Animal Care (or) Animal Husbandry

ANIMAL CARE (OR) ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Animal husbandry is a branch of agriculture that deals with animals that are reared for meat fibre, milk and other products.

This includes daily maintenance, breeding and animal husbandry.

1. History

When the situation of hunting and gathering food, was ineffective, the Sangam people realized the need to have food on hand and attempted to raise livestock. Humans began domesticating animals as early as 13,000 BC during the Neolithic Revolution. They were made before the beginning of agriculture.

Animal husbandry is a business related to the culture of Tamils. Although we say that it was agriculture that was the basis of Indian economy; the real fact is that livestock economy has been the main economy in the World. Animal husbandry was the basis of Indian economy.

2. Livestock Maintenance at Different Periods

Animal Husbandry in God's time

Animal husbandry is associated with God's incarnation.

Christianity portrays Jesus as the shepherd of the flock and the seeker of the lost or strayed sheep.

In Hinduism, the pastoral life of 'Krishna' is a source of inspiration for cattle breeders.

Animal Husbandry during the Royal Period

During the Sangam period, cattle was a symbol of wealth. If a king wanted to provoke another king to war, the first thing he did was to capture the cattle grazing on the border of the neighbouring country and bring them to his country.

3. Animal Husbandry (or) Pasture Occupation

Forest and the encircling forest areas are called Mullai Land. The primary occupation of the people who lived in this land was pastoralism. They lived on the produce of animal husbandry. They were called Mullai Land Aayars, Idaiyars and Kovalars.

A Sangam literature verse tells us that the people carried with them 'Uri' for keeping milked vessels, a hot stick, a small knife and Nizhalini, a device for making music.

Uri - To keep the milk.

Hot stick - To light fire

Nizhalini - To control the cattle by raising noise.

Kolgal - To pluck the leaves from the tree.

For these purposes, they carried them. They believed that they production could be increased by using the right feed in rearing the cattle. The Sangam people were well aware that the supply of grasses and leaves generally increased productivity and that the cattle had the ability to digest them.

4. Livestock for Various Activities

1. Livestock for Agricultural Activities

A hundred years ago, those who owned a large number of cows were considered farmers of high social status. Ploughing the field, improving the soil, beating the hay, carrying the bags of paddy to the houses, oxen were used for such different tasks. From this, it is understood that cattle rearing was considered important during the Sangam period.

2. Cattle for Nutritious Food

Cows gave milk, curd, butter and butter milk as gifts to the cowherds; and their flesh was for human food.

3. Cattle for Jallikattu and Heroic Sports

Jallikattu is still found to be one of the heroic sports since the Sangam period.

It is said that in the earlier days the custom of giving his daughter in marriage to the hero who tamed the bull he raised was prevalent in the village in Tamil Nadu.

Literature says that cattle were grown like this since the Sangam period.

4. Use of Cow for Labour

As a cow gives more milk actually needed for a calf, it can be used for doing works.

i) To increase the production of crops by pulling the plough.

(ii) To bring home the produce from the field.

iii) To pull the cart.

The cattle were first used in the Middle East around 4000 BC. This increased agricultural production to a greater extent.

5. Characteristics of Domestic Animals

1. Domestic animals must be useful to the breeder.

2. Must be able to thrive well in the care of the breeder.

3. Must be able to reproduce freely and should be easy to grow.

4. Must be able to raise them easily.

The First Domesticated Animals

Sheep were the animals that came with the nomads in the Middle East. At the same time, cattle and pigs were associated with more settled societies. The first domesticated wild animal of the Sangam people was the dog. Later, dogs and semi-wild dogs. became part of human herds and came forward for hunting.

Hunting animals such as sheep, pigs and cattle were gradually domesticated early in the agricultural history.

1, Pigs

Pigs were reared between 8500 and 8000 BC.

2. Chicken

Fossil chicken bones dated back to 5040 BC have been found in north east China. Archaeologists believe that the original purpose of poultry farming was as a cockfighting sport.

They were domesticated as wool animals as early as 3000 BC in South Africa.

3. Horses

The domestication of horses began around 3000 BC in the grasslands of Central Asia near the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. Although horses were originally seen as a source of meat, they were used for carrying goods and for riding.

4. Camel

In 1000 BC, Arabian Camels were grown for carrying loads.

5. Elephant

In South Asia, the elephant was domesticated around 6000 BC.