Overview of the Contribution of Animal Science to Agricultural Development
Animal Science has contributed to Agricultural development and has become an unquestionable avenue for the domestication and production of livestock or animals for the importance of man and national agricultural development.
The livestock industries have produced different types of farm animals for food and industry, which include cattle, horses, poultry, sheep, goat, pig (swine), poultry, fish and aquaculture animals, bees, snails, and other animals for man companionship, and purposes which could be of economic important to man and industrial.
The Contributions of Animal Science or husbandry to Agricultural development have also been concerned with the production of animal products such as meat, eggs, and other animal products that have become important food production industries for the ever-increasing world population.
With an increasing demand for animal by-products in the agricultural industry and changing food consumption, patterns of diet and food requirements have become major indices that foster animal industrial growth in agriculture.
Agricultural development across the globe will not be possible without the contribution of the animal production sector with efficient production, processing, and consumption of better quality farm animal products such as meats and dairy products, the use of farm animals for companion, recreation, or leisure purposes, or the maintenance of animal health are some of the Contributions of Animal Science to Agricultural development.
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Contributions of Animal Science to Agricultural development
Some of the Contributions of Animal Science to Agricultural development are :
Effective Livestock Management
Animal scientists have provided management practices to guide the production of farm animals at various levels such as management and nutritional practices that will be essential for animals’ health and well-being and can increase better production methods and demand for a high level of animal productivity.
The Contributions of Animal Science to Agricultural Development through Effective livestock management have continued to aid advancement in livestock production systems through proper management of livestock, infectious diseases control system, Proper nutrition care, and provision of central for disease prevention and control for infectious and noninfectious diseases.
Good environmental sanitation criteria will help to reduce the influence of animal disease that can impair the productivity of farm animals after infection.
Farm animal Management practices will help prevent microbes or mitigate circumstances that expose farm animals to disease attacks.
They have also implemented multifaceted management strategies to maintain farm health and enhance the productivity of farm animals.
Better Animal Productivity
Animal productivity includes better egg, meat, milk production, reproduction, and other farm animals’ by-products. Animal Productivity could also include better animal health, nutrition, and other practices that aid good output.
Animal scientists have put many modalities in place to achieve farm animal productivity.
Animal scientists have developed many guidelines that will serve as tips for livestock farmers to increase productivity, improve their farming, and help farmers understand the links between increasing farm animal productivity, good environmental management, and economic and social impacts on sustainable increases in animal production.
They have provided guidelines to remove non-performing farm animals from the flock, draw out a workable plan to replace them with performing ones, provide biosecurity measures to prevent disease outbreaks, and provide good nutrition measures to aid adequate feeds, vaccines, and medicines for best production in farm animals.
Better Feeds for Growth and Productivity
The livestock industries or animal scientists have produced high quantities and quality feeds that are highly nourishing to ensure a maximum intake of energy for growth and productivity that can aid meat and egg production.
This is another contribution of animal science or husbandry to Agricultural development that is designed to produce animals with better feed converters of high-quality and well-balanced feed sources that can yield a maximum amount of muscle, organs, skin, and egg.
Feed with essential minerals to produce high-quality carcasses and eggs by farm animals.
They have also formulated feed rich in minerals and vitamins, stimulate appetite, control harmful bacteria, prevent disease, and stimulate better egg and meat production.
Development of New Breads
Animal scientists have developed better breeds of farm animals with different heterogeneous characteristics with desired qualities or traits.
Animal scientists or breeders have introduced various species of farm animals with better desires over the local or traditional species.
They have developed different methods of breeding farm animals, like selection, introduction, breeding, and artificial insemination to improve the genetic characteristics of animals.
Animal breeders have developed farm animals with overall performances in a harsh environment, better nutrition value, the ability to resist parasites and diseases, reach market sizes within a limited time, and better meat carcasses and management.
Farm animal breeders have also helped to produce healthy and diverse quality breeds of animals, which are tasteful to satisfy consumer demand.
Meat and Egg Production
The animal industry has contributed to the production of high-quality sources of food that can improve nutritional status.
The Livestock industries have contributed to meat and egg production and have served as staple food production for the world and cash for those involved in the sector.
The Egg and meat production sector has become a major player in the world’s livestock industry. These animal sectors have increased remarkably in the production systems and have grown significantly in the last few decades.
This improvement accounts for the large global production of eggs and meat equipment such as plastic cages for live animal transport.
This is another contribution of animal science to Agricultural development through credible meat and egg production.
The Contributions of Animal Science have developed good feeders, drinkers, and perches to supply birds with feed and water, better systems for moving and keeping meat and egg, and all the needed requirements for better egg and meat production
Provision Professionals for the Industry.
The Livestock industry has contributed to agricultural development by producing skilled personnel concerned with the production and breeding of farm animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses, swine, and poultry for industries.
The industries have also produced animal nutritionists who can formulate good quality feeds nourishing for animal growth and productivity.
The Contributions of Animal Science to agricultural production have helped trained individuals who take animal husbandry as a career.
The industries have produced individuals who have acquired knowledge, skills, and competencies in animal nutrition, genetics, behavior, and physiology.
This Contribution of Animal Science to agricultural development has also helped produce Professionals who will pursue career opportunities in any area of animal production, breeding, health and disease control, marketing, processing, distribution, and other animal allied industries.
Researcher in Animal Science
This is another Contribution of Animal Science to Agricultural development, universities, agencies, and private bodies carrying out research in other to improve the quality of farm animals and solve livestock-related problems.
Graduates, master’s degree holders, and doctorate holders in animal science also research to improve the quality of farm animals.
In conclusion
Animal science has contributed immensely to agricultural development by offering training and retraining of individuals for the animal sector, helping to conduct research, and providing improved feed for the Growth and Productivity of livestock.