Livestock and Animal Management
Livestock are the domesticated animals that are raised in an agricultural setting to provide labour and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk. The term is oftentimes used to refer to animals which are solely raised for consumption. The breeding, maintenance, slaughter and general subjugation of livestock called animal husbandry, is a part of modern agriculture and has been practiced in many cultures since humanity's transition to farming from hunter-gatherer lifestyles. Raw materials produced from livestock that cannot be consumed directly include fur, hide, and wool.
Basic principle
- Synergies: Cereals through ploughing (plowing), domestication of plants and animals.
- Skills: Raising livestock, herd management, milk and meat production.
- Tools: Fences, water troughs, milking tools, knives, axes.
Main species raised for livestock
1. Cattle (Bos taurus)
- Purpose: Meat (beef), milk, leather, draft power.
- Raising Methods:
- Extensive (Pasture-based): Free-range grazing on large pastures (common in Australia, South America).
- Intensive (Feedlots): Confined feeding with grain-based diets for rapid weight gain (common in the U.S.).
- Dairy Farming: Specialized breeds (e.g., Holstein) raised for milk production with controlled diets.
2. Pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus)
- Purpose: Meat (pork), lard, leather.
- Raising Methods:
- Intensive (Confinement): Indoor systems with controlled temperature and feed (common in industrial farming).
- Extensive (Free-range): Outdoor access with natural foraging (e.g., Iberian pigs for jamón ibérico).
- Backyard Farming: Small-scale, often for household consumption.
3. Sheep (Ovis aries)
- Purpose: Meat (lamb/mutton), wool, milk (e.g., for cheese like Roquefort).
- Raising Methods:
- Pastoralism: Nomadic or semi-nomadic grazing (e.g., in New Zealand, Mongolia).
- Intensive: Feedlots for meat production (less common than cattle/pigs).
- Wool Production: Shearing 1–2 times/year; breeds like Merino are raised for fine wool.
4. Goats (Capra aegagrus hircus)
- Purpose: Milk (cheese, yogurt), meat, fiber (mohair, cashmere), brush clearing.
- Raising Methods:
- Extensive: Grazing on rough terrain (ideal for arid regions).
- Dairy Goats: Confined with high-quality feed (e.g., Saanen or Nubian breeds).
- Backyard: Small herds for milk or pets.
5. Poultry (Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese)
- Purpose: Meat, eggs, feathers.
- Raising Methods:
- Intensive (Battery Cages): High-density housing for egg layers (controversial for animal welfare).
- Free-range: Outdoor access with supplemental feed.
- Backyard Flocks: Small-scale egg/meat production.
6. Horses (Equus ferus caballus)
- Purpose: Labour, sport, meat (in some cultures), milk (e.g., kumis).
- Raising Methods:
- Pasture-based: Grazing with minimal supplementation.
- Stable Confinement: For racehorses or show animals.
7. Aquatic Livestock (Fish, Shrimp, Shellfish)
- Purpose: Food (seafood), aquarium trade.
- Raising Methods:
- Aquaculture: Ponds, tanks, or ocean pens (e.g., salmon, tilapia).
- Integrated Systems: Combining fish farming with plant cultivation (aquaponics).
8. Bees (Apis mellifera)
- Purpose: Honey, pollination, beeswax.
- Raising Methods:
- Langstroth Hives: Modular boxes for honey production.
- Natural/Top-Bar Hives: Less invasive, mimics wild conditions.
9. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- Purpose: Meat, wool (Angora), pets.
- Raising Methods:
- Hutch Systems: Cages with controlled environments.
- Colony Raising: Group housing for social breeds.