Animal Husbandry

Giacomini MattiaInglese

3˚A

What is it ?It is the branch of agriculture concerned

with the breeding of farm animals:

CattlePigs

SheepHorsesPoultry

History of Husbandry

Domestication of wild animals started in the Prehistoric period, and they were:

Sheep (northern Iraq)Goats (same region)

Modern Development

Selective breedingAdvances in animal nutritionVet medicineArtificial insemination Embryo transfer

Farm Specialists Breeders Milkers

Feeders Health specialists

Vets

Cattle Raising

Cattle have been domesticated since the Neolithic period

Breeds of CattleA breed is a group of animals of common

descent, possessing distinctive characteristics that distinguish them from

other groups within the same species

The Cattle FamilyCow

Milking cowHeiferMilkerCalfOx

Steer Bull

Cattle raising It is divided into two types

Dairy cattle Dairy cattle Beef CattleBeef Cattle

Breeds of CattleDairy cattle Dairy cattle

Holstein Black/White

Pezzata rossa

Brown Swiss

Breeds of CattleBeef cattle Beef cattle

Chianina Limousine

Simmenthal Charolais

Cows are Ruminants They have a digestive system that allows them to regurgitate and rechew food

The cud is digested by specialized microorganisms that live in the rumen

StomachRumen (fermentation vat)

Reticulum (rumen’s “assistant”)

Omasum (dehydrator)

Abomasum (true stomach)

Cows’ Life Gestation period is 9 months Newborn calf weighs 35-40 kg

Dairy cows are slaughtered when they are 5 years old

Dairy cows provide 90% of world’s milk production

Farmers use machines to milk 100 cows for 1 hour