Animal Husbandry MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

• Animal husbandry is the agricultural practices of breeding and raising livestock.
• Livestock refers to farm animals (domesticated animals) such as cows, sheep, etc. kept by humans for a useful commercial purpose.
• Animal husbandry deals with the care and breeding of livestock like buffaloes, cows, pigs, horses, cattle, sheep, camels, goats, etc., that are useful to humans. 
• Extended, it includes poultry farming and fisheries. 
• Fisheries include rearing, catching, selling, etc., of fish, molluscs (shell-fish) and crustaceans (prawns, crabs, etc.).
• It is estimated that more than 70% of the world livestock population is in India and China. 
• It is surprising to note that the contribution to the world farm produce is only 25%, i.e., the productivity per unit is very low. 
• Hence, in addition to conventional practices of animal breeding and care, newer technologies also have to be applied to achieve improvement in quality and productivity.

Role of Animal Husbandry in Human Welfare:

• Dairy Products:
  • Mammalian livestock can be used as a source of milk and dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese, butter, ice cream, etc.
• Meat:
  • It is the production of a useful form of dietary protein and energy.
• Land management:
  • The grazing of livestock is sometimes used as a way to control weeds and undergrowth. 
  • For example, in areas prone to wildfires, goats and sheep are set to graze on a dry shrub which reduces the risk of fires.
• Fibre:
  • Livestock produces a range of fibre/textiles. 
  • For example, sheep and goats produce wool and deer and sheep can make leather.
• Labour:
  • Animals such as horses, donkeys and yaks can be used for mechanical energy.
  • They are still used for this purpose in many places of the world, including ploughing fields, transporting goods and military functions.

Dairy Farm Management:

• Dairying is the management of animals for milk and its products for human consumption.
• In dairy farm management, we deal with processes and systems that increase yield and improve the quality of milk.
• Milk yield is primarily dependent on the quality of breeds on the farm. 
• Selection of good breeds having high yielding potential (under the climatic conditions of the area), combined with resistance to diseases is very important.
• For the yield potential to be realised the cattle have to be well looked after – they have to be housed well, should have adequate water and be maintained disease-free.
• The feeding of cattle should be carried out in a scientific manner – with special emphasis on the quality and quantity of fodder. 
• Besides, stringent cleanliness and hygiene (both of the cattle and the handlers) are of paramount importance while milking, storage and transport of the milk and its products.
• Nowadays, of course, much of these processes have become mechanised, which reduces the chance of direct contact of the product with the handler. 
• Ensuring these stringent measures would, of course, require regular inspections, with proper record keeping. 
• It would also help to identify and rectify the problems as early as possible. 
• Regular visits by a veterinary doctor would be mandatory. 

Poultry Farm Management

• Poultry is the class of domesticated fowl (birds) used for food or for their eggs. 
• They typically include chicken and ducks, and sometimes turkey and geese. 
• The word poultry is often used to refer to the meat of only these birds, but in a more general sense, it may refer to the meat of other birds too.
• As in dairy farming, selection of disease-free and suitable breeds, proper and safe farm conditions, proper feed and water, and hygiene and health care are important components of poultry farm management.