CATTLE FARMING:

Cattle farming involves the rearing and management of two types of animals- one
group for food requirements like milk and another for labour purposes like
ploughing, irrigation, etc.   Animals which provide milk are called milch/dairy
animals. For example, goats, buffalo, cows, etc. Cattle farming is not all about milk
or meat production. It also comes with some responsibilities. To meet human
requirements, we need to take good care and need proper management of
livestock.

Pastoralist groups in India, including the Raika of Rajasthan, Pullikulum cattle

breeders in Tamil Nadu, and groups such as the Dhangar, Kuruba and Kuruma of
the Deccan Plateau realize a major proportion of their income from penning their
herds and flocks on farmers' fields.

The total cost per indigenous cow per day was Rs. 33.03, total fixed cost and total
variable cost accounting for 3.81 and 96.18% of total cost respectively. A category-
wise analysis of farmers revealed that the total cost decreased with increase in
farm size. The total cost per buffalo per day was Rs. 53.72 and total fixed cost and
total variable cost accounted for 4.67 and 95.33% respectively, the total cost per
crossbred cow per day was Rs.72.86,total fixed cost and total variable cost
accounted for 7.69 and 92.31% of total cost respectively. No specific trend was
observed as far as the relationship between the total cost and category of farmers
was concerned for both buffaloes and crossbred cows. The cost of milk production
was lower in crossbred cows followed by buffaloes and indigenous cows.

INTRODUCTION :

Animal husbandry contributes significantly in supplementing the income of small,

marginal farmers and landless labourers and in generating gainful employment
opportunities especially self-employment to a substantial number of rural and urban
population many of whom are women who play a major role in the care and
management of livestock. It serves as a vital source for providing nutritious protein
rich balanced food in the form of milk, egg, meat and value added products.
Moreover, they are also intricately associated with the social, cultural and traditional
values of the region.

Tamil Nadu is one of the foremost States in India showing steady increase in fish
production and optimum utilization of resources. The Government is committed to
protecting the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen, diversifying them to
deep sea fishing, providing infrastructure facilities such as construction of fishing
harbours fish landing centres, marketing infrastructure, implementing innovative
schemes such as conversion purchase of new mechanized fishing vessels for Tuna
fishing, establishing Fish Processing Parks in the coastal districts, deployment of
artificial reefs, providing Seamless communication facilities to marine fishermen etc
It also largely contributes in dairy farming asTamil Nadu ranks eighth in milk
production and is well on the way towards achieving the Second White Revolution
as envisioned by the Honble ChiefMinister of Tamil Nadu. Milk production in the
State during 2012-13 was around 1.82 Crore litres per day.

As of in Chennai animal farming in rural areas is set to get a fillip, with the Union
government approved Special Livestock Sector Package, consisting of several
programmes. A total sum of Rs 9,800 crore is earmarked for the next five years. As
per the livestock census 2019, over 48 lakh people are engaged in animal farming
activities in the State. MG Rajendran, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Milk
Producers' Welfare Association said, “The move, if implemented, certainly will
benefit poor and landless farmers.”

Animal husbandry provides livelihood opportunities to million of small, marginal

farmers and landless poor. Employment generation schemes when implemented
properly can ensure higher levels of economic activity leading to sustainable
growth in rural areas. Keeping this in mind, the Department is implementing various
beneficiary oriented schemes for the economic up liftment and welfare of the poor.
Some such schemes are: Free Distribution of Milch Cows, Free Distribution of Goat
& Sheep, Foot & Mouth Control Programme (FMD-CP) ,Cattle Insurance Scheme
(CIS),Kalnadai Padhukappu Thittam (KPT),
Assistance the States for Control of Animal Disease (ASCAD),National Animal
Disease Reporting System (NADRS) ,Scheme for Poultry Development, Broiler
Poultry Development Scheme, Rural Backyard Poultry Scheme (RBPS),Mission on
Sustainable Dry land Agriculture (MSDA), State Fodder Development Scheme
(SFDS) and so on.

