What is Animal Husbandry?
Animal Husbandry refers to the agricultural practice of breeding, feeding and raising of animals, or livestock with the goal of producing fiber, food and different other types of work. The practice of Animal Husbandry has become more profitable than ever before and has contributed significantly in raising revenue for agricultural produce. Today animals alone fetch more than 1/4th of total agricultural products in the world. Especially in developed countries, their significance can be measured from the fact that they supply a substantial proportion of food than anywhere else. The branch of science that deals with the scientific aspect of this practice is known as Animal Science.

History of Animal Husbandry
The tradition of Animal Husbandry first began in 1857 with the emergence of an agricultural college. It kick-started when a group of men established a college for the sole purpose of farming. The spark of this action started off in 1857 while they were debating as to where this college campus would be held at. Finally in 1859, they bought a land and a campus to pursue their farming education. Donations were coming from every side and within a year of its foundation, the college was running well trying to achieve the aim with which it was incepted. Things started looking up in 1897 for the agricultural sector when a new curriculum was established thereby transforming this domestic practice into a profitable and full fledged business proposition. New avenues of career began to knock the doors of aspirants who were hoping to make their mark in this industry. Seeing such a major contribution that animals made for the agricultural sector, new companies were developed to cater to the needs of these animals and take immediate actions in case of any report of abuse against them.

Practice of Animal Husbandry
Conventional methods of animal husbandry corresponded to the extent to which the animals kept there were required to be controlled as well as uses to which they were put. Most of the domestic animals such as cattles, buffaloes, etc. which were primarily used to serve their masters at work also served myriad other purposes like supplying meat, milk and clothing materials. The animals and their uses, however, are proximately linked with the culture and experience of the people who care for them.

Modern practice of Animal Husbandry makes use of one type of animal in large, efficient farming units that generate animal products with the highest margin of profits corresponding to the rate of investment. Intensive husbandry conditions are evident by large numbers of animals in small clumps, enriched feed, stimulative growth by various means and vaccination against disease. However contrary to these conditions, most of the world’s domestic animals are raised in small units under less efficient conditions and at lower rates of return.

Animals used in Animal Husbandry
Many different variety of animals are used in Animal Husbandry. In the field of animal husbandry, there are stipulated sub-professions which are named specifically according to the animals they care and make use of. Some of the animals and the sub professions related to them are listed below:

Swineherd: A person who takes good care of hogs and pigs Shepherd: A person who looks after sheep Goatherd: A person looking after goats Cowherd: Person taking care of cows Cowboy: A modern term for a person taking care of cows and bulls by riding on horses and having a control over them.

Earlier, sheep and goats were reared and herded by a single person. Despite that, he was known as a shepherd. Camels are also herded in many countries whereas in Tibet, it is the yak that is taken care of.

Factor Influencing the Use of Animals in Animal Husbandry
Environmental influences such as climate also play a crucial role in the domestication and use of animals. For example, water buffaloes are used as draft animals to pull wagons and farm equipment in southern parts of Asia, where they are adapted to the high temperature and humidity. On the other hand, horses, which flourish in moderate climates, were the main draft animals in the temperate regions. Later horses were replaced by tractors. Cattle from India that are acquainted with hot and humid conditions, can be found in scores in the southern United States because they are better adapted to the climate of the region than European cattle.

Technology in Animal Husbandry
Since its beginning of raising livestock in the year 1857, the industry of Animal Husbandry has come a long way. Today, a wide range of technology and applications are available to take good care of these animals. Farms and ranches have procured the services of breeders, feeders, milkers and herd health specialists to facilitate good care of these animals. Modern and sophisticated techniques such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer are being used in improving herd genetics as well as increasing the breed of female herds. These practices help immensely in increasing the number of offspring which may be produced by a small selection of stud-quality parent animals from which the embryo is transferred to a healthy surrogate animal during the process of artificial insemination. This in turn improves the ability of the animals to convert feed to meat, milk, or fiber more efficiently and improve the quality of the final product.

Products Related to Animal Husbandry
The various products related to Animal Husbandry are listed below:

Veterinary Medicines Animal Fodders Animal Health Care Products Feed Raw Materials Feed Supplements Animal Husbandry Equipments.

Veterinary Medicines in Animal Husbandry
Veterinary Medicines help in playing a crucial role in safeguarding the health and well being of the livestock. Veterinary science helps a lot to study and understand the pattern of animal behavior and in avoiding the spread of animal diseases. With a widespread of technology, today animals receive treatment in various fields of medicine like dental, surgical, etc. The quality of veterinary medicines has developed considerably in recent years with the availability of most advanced diagnostic treatment.

Present Scenario of Animal Husbandry