Introduction

In the beginning, man did not have to cultivate the land nor herd animals for his food. Fruits on the trees,
eggs in the nests were plentiful waiting only to be gathered. Animals on the range and fish in the water waiting to be
caught. But in the course of his existence, man felt that nature’s bounty was not enough to satisfy him. He decided
that somehow, he had to have control over its production. He cultivated the land and herded animals, for his food.

Animal and Their Economic Utility

Notwithstanding the relative inefficiency of animals in the production of food, they are important
components of the food production system. For example, animals have the following distinctive attributes that
enhance the ability of an agricultural system to produce food for man.

a. Animals can feed on the convert plants and other materials which would have otherwise gone to waste,
into rich human food; and

b. Animal products have chemical composition that closely resemble man’s dietary requirement and
therefore more digestible and nutritious

In crop production, only fractions of biomass are fit for human consumption. In rice production, for example,
only about half of the entire harvested biomass are grains. The rest are highly cellulose straws which can only be
consumed as feed by ruminant animals like cattle and carabaos.

Even in the processing in the rice grains into polished rice, by products like rice bran cannot be eaten by man
but could be a palatably rich source of nutrients for animals. Animals like the ruminants could feed on biomass waste
such as straws, stovers, hays, grasses and leaves of other crops and convert them into highly concentrated protein
foods (like milk and meat) that are highly digestible and nutritious to man.

Food from plants may contain protein but their chemical compositions are quite different from that of man.
Plant proteins are of lower quality compared to that of animals. While some people have succeeded in adopting
strictly vegetarian diet, human beings have learned to like the distinctive flavor of animal food products. Many have
tried but none succeeded in synthesizing plant proteins into food products that have the distinctive flavor and aroma
of meat, milk or eggs. Animal food products will always be prime food item in the human diet.

While food is the most important contribution of animals to human welfare, animals have been
domesticated by man also to provide him with skins and hairs for clothing and shelter, animal power for transport
and fraction and beauty, grace and subservient temperament for man’s amusement, and companionship. Certain
animal products and by-products are also used for non-food products such as glue from horns, fertilizer and feed
from bones and offal’s, insulated clothing from feathers, etc.

Table 1 gives the most important species of animals that have been domesticated by man for their
agricultural value.

Table 1. Farm animals and their uses.

SPECIES SCIENTIFIC NAME MAIN USES

A. Mammals
1. Horse Equus caballus Traction, transport and amusement
2. Ass Equus asinus Traction and transport
3. Mule (Hybrid of male ass and mare) Traction and transport
4. Camel Camelus dromedarius Transport (meat, milk and hide)
5. European Cattle (no hump) Bos taurus Traction and transport
6. Indian Cattle (with hump) Bos indicus Traction and transport
7. Buffalo Bubalus bubalis Meat, milk, traction and transport
8. Sheep Ovis aries Meat, milk and wool
9. Goat Capra hircus Meat and milk
10. Pig Sus scrofa Meat
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 11. Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Meat and skin
B. Birds
1. Chicken Gallus gallus Meat, eggs and amusement
2. Mallard Duck Anas platyrhynchos Meat and eggs
3. Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Meat and eggs
4. Goose Anser domesticus Meat and eggs
5. Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Meat and eggs
6. Pigeon Columba livia Meat and amusement
7. Quail Coturnix coturnix Meat and egg
8. Guinea fowl Numida meleagris Meat

Livestock production is growing rapidly as a result of the increasing demand for animal products. FAO
projections suggest that global meat production and consumption will rise from 233 million tonnes (2000) to 300
million t (2020), and milk from 568 to 700 million t over the same period. Egg production will also increase by 30
percent.

This forecast shows a massive increase in animal protein demand, needed to satisfy the growth in the human
population. Asia is experiencing the world’s highest growth rates in production and consumption of livestock
products (meat, milk and eggs). The issues to be addressed are the environmental and feed supply problems arising
from the concentration of livestock production.

