Introduction to Animal Husbandry and Livestock Farming Systems
Domain 1: Introduction to Animal Husbandry and Livestock Farming Systems
This domain tests whether you can define livestock farming, classify production systems and choose a system that fits land, labour, capital and market. Questions often use a small farm situation and ask for the most suitable system, or ask you to distinguish terms such as extensive, intensive and mixed farming.
Core ideas
- Animal husbandry is the science and art of breeding, feeding, housing, health care and management of farm animals for milk, meat, eggs, wool, draught and manure.
- Milch, draught and dual-purpose describe the primary use of cattle and buffalo; the same species can be classified differently by breed.
- Extensive system: low stocking rate, grazing or ranching, low inputs and low output per hectare.
- Intensive system: stall feeding, high inputs, high output per animal and per unit area; typical of crossbred dairy units near cities.
- Semi-intensive: grazing plus supplementary stall feeding.
- Mixed farming: crops plus livestock on the same farm; manure and fodder are recycled. Integrated farming links livestock with fish, poultry or crops for nutrient reuse.
- Zero grazing means the animals are always housed and green fodder is carried to them.
Worked example
A farmer has 2 ha of irrigated land, two crossbred cows and limited family labour, and sells milk to a nearby cooperative. Reason: irrigated land can grow hybrid Napier and maize fodder, so intensive stall feeding with a small fodder plot fits better than extensive grazing. The system raises output per cow, allows manure recycling and protects fodder from trampling. Extensive grazing would need much more land and would give lower, seasonal milk yield.
Traps
Do not treat free range and extensive as identical; do not call a crop-plus-cattle farm integrated unless there is deliberate nutrient linkage; and do not recommend intensive housing without mentioning fodder, water and manure management.