The Government of Tamil Nadu announced on 09.07.2011 that in order to usher in

another ‘White Revolution’ in Tamil Nadu, the Government would distribute one
Milch Vow to each beneficiary free of cost. The Government of Tamil Nadu also
announced the implementation of ‘Scheme for Free Distribution of Goats/Sheep’ to
the poorest of the State in order to improve their living standards. Each beneficiary
is provided with 1 male and 3 female goat / sheep which are around 6-8 months of
age.
Animal Husbandry Department plays a major role in providing veterinary health
care and improving the genetic production potentialities of livestock and poultry
reared in the State. Apart from this, various beneficiary oriented schemes are also
being implemented for the economic upliftment and welfare of the poor,
downtrodden and weaker sections of the society. Various veterinary institutions
spread throughout the State provide the above services. With the dedicated and
sustained efforts of the department in implementation of various beneficiary
oriented programmes and judicious utilization of animals and the natural resources
in an eco-balanced way, the livestock sector of the State has been elevated to a
prominent position.
  DAIRY FARMING
Dairy sector is important not only as the producer of highly nutritious food
products, but also for the sustenance of poor farmers and over all
prosperity of the farming community.
It is a matter of great pride that a nation which was deficit in milk has now
become the leading milk producer in the world. Tamil Nadu ranks eighth
in milk production and is well on the way towards achieving the Second
White Revolution as envisioned by the Honble ChiefMinister of Tamil
Nadu. Milk production in the State during 2012-13 was around 1.82 Crore
litres per day. While cattle were domesticated as early as 12,000 years
ago as a food source and as beasts of burden, the earliest evidence of
using domesticated cows for dairy production is the seventh millennium
BC – the early Neolithic era – in northwestern Anatolia.Dairy farming
developed elsewhere in the world in subsequent centuries: the sixth
millennium BC in eastern Europe, the fifth millennium BC in Africa, and
the fourth millennium BC in Britain and Northern Europe.
In the last century or so larger farms specialising in dairy alone have
emerged. Large scale dairy farming is only viable where either a large
amount of milk is required for production of more durable dairy products
such as cheese, butter, etc. or there is a substantial market of people with
money to buy milk, but no cows of their own. In the 1800s von
Thünen argued that there was about a 100-mile radius surrounding a city
where such fresh milk supply was economically viable.
Although any mammal can produce milk, commercial dairy farms are
typically one-species enterprises. In developed countries, dairy farms
typically consist of high producing dairy cows. Other species used in
commercial dairy farming include goats, sheep, water buffaloes,
and camels. In Italy, donkey dairies are growing in popularity to produce an
alternative milk source for human infants.

 FISH FARMING
Fisheries have emerged as an important food production sector of the
State contributing to the livelihood as well as food security of a large
section of the people. Fishing activity, starting as a traditional livelihood
activity in early fifties has now transformed into commercial enterprise
contributing to the State and National economy, livelihood and nutritional
security, rural employment generation and foreign exc hange earnings
significantly.
Tamil Nadu is one of the foremost States in India showing steady
increase in fish production and optimum utilization of resources. Tamil
Nadu is pioneering many innovative developmental and welfare
schemes.
 The Government is committed to protecting the traditional fishing rights of
Tamil Nadu fishermen, diversifying them to deep sea fishing, providing
infrastructure facilities such as construction of fishing harbours fish
landing centres, marketing infrastructure, implementing innovative
schemes such as conversion purchase of new mechanized fishing
vessels for Tuna fishing, establishing Fish Processing Parks in the
coastal districts, deployment of artificial reefs, providing Seamless
communication facilities to marine fishermen etc.,

 POULTRY FARMING

Poultry sector plays a pivotal role among the sub-sectors in potentiating the role
of animal husbandry Tamil Nadu is leading the states in broiler production with a
record production of 397 thousand tonnes in 2009-10. Tamil Nadu ranks second
in the country’s egg production with a production of 10.8 billion eggs. Tamil Nadu
accounts for 17.71 per cent of the poultry population of the country. More than
90 per cent of poultry or poultry products exported from India originates from
Tamil Nadu. At present poultry concentration is restricted to certain poultry belts
such as Namakkal , Erode and Coimbatore. The poultry keeping has evinced great
interest among poultry farmers. There is a good potential for export of eggs, egg
products and frozen chicken meat from our State to Gulf countries, Russia etc.
Further, due to the changes in consumption behavior of the people in the state
towards desi chicken and desi eggs, there is great scope for the development of
backyard poultry in the process of rural economic development of the state.

 APICULTURE IN TAMIL NADU

Bee-Keeping Industry is one of the important activities of Khadi Board.

