Animal Husbandry, Poultry and Fisheries in Integrated Farming
What this domain covers
This domain tests livestock and poultry breeds, health care, fish culture systems and the recycling of by-products in an integrated farming system.
Core rules and concepts
- Cattle: indigenous breeds such as Sahiwal, Red Sindhi and Gir; exotic breeds Jersey and Holstein Friesian for crossbreeding. Local Assam cattle are small, hardy and well adapted.
- Goats: Beetal and Sirohi for crossbreeding with local stock. Pigs: Hampshire, Large White Yorkshire and Landrace are used for crossbreeding with local pigs.
- Poultry: Kadaknath, Aseel, Rhode Island Red, Vanaraja and Giriraja. Ducks, including Khaki Campbell and local types, suit the flood-prone wetlands.
- Fisheries: composite fish culture with catla, rohu and mrigal plus grass carp, silver carp and common carp; beel fisheries; rice-fish, duck-fish and pig-fish integration.
- Health care: vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, black quarter and Ranikhet disease, plus regular deworming, clean water and dry housing.
- Integration recycles waste: manure fertilizes the pond or field, pond silt enriches crops and crop residues feed animals.
Worked example
A pond of 0.5 ha is stocked with composite fish culture at 5,000 fingerlings per hectare. Total fingerlings = 5,000 x 0.5 = 2,500. With an expected survival of about 70 per cent, the harvest is roughly 1,750 marketable fish, so stocking density and survival together decide the expected yield and income.
Traps that cost marks
- Overstocking the pond and expecting higher yield; growth and survival fall.
- Feeding cattle only straw, which causes energy and mineral deficiency.
- Skipping vaccination and deworming schedules.
- Stocking fish without manuring and liming the pond first.