Courses
Cattle Farming Animal Husbandry
By Maitree Choube
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Updated on 15 Apr 2025, 17:29 IST
Cattle Farming Animal Husbandry: Since ancient times, animals have been closely connected to human life, providing essentials such as milk, eggs, meat, wool, and labor. As the global population grows, especially in countries like India, the demand for food, clothing, and shelter is rising too. To meet these growing needs, animal husbandry has become an important part of modern agriculture.
Animal husbandry includes various types of farming like apiculture (beekeeping), fisheries, poultry farming, and especially cattle farming. In cattle farming, animals like cows and buffaloes are raised carefully with proper feeding, health care, and shelter. This helps farmers produce more milk, meat, and work animals while also improving their own livelihood.
By following smart farming methods, cattle farming not only helps meet food demands but also supports the economy and ensures people have access to fresh animal products.
Animal husbandry is a vital branch of agriculture that focuses on the care, breeding, and management of farm animals such as cows, buffaloes, goats, and poultry. It plays a crucial role in meeting the growing demand for animal-based products like milk, meat, eggs, and honey in India. With the increase in population and urbanization, cattle farming and animal husbandry have become indispensable for sustainable rural livelihoods and food security.
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What is Cattle Farming?
Cattle farming refers to the practice of raising cows and buffaloes for two main purposes:
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- Milk Production (Milch Breeds)
- Agricultural Uses (Draught Animals)
In India, milk production is a major part of cattle farming, supported by indigenous and exotic breeds that are carefully bred for high yield and disease resistance.
Types of Dairy Cattle Breeds in India
- Indigenous Breeds (Indian Cattle)
These breeds are well adapted to Indian climates and resistant to local diseases.
Gir: High milk yield, native to Gujarat.
Sahiwal: Excellent dairy breed, known for longevity and productivity.
Red Sindhi: Medium-sized, good milk production.
- Exotic Breeds (Foreign Cattle)
These breeds are introduced from other countries for higher milk productivity.
- Jersey: High milk-producing breed from the USA.
- Holstein-Friesian: Native to Holland, among the top milk yielders.
- Brown Swiss: Swiss origin, dual-purpose (milk + draught).
- Crossbreeds
Crossbreeding combines the strengths of indigenous and exotic breeds.
Karan Swiss: Brown Swiss × Sahiwal
Karan Fries: Holstein Friesian × Tharparkar
Frieswal: Holstein Friesian × Sahiwal
These improved breeds are developed to increase milk production, disease resistance, and adaptability.
Modern Breeding Techniques in Animal Husbandry
To enhance milk yield and cattle quality, two breeding methods are used:
- Natural Breeding: Traditional mating between selected bulls and cows.
- Artificial Insemination: Introduction of semen from a superior bull into a cow’s reproductive tract without natural mating. This method improves genetics and productivity efficiently.
Feeding and Housing in Cattle Farming
Proper nutrition and shelter are essential for healthy livestock and better yields.
- Shelter and Housing
- Cattle sheds must be well-ventilated, hygienic, and dry.
- Sloped flooring helps with easy cleaning and drainage.
- Each animal should have adequate space to rest and feed comfortably.
- Feed Types
Cattle feed includes two essential components:
- Roughage: Fibrous feed like hay, green fodder (berseem, cowpea), and silage.
- Concentrates: Nutrient-rich grains like oats, barley, gram, and oilseeds for protein, energy, and minerals.
- Water
Clean water is crucial for digestion, milk production, and overall health.
Lactation and Milk Production
Lactation period refers to the time during which a cow produces milk after calving. Exotic breeds usually have longer lactation periods, leading to more milk yield. Crossbreeding also aims to extend lactation duration for better results.
Key factors influencing milk production include:
- Breed Type
- Nutrition and Feeding
- Environment and Weather
- Management Practices
The Role of Operation Flood and the White Revolution
The White Revolution, led by Dr. Verghese Kurien and NDDB's Operation Flood, transformed India into the world’s largest milk producer. This was achieved by:
- Promoting high-yielding cattle breeds.