Honey manufactured by the Board has good patronage from the public.
The Board’s Honey processing unit at Amsi in Kanyakumari District is
producing "A" Grade Honey. The raw honey is procured mostly from
Jamunamaruthur in Thiruvannamalai District and Marthandam in
Kanyakumari District. This raw honey is 100% tested before packing for
sales. The Government provides financial support to this Industry by way
of providing grant for supply of bee-hives to the Tribal on hill areas,
Scheduled Castes /Scheduled Tribes under Western Ghats Development
Programmes, Hill Area Development Programme and Integrated Tribal
Development Programme. The income earned by the farmers through bee-
keeping activities is an additional income to their agriculture income.
Honey industry in the country can well become a major foreign exchange
earner if international standards are met. Beekeeping is an age-old tradition
in India but it is considered a no-investment profit giving venture in most
areas. Of late it has been recognised that it has the potential to develop as
a prime agri-horticultural and forest-based industry. Honey production is a
lucrative business and it generates employment. Kanyakumari district in
Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in honey production and the beekeepers depend
solely on the flow season for improving their economic condition.
 SERICULTURE IN TN

For development of Sericulture and Silk industry, Central Silk Board

supports different activities of the State under Catalytic Development
Programme. Financial assistance is provided for planting high yield
mulberry varieties, installation of drip irrigation system, construction of
separate rearing houses, procurement of improved rearing equipments,
establishing chawkie rearing centres, supply of quality disinfectants etc
Coimbatore and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu are a part of sericulture.

 AQUACULTURE IN TAMIL NADU

Coastal Aquaculture has been recognized as an important tool for

employment generation and a vital source of food supply for
meeting the food security and nutritional requirements of our
growing population. In the context of increasing food security
in the modern world, fish and fishery products are considered
to be among the safest foods of animal origin. Tamil Nadu is
having the second longest coastline in the country with rich
natural resources in coastal areas for coastal aqua farming. An
area of 6115.68 ha is under coastal aquaculture production,
mainly shrimp aquaculture. In Tamil Nadu, shrimp farming has
grown considerably and has emerged as a major commercial
activity owing to the introduction of Specific Pathogen Free
(SPF)Shrimp- Litopenaeusvannamei. So far, 1,859 shrimp
farms (3,712.02 ha.) and 63 shrimp hatcheries have been
registered under the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA).
Shrimp Farming, Sea Weed Farming,
 Mussel, Clam and Oyster Farming, Pearl Oyster Farming, Marine
Fin Fish Culture, Crabs and Lobsters Farming are a part of
Aquaculture.
 INTRODUCTION OF ANIMAL
HUSBANDRY JK
Historically animal rearing in Jammu and Kashmir is as ancient as we are
man animal associations have continued since ages before the advent of
technological revolution in the West which culminated in the development
of motorized transport vehicles of various kinds, it was animals such as
horses, donkeys, mules, camels, bulls and yaks etc, who provided mobility
to man. In the hilly region of Jammu and Kashmir animals still, continue to
be an important means of various transports in the many a treacherous
terrains.

Besides transportation the clothing, food shelter and even for tolls. The
livestock continues to be useful to the people in the region even now. This
animal are still the cheapest source of protein and provide many by-
products like leather, wool, manure etc.
There are no authentic records available which could

throw light on the evolution of various breeds of domesticated animals in

Jammu and Kashmir. However, some earlier historical account and the
visual characteristic of the present generation of the regions indigenous
livestock suggest that the early settlers of Kashmir Valley had domesticated
wild cattle which possessed a small body frame with an overwhelmingly
black body coat, dwarf size and small horns and were primarily used for
draught purpose. The Aryans are presumed to have brought with them the
animals with white body coat. The other immigrants also brought several
breeds of livestock which resulted in the development of a non-descript
type of cattle. Pathans are considered to have introduced Sindhi Cattle.
The ponies and donkeys, Yaks, (in Ladakh) were put to load carrying and
as a means of transport. Similarly, bulls were put to use in agriculture fields
and for pulling the carts. The livestock products like wool skins, hides

milk and manure were found to be useful and hence added to the value of
livestock.
History of organised dairy farming in Kashmir is relatively young.. The
Maharaja of Kashmir also established a Civil Veterinary Department in
1927 with two livestock inspectors one posted in Kashmir and the other in
Jammu. The Veterinary Department primarily established to provide
Veterinary care for Mules and Horses of the Maharaja Cavalry was also
charged with the responsibility of enforcing Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals. Lady Linda popularly called Meera Behan, a close associate of
Gandhiji established a dairy farm at Gowbal, a place near Kangan, with the
objective of educating the people about various managemental aspects of
dairy farming.
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During 1920-1930 there were a total of 12 dispensaries in J&K of which six
were named as ‘road dispensaries” and were located in Jhelum valley road
and Banihal Cart road for the treatment of transport animals and for
detection of glanders as a precautionary measure to prevent entry of the
disease from Punjab.