The big increase in animal protein demand over the last few decades has been largely met by the worldwide
growth in intensive livestock production, particularly poultry and pigs. This is expected to continue as real income
grows in the emerging economies. Feed grains are thought to compete directly, or in the use of land, with grains for
human consumption and because there is inefficient use of feed and energy in some livestock systems, it is often
blamed for this occurrence. However, if efficiency is seen over the entire production chain, and expressed as input of
edible human food/output in human edible food, the view of animal production takes on a more positive outlook.
Note that 233 million t meat, 568 million t milk and 55 million t eggs produced globally contain more than 65 million
t of protein. So, while input is higher than output, if improved protein quality on the output side is considered, a
reasonable balance emerges.

A recent FAO study shows that the increasing use of feed grains has not had an adverse effect on the
provision of cereals for human consumption. Indeed, many argue that the production of cereals for feed acts as a
global buffer and therefore has a positive effect on global food security. Over the last 30 years, FAO has worked in
the field to develop technologies for integrated farming systems appropriate to small producers, particularly in the
tropics. For ruminant livestock, urea treatment of straw and the use of multinutrient blocks have been shown to
greatly improve nutrition of animals fed on low quality roughage diets. Legumes and tree forages have also provided
needed protein inputs into cattle, sheep and goat production systems, while benefiting the environment through
nitrogen fixation and organic matter.

These technologies have been combined into integrated farming systems for the small producer. Such
improved systems are biologically sustainable and achieve high levels of production, with minimal environmental
problems as the manure is recycled or used for biogas production. Undoubtedly, the technologies have contributed
to the improvement of income and lifestyle of small farmers and represent an effective approach to sustainable
development and poverty alleviation. But the approach has been divorced from the parallel growth of intensive
livestock production systems throughout the world, which can be seen as providing the bulk of supply to meet the
demand. The challenge is to enable small producers (who are usually the ones applying the more sustainable
technologies and integration of farming activities) to have access to a wider market - termed Ruralizing the Livestock
Revolution.

There is also a need and demand for low cost and simple technologies for livestock and product processing.
In recent years and in many countries, public concern about the safety of foods of animal origin has heightened due
to problems that have arisen with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), dioxin contamination, outbreaks of food
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borne bacterial infections, as well as growing concern about veterinary drug residues and microbial resistance to
antibiotics. These problems have drawn attention to feeding practices within the livestock industry and have
prompted health professionals and the feed industry to closely scrutinise feed quality and safety problems that can
arise in foods of animal origin as a result of animal feeding systems.

Given the direct links between feed safety and safety of foods of animal origin, it is essential that feed
production and manufacture be considered as an integral part of the food production chain. Feed production must
therefore be subject, in the same way as food production, to quality assurance including feed safety systems. The
industry is ultimately responsible for the quality and safety of the food and feed that it produces. National
authorities should provide guidance to industry and this includes codes of practice and standards that the industry
must respect.

Fundamentals of Animal Production

Old Definition of Animal Science (1970)

- it denotes a deeper meaning than the term animal husbandry which connotes animal agriculture or nursing
animals
- the term animal science connotes a deeper knowledge and understanding of the animal body and
responses to outside factors to bring about the desirable efficiency in production out of the animal being raised
- animal science and animal husbandry are terms equivalent to Zootechny (form Greek words: Zoon meaning
life and techne meaning art or skill)

Animal Science is an art, science, and industry of breeding, feeding, care and management, and the marketing and
processing of animals and their products for the purpose of obtaining profit from the enterprise.

Animal Science as an Art

• Selection of animals is based on beauty and good looks aside from efficiency of production

Animal Science as a Science

• There are number of experimentations that need to be done in animal production to ascertain adaptability,
efficiency of performance, system of management to use, inheritance of desirable traits and animal health to
extract the most products from animals to meet human needs.