- Improving dairy infrastructure and farmer training.
- Ensuring fair pricing and cooperative support.
Common Diseases in Dairy Cattle
To maintain productivity, it's essential to protect cattle from diseases. These are categorized into:
- Parasitic Diseases
- External Parasites: Lice, ticks, fleas cause skin issues.
- Internal Parasites: Roundworms and flukes damage intestines and liver.
- Infectious Diseases
- Viral: Foot and Mouth Disease, Cowpox
- Bacterial: Anthrax, Rinderpest, Tuberculosis, Mastitis
- Fungal: Ringworm
- Non-Communicable Diseases
Result from poor nutrition or physical injuries.
Prevention and Management
Timely vaccination and regular veterinary check-ups
Maintaining hygiene in cattle sheds
Providing balanced nutrition
Benefits of Cattle Farming in India
Cattle farming has multiple advantages that make it a backbone of rural development:
- Milk Production: Primary source of income and nutrition.
- Agricultural Support: Draught animals are used for ploughing and transport.
- Manure and Biofuel: Animal waste improves soil fertility and is used in biogas production.
- Employment Generation: Provides jobs in rural areas.
- Poverty Alleviation: Enhances farmers' income and food security.
What is Animal Husbandry?
Animal husbandry involves rearing and managing domestic animals in a scientific way to improve their productivity and ensure their welfare. It includes activities like providing proper shelter, nutritious food, disease prevention, and selective breeding to develop high-yielding and disease-resistant breeds.
Types of Animal Husbandry
1. Cattle Farming:
- Focuses on rearing cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep for milk (milch animals) or labor (draught animals).
- Milch animals are bred to increase milk production by extending their lactation period.
- Draught animals are used for agricultural tasks like plowing or irrigation.
2. Poultry Farming:
- Involves raising birds like chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese for meat and eggs.
- Hygienic conditions and disease-free breeds are essential for healthy production.
3. Fisheries:
Includes breeding and raising fish for food.
4. Apiculture:
Refers to beekeeping for honey production.
Dairy Farm Management
Dairy farm management focuses on improving the quantity and quality of milk produced by milch animals. This involves:
- Maintaining disease-resistant breeds.
- Providing clean housing, nutrient-rich fodder, and adequate water.
- Regular health inspections to ensure productivity.
Animal Breeding
Animal breeding aims to enhance desirable traits such as higher yield or disease resistance. Methods include:
- Inbreeding: Mating closely related animals within the same breed.
- Outbreeding: Crossbreeding unrelated animals or species to produce hybrids with improved qualities.
Advanced techniques like artificial insemination and embryo transfer technology are used for controlled breeding.
Benefits of Animal Husbandry
- Provides nutritious food products like milk, eggs, and meat.
- Generates employment opportunities for farmers.
- Promotes rural development by boosting income.
- Ensures proper management of animal waste to maintain environmental hygiene.
- Animal husbandry plays a crucial role in supporting human needs while ensuring animal welfare through scientific practices.
