponds, tanks, or rivers for food.

Products obtained: Fish, prawns, crabs.
Example species: Tilapia, catfish, carp.

4. Sheep and Goat Rearing

This involves the rearing of sheep and goats for meat, milk, skin, and wool.

Products obtained: Mutton, goat meat, milk, and leather.
Example breeds: West African Dwarf goat, Yankasa sheep.

5. Pig Farming (Pig Rearing)

This is the rearing of pigs for pork production.

Products obtained: Pork, bacon, lard, hides.
Benefits: Pigs grow fast and produce many offspring.

6. Apiculture (Bee Keeping)

This is the rearing of bees for honey and wax production.

Products obtained: Honey, beeswax, propolis.
Importance: Bees also help in the pollination of crops.

7. Rabbit Farming 🐇

This is the rearing of rabbits for meat and fur.

Products obtained: Rabbit meat (white meat), fur, and manure.
Advantages: Rabbits grow fast and reproduce quickly.

8. Sericulture (Silk Worm Rearing)

This is the rearing of silkworms for the production of silk.

Products obtained: Silk threads used in the clothing and fabric industries.
Example species: Mulberry silkworm.

Type of Animal Husbandry

Type of Animal Husbandry	Animals Reared	Main Products
Dairy Farming	Cows, goats	Milk, butter, cheese
Poultry Farming	Chickens, ducks	Eggs, meat
Fish Farming	Tilapia, catfish	Fish
Sheep & Goat Rearing	Sheep, goats	Meat, milk, wool
Pig Farming	Pigs	Pork, bacon
Bee Keeping	Bees	Honey, wax
Rabbit Farming	Rabbits	Meat, fur
Sericulture	Silkworms	Silk