Animal Science as Industry

• Art and science are combined to make animal production a profitable activity
• Available information and observation that will make the activity an economic one and the project stay
competitive in the market are important in evaluation of decisions by the raiser
• Proper knowledge of breeding, feeding, management systems based on updated information and desirable
marketing practices must combine harmoniously to bring desired profit and brings the business concept to
animal production

Objectives for raising animals

1. Profit – for animal production
2. Aesthetic value of psychological satisfaction – for raising the animals as pet

Advantages of Animal Production

1. A form of progressive agriculture
• Keep abreast with new trends and research findings in raising animal in order that one’s project will remain
competitive
• New ways of improving the health status of farm animals are evolving to increase production efficiencies
2. A type of diversified farming
• Animals are integrated into the cropping system (farming system)
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 • Raising broilers, layers, breeders to produce chicks at the same time
• Production of calves, dairy products, or fattened animals for beef
• Integration of animal into the farm operation converts their excess products and by products into animal
products
3. Conversion of plant materials into valuable products
• Animals and animal products have higher protein and lower carbohydrates than crops and crop products
• Animals eat plants and plant products and convert these to products of high protein for use by human
• Only beans especially soybeans can approximate the amount of protein that can be supplied by animals to
man
4. Sources of good food for the family
• Poultry and livestock supply fresh milk, eggs and meat
5. Utilization of products of factories
• By-products of factories and mills that can be utilized as feed for animals; by products, rice bran, corn bran
and wheat pollard from grains; brewery and distillery copra meal and molasses; fish canneries and fishing
industry provides fish meal (major source of protein for poultry and livestock production)
• These by products are considered wastes and pollutants but are valuable and principal ingredients of feeds
for poultry and swine
6. Animals improve soil fertility
• Animal production can maintain or improve the fertility of the soil by enriching it with their manure and
urine by:
a. organic matter added to the soil conserves moisture
b. enhances the growth of the population of beneficial microorganism
c. maintains proper soil pH suitable for plant growth
d. bind soil particles to minimize soil erosion due to wind and water
7. It leads to the utilization of idle or non-arable lands
• Arable lands with grasses and other weed can be grazed by cattle, goats and carabaos
• Poultry and swine projects can be located on waste lands that cannot be cultivated for crop
8. It leads to the utilization of land where labor is scarce
• Animal projects are readily adaptable to mechanization where labor saving devices can replace human labor
– operations in animal production become automatic
• Self-feeders, automatic egg collector and grader, manure scraper and sweeper, automatic waterers
9. It has a good distribution of labor
• Labor in crop production is usually seasonal and is normally partially employed and during off planting
season, there is no work
• Raising animals during this off season can fully utilize partially employed farm labor and supplement family
income
• Animal projects can employ labor throughout the year and can help alleviate the unemployment problem
10. Animal production makes good use of farm wastes
• Crop farming results in enormous amounts of by products that can be utilized as feeds for farm animals
• Ruminants readily utilized corn stalk, corn cobs, peanuts, vines and legumes to meet their bulk and protein
requirements
• Rice bran, corn bran, wheat pollards, yellow corn and copra meal are farm products extensively used as feed
ingredients for poultry and swine
• Chicken manure can be recycled as feed for swine or for fish (fishpond)
11. It reduces living expenses
• Raising animals in the farm will insure continuous supply of protein through eggs and milk at lower cost
12. Animal production is a fascinating work
• Raising of animals is an entertaining activity which at the same time augments one’s income

Disadvantages of Animal Production

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1. Big capital is necessary to start the animal project
• Original breeder stocks are very expensive
• Housing, light and water facilities
2. Animal Products are perishable
• In the tropics where the temperature and humidity re conducive to the fat growth of putrefactive
microorganisms that readily shorten the shelf life of eggs and milk
• Special processing and storage facilities, which entail added cost, have to be provided to, at least, preserve
to a certain degree the quality of the animal products
• Not a problem in temperate countries
3. Diseases cause big losses
4. Feed problems
• 45 to 80% of the cost of producing farm animals
- 45% to 55% of the cost in producing ruminants
- 55 to 65% in poultry
- 70 to 80% in swine
• Feed supplies may subject adversely to open market competition
• Quality of the feed in the market fluctuate with each batch depending on time of storage, humidity,
temperature, weevil infestation and preservative added
• Feeds sold in the market are very susceptible to adulteration with red soil, saw dust, corn cobs, fine rice hull
and fine rice straw
• Changes in the quality of feeds often contributes to stress on animals
5. Marketing problems
• Marketing is an important step that will determine the profitability of an animal enterprise
• Special processing and preservation for animal products (meat, milk, eggs)
• Animal products need expensive storage facilities (coolers, freezers) to preserve quality and improves shelf-
life
• Animal sold live weight is determine by “eye ball” technique (disadvantageous to the raiser)
• Absence of standard grading system on live animals and carcasses
• Shrinking of animal weights leading to weight loss
6. Transportation problems
• Shrinking of live animals in transit may range from 5% to 20% of liveweight depending on the distance
travelled, type of transportation used, movements of the animals while in transit.
7. Prices of animals always lag behind those of feeds
• Feeds being the biggest item of the cost of producing animals will always dictate the price of animals for sale