The dispensaries increased in number every year and a few bulls (Sindhi),
horses and donkeys stallion were stationed at some important towns for
improvement of local breed of these species. All these institution were
manned by qualified personnel from outside J&K numbering about a dozen.
During the second decade of the 20th century, some local youth were
deputed to Lahore Veterinary College to qualify as trained Vets. These
people on their return were absorbed in the Department. Subsequently,
more candidates were deputed for training to different colleges, most of
them going to Lahore, Bombay and Madras Veterinary College...
During thirties of the last century the Department
expanded progressively and the need to protect the livestock wealth of the
state increased substantially as the scourge of contagious disease became
a cause for concern. J&K secured membership in the then Imperial Council
of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as a result of which two Clinical
Laboratories came into existence. Vaccines for control of various disease
started pouring for immunisation of the livestock against most of the
contagious disease inducing Rinderpest, Hemorrhagic Septicemia,
Anthrax, Black Quarter and Rabies. In 1940 a centre for the manufacture of
goat Tissue Vaccine ( Rinderpest Control Vaccine ) was also established
beside a number of dispensaries were established in almost all major
towns for rendering adequate treatment to livestock and controlling
contagious disease.
Livestock breeding activities of the Department remained restricted to a few
selected places only. Four to five Sindhi bulls, horses and donkey stallions
were made available for breeding purposes at central locations in Jammu,
Srinagar, Udhampore, Anantnag and Baramulla.
During 1935-38 arrangements were made to established two small
breeding farms, one each at Srinagar and Jammu, wherein Dhani and
Shadni breeds of cattle were placed. The main purpose was improvement
of cattle under the “Premium” bulls’ scheme among the progressive farmers
in each village. These agents would maintain them on a maintenance
charge paid by the Government.
During the colonial rule the region of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed like
the rest of India a regression in Animal Husbandry, Agriculture and allied
sectors. Majority of the livestock were of non-descript and
inferior quality. The production from livestock was significantly less.
Livestock products like Milk, Eggs, Meat and By-Products were available
only to very rich people. The infrastructure with the Department was quite
archaic and in every sense the Animal Husbandry sector was the most
neglected one. The manpower available had hardly any formal training in
the Veterinary Science. The practice of quacks was rampant and so was
mortality amongst the animal population. Disease like Anthrax, Black
Quarter, Hemorrhagic septicemia and Rinderpest (Cattle Plague) used to
take a heavy toll of Livestock. The paucity of animal produce like milk, egg
and meat affected the general health of the people
which result in their lower output and low disease resistance. Proteins and
calorie malnutrition affected more than 75% people and average life-span
was just in the range of forties.

