Animal Husbandry Video Lecture - Class 9

Ans. Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture that deals with the breeding, care, and management of livestock animals. It involves various practices such as feeding, housing, breeding, and healthcare to ensure the well-being and productivity of animals.

Ans. Animal husbandry has several benefits, including: - Production of food: Animal husbandry plays a crucial role in the production of meat, milk, eggs, and other animal-based products, which are important sources of nutrition for humans. - Income generation: Animal husbandry provides livelihood opportunities for farmers and rural communities through the sale of animal products. - Employment opportunities: It creates job opportunities in various sectors such as animal healthcare, feed production, and animal breeding. - Fertilizer production: Livestock animals produce manure, which can be used as organic fertilizer, contributing to sustainable agriculture. - Conservation of genetic diversity: Animal husbandry helps in the conservation of different breeds of animals, preserving their genetic diversity.

Ans. Animal husbandry can be broadly categorized into four types: - Dairy farming: Involves the rearing of dairy animals, mainly cows and buffaloes, for milk production. - Poultry farming: Involves the rearing of domestic birds, such as chickens and ducks, for egg and meat production. - Sheep and goat farming: Involves the rearing of sheep and goats primarily for meat and wool production. - Pig farming: Involves the rearing of pigs for meat production.

Ans. Animal husbandry contributes to sustainable agriculture in several ways: - Nutrient recycling: Livestock animals produce manure, which can be used as organic fertilizer, reducing the reliance on synthetic fertilizers. - Crop-livestock integration: The integration of crop farming and livestock rearing allows for better utilization of resources, such as using crop residues as feed for animals. - Soil fertility improvement: Animal manure improves soil fertility by enhancing its organic matter content and nutrient availability. - Diversification of income: Animal husbandry provides an additional source of income for farmers, reducing their dependency on single crops. - Conservation of genetic diversity: The preservation of different animal breeds in animal husbandry helps maintain genetic diversity, which is essential for sustainable agriculture.

Ans. Some of the major challenges in animal husbandry include: - Disease management: Animals are prone to various diseases, and preventing and treating them can be challenging, requiring proper healthcare facilities and vaccination programs. - Feed availability: Ensuring an adequate and nutritious feed supply for livestock animals can be a challenge, especially during droughts or seasonal variations. - Climate change: Changing climatic conditions affect animal health, productivity, and availability of suitable grazing land and water resources. - Market fluctuations: Price fluctuations, market demand, and competition can affect the profitability and sustainability of animal husbandry. - Environmental impact: Unregulated animal waste disposal and improper manure management can lead to water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, posing environmental challenges.