The animal Husbandman

• One who take care of the animal machine or specialist in the science of raising animal
• Classification:
1. Non-technical animal husbandman
• Farm animal raisers have no formal training in animal production
• Knowledge is based on experience or observation
• No formal schooling
2. Technical animal husbandman
• Has formal schooling or training but need technical guidance from specialist on specific
problems like disease control and proper feeding for more successful farm operation

Desirable traits of a good husbandman

1. Ability to know the habits of animals
• Able to recognize certain sets of animal habit (behavior)

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 E.g. horses sleep while standing, chickens always for roast to sleep at night,
ruminant chew their cud almost 1/3 of the day
2. Ability to discern beauty and unsightliness
• Able to recognize beauty in animals against blemishes and unsoundness (aesthetic)
3. Good physique
• Must be agile, quick and strong
4. Kindness to animals
5. Self-reliance
• Must be independent minded
• Must have broad knowledge of the scientific methods of feeding, breeding and management of farm
animals
• Must have information where to buy feeds and other supplies a certain price and where to sell the
products to obtain profit
6. Intelligence and resourcefulness
• Must be able to know and anticipate changes in animal performance due to changes in the use of certain
feeds, biologics and other factors in the environment
• Must be aware of possible effects of substituting certain standard feed ingredients
• Must be well informed and widely-read on animal production practices
7. Prudence and courage
• Prudence is wise judgement put to practice while courage is a virtue of lack of fear in the face of danger
• Important when handling and controlling large animals
• Must know and be aware of the weak points of animals to overcome their superior strength
8. Honesty and reliability
• Condition and performance of animals will tell whether there is deceit and negligence in their care. Proper
correction can be made where there were honest declarations in the process of diagnosing diseases or
abnormalities in the farm
• Must understand his activities will be dictated by and must be resolved around the animals he raises
• Must be relied upon to properly fed, water, protect and market the animals
9. Punctuality and regularity
• Animals have fixed habits
• Any unnecessary deviation from the routine operation of feeding, checking up or managing them disturbs
their physiological process and are considered stress on the animals
• Deviation which are considered stressful on animals are:
a. change in feeding
b. change in personnel
c. loud noise
d. stray animals
e. visitors
f. vaccinations
g. medications
h. unnecessary handling
i. extremely high and low temperature
j. change in humidity (rainfall)
k. inclement weather
l. diseases
• Irregularity in the activities on the animals disturbs their functional response
10. Diligence
• Confined animals should be provided with all their needs for maximum performance and production –
animal husbandryman should find pleasure in performing the tasks in raising animals for production

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 • Activities include: feeding, watering, sheltering, breeding, cleaning, disease control and marketing and must
be prepared to do these activities 24/7
11. Thrift
• Minimize cost of production by using crop wastes
• Improved designs of animal building, and drinking troughs
12. Foresight
• Must have plan of activities and the time production when to dispose products at higher prices or store
ingredients when prices are still low
• Must be aware of the deterioration of feeds while stored for a long time due to microbial actions, shrinkage
and fluctuating prices
• Must have proper skills in scheduling the activities in the farm

The role of the Animal Husbandman

1. By aptitude and training, he should be skilled at breeding, feeding, care and management of farm animals. His
main goal is the production of healthy and attractive animals acceptable in the market when sold either as live
animal or carcass.
2. He is NOT A VETERINARIAN
• Although he has SOME basic knowledge of animal disease prevention and control, he must not assume the
responsibilities that rightfully belong to the veterinarian like diagnosis, prescription and administration to
sick animals
• Although he should have knowledge and skill in the first aid treatment of common animal diseases and
possibly administration of medicines and biologics to animals, but must be always under the supervision of
the veterinarian
3. He is a crop and forage producer
• Should have basic knowledge of agronomy for the production of feed grains and legumes and forage crops

