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Understanding Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry is a vital branch of agriculture that focuses on the controlled breeding, management, and production of domestic animals such as cattle, horses, and sheep. 

The primary aim is to enhance desirable traits in these animals through practices related to breeding, genetics, behavior, and overall qualities. Animals are domesticated and raised for various purposes, including utility (such as food, leather, medicines, and fur), sport, pleasure, and research.

Significance of Animal Husbandry

• Poverty Alleviation: Animal husbandry plays a crucial role in lifting people out of poverty by increasing household incomes.
• Nutritional Security: It is an integral part of crop farming and significantly contributes to household nutritional security.
• Improved Yields: Advanced breeding techniques and practices like artificial insemination enable better yields with the same inputs, thereby boosting a country's GDP.
• Research and Development: Animal husbandry facilitates research and the development of sustainable agricultural practices that are in harmony with environmental considerations.

Animal husbandry plays a crucial role in livestock production, which provides essential food and various products for daily life. Here are some examples of these products:
Dairy Products:
Mammalian livestock are a significant source of milk and dairy products, including:

• Yoghurt
• Cheese
• Butter
• Ice Cream

Meat:

• Livestock are raised for meat, which serves as a vital source of dietary protein and energy.

Land Management:

• Grazing livestock can be an effective method for controlling weeds and undergrowth. For instance, in areas susceptible to wildfires, animals like goats and sheep are used to graze on dry shrubs, reducing the risk of fires.

Fibre:
Livestock also produce various types of fiber and textiles, such as:

• Wool from sheep and goats
• Leather from deer and sheep

Labour:
Animals like horses, donkeys, and yaks can be utilized for mechanical energy. Before the advent of steam power, livestock were the primary source of non-human labor. Even today, they are employed for tasks such as:

• Ploughing fields
• Transporting goods
• Military functions

Fertilizer:
Animal manure is Spread on fields to enhance crop yields. This practice historically linked plant and animal domestication closely. Manure is also used for:

• Making plaster for walls and floors
• Fuel for fires

Additionally, animal blood and bones are used as fertilizers.

Main Objectives for the Development of Animal Husbandry in Uttar Pradesh

• Health Coverage and Disease Management: Ensure the health of animals through prophylactic vaccinations, disease diagnostics, and treatment services.
• Advanced Breeding Facilities: Provide breeding facilities equipped with advanced technologies and improved genetic stock.
• Scientific Breeding Policy: Develop a scientific breeding policy to create animals tailored for specific needs such as high milk yield, meat, eggs, wool, and draught power.
• Improvement of Feed and Fodder Resources: Enhance feed and fodder resources by extending fodder cultivation areas with improved varieties, biomass production, silvipasture development, and enrichment of cellulosic waste.
• Conservation of Indigenous Breeds: Maintain genetic diversity by conserving indigenous breeds of cows and buffaloes.
• Development of All Livestock Species and Poultry: Support the development of all livestock species and poultry with marketing backup and support services.
• Increase Production of Livestock Products: Boost production of milk, meat, eggs, wool, and other livestock products through qualitative and quantitative improvements in production potential and disease control activities.
• Self-Employment and Income Opportunities: Provide self-employment opportunities and supplementary income to a larger section of the rural population while ensuring the availability of quality animal protein and a nutritious diet.
• Encouragement of Occupational Diversification: Promote occupational diversification among people.
• Reduction of Non-Descript Livestock Population: Decrease the number of non-descript livestock to alleviate pressure on land and fodder resources.

Various Plans and Programs for the Development of Animal Husbandry

• Scheme for Improvement and Expansion of Animal Breeding Facilities: This scheme focuses on enhancing and expanding animal breeding facilities through artificial insemination and natural conception methods in cows and buffaloes at the district level.
• Prevention of Infertility in Animals and Buffaloes: This program, guided by state planning, aims to prevent infertility issues in animals and buffaloes, ensuring better reproductive health and productivity.
• Hydro-emission Semen Production Center: Established under state planning, this center focuses on producing high-quality semen for animal breeding purposes.
• Foot and Mouth Disease Control Program: A centrally funded program aimed at eradicating foot and mouth disease in livestock, ensuring their health and productivity.
• Rinderpest Eradication Program: A 100% centrally funded initiative aimed at eradicating rinderpest, a deadly viral disease affecting cattle.
• 75% Centrally Sponsored Scheme (ASPAD) for Animal Disease Control: A scheme aimed at controlling various animal diseases, with 75% funding from the center.
• Establishment of UP Veterinary Council: A centrally sponsored initiative aimed at establishing the UP Veterinary Council with 50% funding from the center.
• Livestock Production and Management Statistical Studies and Research: Research and statistical studies focused on livestock production and management practices.
• Poultry Farming Schemes:
  • 10000 Poultry Farming Plan: A plan to establish 10,000 poultry farms.
  • 30000 Layers of Poultry Scheme: A scheme aimed at increasing the number of layer poultry farms to 30,000.
  • Backyard Poultry Scheme: A program promoting backyard poultry farming.
  • Broiler Poultry Scheme under National Agriculture Development Scheme: A scheme focused on broiler poultry farming.
  • Rural Backward Poultry Program: A program aimed at improving poultry farming in rural backward areas.
• Schemes Operated under Veterinary Services and Animal Health:
  • Various schemes aimed at improving veterinary services and animal health.
• Establishment, Development, Reinforcement, and Breeding Facilities of Sugar Fields: Programs focused on the establishment, development, reinforcement, and breeding facilities of sugar fields at the district level.
• Sucre Training Center and Diagnostic Laboratory Aligarh Reinforcement: Strengthening the Sucre Training Center and Diagnostic Laboratory in Aligarh.