Difference between Cattle Farming and Animal Husbandry
| Aspect | Cattle Farming | Animal Husbandry |
| Meaning | Cattle farming means raising only cows, bulls, oxen, and buffaloes for milk, meat, or labor. | Animal husbandry is the care, breeding, and management of all types of farm animals, not just cattle. |
| Animal Focus | Only cattle — like cows, bulls, and buffaloes. | Many animals — like cows, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, horses, and even bees! |
| Main Purpose | Mostly for milk, meat, leather, or using them for farm work like plowing fields. | Broader purpose: milk, meat, eggs, wool, honey, leather, and even animal power for farming. |
| Scope | Narrow – focuses only on cattle. | Wide – covers all kinds of farm animals. |
| Farming Methods | Grazing, stall-feeding, fodder cultivation, disease control, and milking techniques. | Feeding, breeding, sheltering, health care, and productivity improvement for different animal species. |
| Economic Role | Generates income mainly from cattle-related products. | Supports farmers through a variety of animal products like dairy, poultry, wool, honey, and more. |
| Examples | Dairy farms, beef cattle ranches, oxen used for plowing. | Poultry farming, beekeeping, goat farming, pig farming, sheep rearing, along with cattle farming. |
| Type of Work | Feeding cattle, milking, breeding cows and buffaloes, and maintaining their health. | Feeding, breeding, taking care of health, and improving production for all livestock. |
| Knowledge Needed | Focused knowledge about cattle breeds, diseases, feeding, and milk production. | Broader knowledge about multiple animal species, their needs, diseases, and products. |
| Importance in Agriculture | Provides milk, meat, dung (used as fertilizer), and labor power. | Provides multiple products and services that support farming and rural livelihoods. |
Conclusion
Cattle farming and animal husbandry are more than just traditional practices—they are lifelines for millions of Indian farmers. With modern breeding methods, better feed, healthcare, and government initiatives like the White Revolution, India continues to lead in dairy production. Supporting and improving these practices is essential for a self-sufficient, healthy, and prosperous rural economy.
Cattle Farming Animal Husbandry FAQs
Explain the term Cattle Farming.
Cattle farming is the practice of raising and managing cattle — like cows, bulls, and buffaloes — for useful products such as milk, meat, leather, and farm labor. Farmers care for these animals by feeding them, sheltering them, keeping them healthy, and breeding them to increase productivity.
Define the term Apiculture.
Apiculture is the scientific name for beekeeping. It involves caring for bee colonies, usually in wooden boxes called beehives, to collect honey, beeswax, royal jelly, and other bee products. Beekeepers also help bees pollinate crops, which boosts farm productivity.
Are cows and cattle the same?
Not exactly! The term "cattle" refers to a group of large domesticated animals including cows, bulls, oxen, and buffaloes. Meanwhile, "cow" refers only to the female animal of the species that usually gives milk. So, all cows are cattle, but not all cattle are cows. Cattle is the broader group, while cows are a specific type within that group.
Which diseases commonly affect cattle?
Cattle are prone to several diseases that can impact their health and productivity. Here are some common ones:
- Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD): A viral illness causing blisters in the mouth and feet.
- Mastitis: An infection of the udder, common in dairy cows.
- Bovine Tuberculosis: A bacterial lung disease.
- Brucellosis: A bacterial infection affecting reproduction.
- Anthrax: A severe bacterial disease that can be deadly if untreated.
- Rinderpest: A viral disease now eradicated but historically fatal.
- Lumpy Skin Disease: A viral skin infection causing nodules.
Farmers can prevent most of these through vaccination, proper hygiene, and routine veterinary checkups.
What is animal husbandry of cattle farming?
Animal husbandry is a broad term, and cattle farming is one part of it. When we talk about animal husbandry of cattle farming, we mean the scientific care, breeding, sheltering, feeding, and disease management of cattle to increase their milk, meat, and labor value.
What is the difference between cattle and animal?
All cattle are animals, but not all animals are cattle! Here’s the difference:
Animal is a broad term that covers every living creature in the animal kingdom — from dogs and cats to elephants and bees.
Cattle specifically refers to large farm animals like cows, bulls, oxen, and buffaloes raised mainly for milk, meat, leather, or farm work.
So, cattle are just one type of animal under the bigger animal category.
What is the meaning of cattle in animal husbandry?
In animal husbandry, cattle refers to domesticated farm animals like cows, bulls, oxen, and buffaloes. They are raised for their milk, meat, leather, and their strength for farming work like plowing fields or transporting goods. Cattle play a vital role in both food production and farm labor, making them one of the most valuable assets in traditional and modern farming.