Factors in Successful operation of an Animal Enterprise

1. Proper selection of stocks and proper breeding
• Stocks must come from reliable source
• Animal purchased must be covered with pedigree records
2. Proper housing and facilities
• Confined farm animals must be properly housed and provided with facilities for feeding, drinking, sleeping,
parturition, lactation and rearing of the young’s
• Houses must be constructed to provide proper ventilation, control of temperature and humidity, proper
drainage and waste disposal, feed storage, product processing and storage, proper supply of clean water
• Building must be oriented so that the inside part can receive the greatest amount of sunlight and the least
exposure to strong winds – should be oriented o north-south length so that the rays of the sun enters from
east and west sides of the building while only a small south end should be walled properly as protection
from the wind
• Pens, walls, floors and lay out of the alley-ways and doors must be done to provide for labor and time saving
devices that facilitate the farming operation
• Buildings must be distributed and constructed that proper quarantine can be implemented and movements
of visitors and animals can be properly controlled
• Weighing scales, feed mixing equipment, parturition, nursery and growing pens are important facilities
3. Proper feeding
• Animal husbandman must pay attention to the quality of the feeds used and the system of feeding
• Phase feeding is generally used in commercial projects, that is the giving of the right kind and quality of the
feeds at the right age of the animals
• Commercial feed formulation: Starter, layer, grower, fattener or finisher rations

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 • Ruminants need roughages feeds to meet their requirements for bulk while non-ruminants like poultry and
swine, feed on concentrates
• Proper feeds and feeding can be detected in the health and performance of farm animals
4. Proper care and management practices
• Includes cleanliness, time of weaning, castration, bathing and providing exercise to the breeding herd,
dehorning, docking and dubbing
• These practices must be done and at the proper time
5. Proper selection and culling
• Removal of not desirable animals
6. Proper disease prevention and control
• Role of a veterinarian – diagnosis, prescription and dispensing of medicine, control and prevention of
diseases
• Also included: vaccination schedule, regular deworming, use of effective medicine, protection from sources
of infection and proper disposal of mortality, proper disease intelligence and monitoring system
• Regular attendance in conferences, meetings and learning by management will updates knowledge and skills
on this aspect in the farm
• Commercial farms maintain veterinarians on regular or retailer basis to attend to this aspect in the
production aspect
7. Proper marketing
• Last step in the farming operation
• Farm products must be properly marketed so the raiser gets back the money value of the product sold

Factors to consider in determining the kind of animal project to engage in which may be considered in making
feasibility study
1. Individual preference
2. Capital
3. Availability of Land
4. Availability of Labor
5. Location
• Must be well drain and properly protected from strong winds
• Must provide proper ventilation and ample supply of water
• Terrain as much as possible must be undulating with fertile soil so that supplementary feeds can be raised in
the farm
• If the area is a flat land, it is advisable to modify the land by raising the surface on which buildings are to be
constructed or canals dug up to channel run-off water away from the farm
6. Availability of feeds
7. Water supply
8. Market outlet
• Study must be made of the demand of animal products in the market
• Includes:
a. knowledge of the capacity of the buyers to pay for certain products
b. competing commodities in the market
• Information on the nature and the capacity of the market provides invaluable aids in decision making on the
kind of animal to be raise
9. Transportation facilities
• Bring product to the market and carry feeds and other inputs back to the farm and delivery should be done
in the shortest possible time, in the most comfortable ways and in a minimum of stress, shrinkage and
losses.
10. Wholesomeness of the environment desired
• Animal projects are pollutant of the environment because of the concentration of the animal population
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• Animal waste emit foul odor due to putrefaction and the giving of ammonia and other noxious gases

