Food Resources - Animals

Introduction

     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.

Livestock

     Livestock refers to all domestic animals that are used to produce food and other valuable products for man. It includes cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs. Livestock may be milk producing or meat providing.

Buffaloes

     Buffaloes are reared in large numbers in India. There are more than ten different breeds of buffaloes in India.

Milch Animal Management

     Shelters should be constructed in such a way that it provides a comfortable resting place for the animals. It must contain facilities for feeding, watering and protection from rain, wind, Sun, cold and dampness.

Milch Animal Management - Continued

     ndigenous dairy breeds produce 6-8 litres of milk a day where as foreign exotic breeds produce 60 litres of milk a day. Even the lactation period (period when milk is produced) is longer. To improve the production of milk of our Indian cows, crossbreeding programmes are conducted at various dairy research centres.

Meat Producing Livestock

     There are twenty different breeds of goat in India. Some of the well known breeds are Jamunapari, Himalayan, Bengal, Assam, Decanny, Osmanaabadi and Kathiyabari. Some of the exotic breeds are Alpine, Toggenberg and Sannen.

Poultry

     Poultry includes all domestic birds - chicken, ducks, geese and turkey. They are reared for their meat and eggs. Poultry farming in India has made rapid strides as poultry management is being done on scientific lines. The three indigenous breeds of fowls are Arlee or Indian Game (provides good meat but is a poor egg layer).

Fish Farming

     This includes inland and marine fisheries, aquaculture and pisiculture. Fish is a source of high quality animal protein and a rich source of minerals like calcium, phosphorus and iron. India abounds in fish, both fresh water and marine.