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| Introduction |
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| Man is an omnivore. He depends on both plants and animals for food. In the previous chapter we studied about crops being the major source of our food. In this chapter, let us study about animal sources of food. Animal sources include eggs, meat, milk and fish. |
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| Eggs and meat are rich in proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Milk contains all the major food nutrients - carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins A and D, minerals like phosphorus and calcium and water. The following table gives the nutritional values of animal products. |
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| Table 1: Nutritional values of animal products |
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| Milk is obtained from milk producing (milch) animals like cows, buffaloes and goats. Eggs are obtained from egg laying birds like fowl and duck. Meat is obtained from fowl, cow, sheep, goat and pig. Fish are either fresh water or marine and include crabs, shrimps and prawns. |
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| To meet the ever-increasing demand of food to feed the increasing population, we need to take steps to not only increase crop production, but also improve the production of animal food. Dairy farming, poultry farming, fish farming and piggery have increased appreciably due to the combined efforts of the farmers co-operative organisations, government agencies and co-operative banks. Proper management of livestock and their breeding have also played an important role in increasing the production of animal food. |
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| Table 2: Trends in production of food from animal sources |
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| By livestock, we mean all domestic animals like cow, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig etc. that are used to produce food. Animal husbandry deals with the breeding, feeding and caring of domestic animals i.e., their shelter, control of disease and proper utilization of their products. |
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| The various animal food resources that provide food are livestock, poultry and fish. |
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