Livestock and Poultry Domestication: Brief History

• Old Stone age (10,000-8000 BC) – early nomadic hunted animals to obtain primarily food and their other
basic needs (clothing, medicine)
• New Stone age (8000-6000 BC) – Human started to domesticate animals by confining, breeding and raising
them in captivity (animal farming or husbandry) to ensure steady supply of their needs and became settled
• Their activities from hunting to farming (animal agriculture) through domesticating – and this was the start
of animal science
• Domestication of animals also marked the first step toward the civilization most primitive men
(Domestication refers to the process of adapting the behavior of animals to fit human needs)
• Dogs were the first animal to be domesticated
• Dogs were used to assist man in his hunting and provide protection at night, also used as companionship
• Gradually, man adopted a more settled mode of life
• Some contribution of animals to man:
- Food protein of high biological value
- Enhancement of diet palatability
- Soil conversion and enhancement
- Stabilizers of our food economy
- Companion animal and pleasure
- Draft power and transportation
- Fiber, medicine, other products
- Genetic variation and nature conversion
• Only few animals are considered of economic or agricultural importance – results of natural and human
selection
• Primarily known as food animals, but traditionally they are called as livestock (common mammalian farm
animals such as cattle, buffalo, hog, goat, sheep and horse) and Poultry (domestic avian species or birds such
as chicken, duck, turkey, goose, quail etc.)
• These animals have adapted commercial characters by:
1. Survive well in confinement under intensive system
2. Utilize various commercial mix rations/feed
3. Grow and produce rapidly/ high yield and efficiency
4. Have docile and good temperament

• At present, non-traditional forms of animal agriculture are being introduced and practice in certain countries
- crocodile farming
- ostrich
- wild buffaloes
- deer
- bison
- mountain goat
- other wild animals
• Microlivestock – used to refer to smaller creatures of becoming conventional domesticated livestock
- Rabbit, guinea pig, honey bees, worm etc.
• Aquaculture – marine or aquatic intensive production
- involves the propagation, rearing and marketing of fish, seafood and other marine products (e.g.
oyster, shrimp, tilapia) in selected or controlled/modified environments

Importance of Animal Husbandry/management in Animal Production

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 The first humans practiced raising and breeding animals in captivity in order to ensure a steady supply of
food and other basic needs. The activity proved successful initially, however several problems also set in as they
became settled as a community, increased in number/population, feeds and feeding was compromised, diseases
spread and established etc. – resulting to overall increase in food/needs demand and a concomitant decrease in
supply.
To continuously benefit man, man must be carried out in a manner being efficient – through proper effective
and economical use of inputs such as the feeding materials, labor etc. and sustainable through proper
management, handling, reproduction of the producing animals and their proper utilization, distribution, etc. of
their products.
This realization sought the need to apply proper management practices and paved the way their need for
the Science of Animal Husbandry.

Animal health and the Role of Veterinarian

The main objective of animal production is to produce animal product efficiently that are high quality and
high yielding (quantity). And to accomplish this objective, it is generally accepted that animals must be healthy or
must have normal body systems – Animal health. Sick animals will have poor production or performance.
Animal health refers to the physiological well being of animals. This is usually manifested by animals being
content, alert, productive, sociable and having good appetite, clear eyes, good hair coat/feathering, normal
blood/physio parameters etc... Health does not only mean the presence or absence of infectious diseases. It is
also affected by non-infectious factors like temperature, quality of nutrition, stress, housing, sanitation-hygiene,
care/attention and others
Control of diseases/problems of Livestock and poultry will be successful through:
1. prompt and accurate disease diagnosis
2. appropriate treatment/cure of disease is present
3. planned measures and programs for disease prevention and management (example: herd health program
– vaccination, deworming/delousing, supplementation, regular testing, Biosecurity etc.)

No other member of animal specialist of the farm management team (farm manager, supervisor,
nutritionist, breeder, geneticist, and laborer) would be most knowledgeable in this aspect than the veterinarian.
The role of veterinarian in livestock and poultry farms will be as a member of farm management team or
heads the animal health section/division. Veterinarians have proper knowledge, trainings, and experience in
animal handling, animal diseases, diagnosis, medicine/surgery and animal health, therefore vet should lead the
team in establishing and maintenance of sound flock/herd health programs through prevention of entry,
occurrence, distribution and recurrence of disease and problems, and in recovery of sick/injured animals. The
veterinarians must also have a strong economics and agricultural background so as to be able to effectively assist
in other aspects like breeding/genetics, nutrition, management practices and overall farm operation – for the
main objectives of efficient and maximum animal production.

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