In the post-independence period, strong emphasis was laid on the

development of Animal Husbandry, Agriculture and allied sectors to
give a fillip to the economy of the peasantry. The Civil Veterinary
Department got transformed into Animal Husbandry Department to
ensure overall improvement in the livestock sector. Ever since
independence, the Department of Animal Husbandry has been
actively working towards improving the livestock wealth of J&K.
Livestock is an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir’s agrarian economy and plays
a multifaceted role in providing livelihood support and nutritional security to the
rural population. Livestock sector provides food security, employment
opportunities, alternate livelihood source and social/financial security to farmers.
ii. Livestock sector is emerging as important growth leverage to state economy
and its share to Gross State Domestic Product is increasing. Census 2011 indicates
that about 73% of the state’s population lives in rural areas and is associated with
agriculture and allied sectors including livestock rearing as main occupation.
Livestock development falls within the jurisdiction of the State Government.
Despite leading in numbers, the indicators emanating out of our livestock sector
are a cause for ‘worry’. Livestock population is dipping (3.4% fall from 18th
livestock census), imports into the State are increasing (more than Rs. 2500 crore
annually) and fodder is acutely scarce. The sector needs a fillip to match current
requirement and to evolve at desired pace. Besides fodder scarcity, unorganized
practices, smallholdings, disoriented pricing mechanisms, diminishing economic
returns and ineffective regulatory mechanisms have further added to woes of the
sector. The engagement of people in this sector finally seems to have relegated to
habits rather than robust economic activity.
1 .National Poultry Venture Capital Fund Scheme (PVCFS) under
Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation (EDEG)
component of National Livestock Mission (NLM)
Objectives:
• To encourage entrepreneurship in various poultry activities and provide
capacity building for employment opportunities.
• To improve production of poultry products and productivity of processing
units through technology up-gradation and also encourage introduction of
innovative technology.
• To encourage rearing of other poultry species like quails, ducks, and
turkeys etc. which have good potential.
Pattern of Assistance
i. Normal Areas: APL-25% of the outlay (33 .33 % for BPL/ SC / ST
farmers), as back ended capital subsidy.
ii. North east regions/ Hill areas/ LWE affected areas: APL-35% of the
outlay (50 % for BPL/ SC / ST farmers), as back ended capital subsidy.
iii. Difficult Areas: APL-45% of the outlay (60 % for BPL/ SC / ST farmers),
as back ended capital subsidy National Livestock Mission (NLM) (2020-21)
2 . Innovative Poultry Productivity Project (IPPP) for broiler birds under sub-
mission on Livestock Development of NLM A beneficiary shall be eligible
based on the following criteria:
1. Should be a permanent resident of the district concerned.
2. Should have sufficient land in his/her name for establishment of the said
unit.
3. Should be between the ages of 18 to 50 years.
4. Any other condition that the District Level Committee may deem proper.
The committee seeks applications from the eligible persons through
advertisements in the print and electronic media. The beneficiaries from
among the eligible persons are then selected on the basis of draw of lots at
an open event.
Beneficiary families covered: 130/ year
Benefits provided/ beneficiary
• 600 DOC’s along with required quantity of feed (to attain marketable
weight) provided free of cost.
• INR 30,000 for construction of poultry sheds.
• Poultry equipments, medicines, vaccines etc.
Total benefit/beneficiary : 1.125 lakh

3. Risk Management Livestock Insurance: To provide insurance cover to

livestock at nominal rates

4.Distribution of chaff-cutters both hand/ power driven to eligible

beneficiaries.

5.Distribution of fodder seeds (high yielding varieties viz., maize, oats, etc)

6. Livestock Health & Disease Control (2020-21)

• ASCAD: Immunization against economically important diseases of

livestock and poultry (HS, BQ, FDC, Anthrax, Ranikhet Disease, IBD,
Rabies)
• Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD-CP): all animals above 3- 4 months are
immunized against FMD twice a year

7. National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) (2020-21)

• FMD-CP - Free of cost vaccination for 100% coverage

• Brucella-CP - Free of cost vaccination for 100% coverage
Conduct respective vaccination of all animals as per schedule.
8. Kissan Credit Card (2020-21)

To provide Working capital for dairy / poultry farmers with 2% interest

subvention and 3% prompt re-payment incentive (benefit up-to Rs. 3.00
lacs, no collateral guarantee/ mortgage up-to Rs. 1.60 lacs)
 DAIRY FARMING
Dairying has a potential source of additional income for the rural people of
Jammu and Kashmir. The contribution of the dairying sector to the national
income is invaluable. This sector helps in increasing the crop production by
providing the drag power, organic manure and cash income on a regular
basis. Jammu and Kashmir is producing 70 lakh litres of milk per day, also
strengthening the public private partnerships, besides this Kashmir alone is
producing 40 lakh litres of milk per day. White revolution is becoming
popular and we are also marching on the path. We are doing our best to
achieve the target and rope in thousands of successful farmers across
Jammu and Kashmir.

POULTRY FARMING
The income from poultry farming is so reasonable and normal profits
are earned with less effort. The poultry sector can ensure the proper
nourishment of the farmers’ families besides income and employment.
Poultry birds can increase the income of the farmers as poultry farming
requires low inputs, have short gestation period and give better and quick
returns .This sector can also help to empower the rural women of J&K.
There are numerous examples of successful poultry entrepreneurs in J&K.
Government is offering the various incentives to motivate the aspiring
poultry farmers of J&K.In recent years J&K has shown tremendous
progress in the poultry sector. Scientific poultry farming has been adopted
on a large scale in Jammu, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Pulwama, Srinagar.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of J&K are imparting training programmes
on advance poultry farming to the farmers of J&K and are creating interest
on poultry farming in the rural areas. Some innovations in poultry sector
such as horti-poultry model can really help to enhance the income of the
farmers of J&K.

FISH FARMING
Kashmir offers some of the greatest spring-fed and snow-fed trout
fishing in the world, along with a number of freshwater lakes, gorgeous. As
far as the J&K is concerned, in view of the feasibility, many Centrally
Sponsored Schemes are in operation in the Union Territory exclusive, and
pollution-free streams, and rivers with snow-capped peaks.
APICULTURE
Jammu and Kashmir is said to be one of the most important and
suitable beekeeping places in India. Thanks to its vast diverse natural
resources and favourable climatic conditions that make the state as it
should be for stationary as well as migratory bee keeping. Beekeeping or
Apiculture has been one of the age-old traditions in Jammu and
Kashmir, which has now turned into a lucrative business in the
state. The tourism department is also witnessing a surge in this
sector, and there are hotspots known to be favourites for
honeybee tourism. Places like Bhalla and Sarthal around
Bhaderwah town of Doda district have an abundance of flowering
plants, which forms the basis for successful beekeeping.

SERICULTURE
Kashmir is a non traditional sericulture state producing Mulberry
and Tasar silk. The bivoltine sericulture development has been
one of the priority sectors of Indian silk industry but its
production is yet to meet the targets. Sericulture being one of the
traditional industries in Kashmir is a land mark of our cultural
heritage. There is no exact record as to how and when exactly
this industry originated in Kashmir. However there is mention of
silk and mulberry tree in Rajatarangini-the oldest written
chronicle of Kashmir. The reference in Mahabharata and
Ramayana-the two great epics establish that sericulture was
being practiced in Kashmir from times immemorial. There is
evidence in ancient Sanskrit literature as, that the original home
of silk is Kashmir. This is the only traditional Univoltine belt in
India capable of producing silk comparable to the qualities of
exquisite imported raw silk of standard quality in the international
markets. Its climate is temperate and congenial for rearing both
Univoltine and bivoltine silk worms’ races.
AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture has made encouraging progress in the past two decades
producing significant quantities of food, income and employment. This
sector has however, remained unexplored in our state (J&K) which too has
tremendous aquaculture potential. Aquaculture in general and shellfishes in
particular have not received any attention till now. Shellfish in general and
crustaceans like prawn and crabs, in particular, are a good source of
organic and inorganic constituents. Two species of freshwater crabs have
been reported viz. Maydelliathelphusa masoniana (Henderson) and
Himalayapotamon emphysetum (Alcock) from the local water bodies of
Jammu region i.e., Gho-manhasan, Sarore, Gadigarh and Ban-ganga,
Sunderbani, Jajjarkotli, Poonch, Chenani respectively. J&K too has
tremendous aquaculture potential in general and shellfish in particular.
Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned
with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, or other products. It
includes day-to-day care, selective breeding, and the raising of livestock.
Husbandry has a long history, starting with the Neolithic Revolution when
animals were first domesticated, from around 13,000 BC onwards,
predating farming of the first crops. By the time of early civilisations such
as ancient Egypt, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs were being raised on
farms.
Major changes took place in the Columbian exchange, when Old World
livestock were brought to the New World, and then in the British Agricultural
Revolution of the 18th century, when livestock breeds like the Dishley
Longhorn cattle and Lincoln Longwool sheep were rapidly improved by
agriculturalists, such as Robert Bakewell, to yield more meat, milk,
and wool. A wide range of other species, such as horse, water
buffalo, llama, rabbit, and guinea pig, are used as livestock in some parts of
the world. Insect farming, as well as aquaculture of fish, molluscs,
and crustaceans, is widespread. Modern animal husbandry relies
on production systems adapted to the type of land available. Subsistence
farming is being superseded by intensive animal farming in the more
developed parts of the world, where, for example, beef cattle are kept in
high density feedlots, and thousands of chickens may be raised in broiler
houses or batteries. On poorer soil, such as in uplands, animals are often
kept more extensively and may be allowed to roam widely, foraging for
themselves. Most livestock are herbivores, except for pigs and chickens
which are omnivores. Ruminants like cattle and sheep are adapted to feed
on grass; they can forage outdoors or may be fed entirely or in part on
rations richer in energy and protein, such as pelleted cereals. Pigs and
poultry cannot digest the cellulose in forage and require other high-protein
foods.