What Is The Difference Between Livestock Farming And Animal Husbandry

There are a few types of farming when it comes to animals. A lot of farmers decide to buy animals and make a business out of it. One of these farming types is livestock farming and animal husbandry. Both of these farming types take care of different animals, but what is the difference between livestock farming and animal husbandry?

The difference between animal husbandry and livestock farming is that animal husbandry is animal care, which means milking the cows, feeding the sheep, moving the pigs, and more. Livestock farming means raising and selling livestock for income, and livestock is not viewed as pets.

Even though these two types of farming are different, they both include animals. Livestock farming is mostly remotes around selling animals for income, and animal husbandry refers to the way the farmer interacts with the livestock. Nevertheless, it is very important to take good care of the animals whether you’re into livestock farming or animal husbandry.

What Is Livestock Farming?

Livestock farming is the type of farming where farmers manage and breed domestic, livestock, or farm animals to obtain their meat and other products for sale. Livestock farming can also be described as an economic activity that involves raising domestic animals for human consumption. Livestock farmers obtain meat, milk, wool, fur, honey, and more from their livestock.

There are also many expenses involved in livestock farming such as feed, fencing, building, vet care, hired workers, taxes, and more. All these expenses must be paid for by the eventual sale of the animals. It is good to mention that for the most part, anything under the heading of livestock farming could be done on paper by someone who is not with the animals daily.

For example, this includes budgets, purchasing hay, and arranging for it to be delivered. There are many other activities as well that are not done while with the animals as opposed to animal husbandry where there is direct contact with the animals.

One can say that livestock farming is one of the oldest economic activities started by early men. By managing livestock, farmers are guaranteed food supply, skins, bones, milk, and other animal products that they later sell. The term livestock farming includes the breeding of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry, rabbits, fishes, honeybees, and snails.

What Is The Importance Of Livestock Farming?

It is important to mention that livestock farming still occupies a prominent place among the primary activities of the world economy, and is a vital activity in the development of humanity. Farmers generate high-quality food products such as meat, milk, egg, cheese, and more. Also, other local economic sectors benefit directly or indirectly from livestock activity such as food processing industries, handicrafts, tourism, and hospitality.

Livestock farming is also very important because it generates employment opportunities and serves as a source of income for many people. This type of farming is one of the few human productive economic activities that are truly sustainable.

Another important thing about livestock farming is that it can help a country to generate foreign exchange earnings through the export of livestock products which will further strengthen the local currency value.

One must also mention that there are different types of livestock farming such as intensive livestock farming, semi-intensive livestock farming, extensive livestock farming, nomadic livestock farming, transhumant livestock farming, and organic livestock farming.

What Is Animal Husbandry?

Under the term of animal husbandry, one includes the branch of agriculture where animals are being raised and selectively bred. Animal husbandry is the management and care of animals in which genetic qualities and behavior of animals can be further developed for profit. There are a lot of farmers that depend upon animal husbandry for their livelihood.

Animals require a lot of care and attention as they provide us with a wide variety of food products that have high nutritional values. It is important to mention that the care, breeding, management, and more are particularly monitored under the term of animal husbandry. Good animal husbandry is a vital skill. It depends on how the farmer interacts with the animals and provides for their needs.

These animals are bred, cared for, reared, and sheltered in a farm that is specially built for them. Animal husbandry involves poultry, milk-farms, apiculture, aquaculture, and more. Animals are bred commercially in order to meet the high demand for food. Dairy products from animals like cows, buffaloes, and goats are rich in protein. These animals are called milch animals as they provide milk.

Other animals such as chickens, hen, ducks, and goose provide food that is nutrient-rich. They provide us with eggs which are rich sources of protein as well. All in all, there are a lot of domestic animals that provide us with food supplies that are rich in nutrients.

What Are The Advantages Of Animal Husbandry?

There are a lot of advantages of animal husbandry. For example, animal husbandry helps in the proper management of animals by providing food supplies, shelter, and protection against diseases to domestic animals. Also, this type of farming provides employment to a large number of farmers that increases their living standards.

Another great thing about animal husbandry is that it helps in developing high yielding breeds of animals by crossbreeding. The great thing about it is that it increases the production of a wide variety of food products such as milk, eggs, meat, and much more.

Finally, animal husbandry involves the proper disposal of animal waste and promotes a healthy environment which is a great thing in general. One also must mention the types of animal husbandry such as dairy farming, poultry farming, fish farming, bee farming, and more.

What Is The Difference Between Livestock Farming And Animal Husbandry?

Even though livestock farming and animal husbandry both primarily take care of animals to obtain food supplies, there are some differences between them. The main difference between livestock farming and animal husbandry is where the attention of the farmer or rancher is focused.

For example, farmers that do animal husbandry do it mainly for pleasure but they also sell products from animals they grow. Livestock farming is completely based on business. Also, animal husbandry does not involve any important decisions, whereas in livestock farming there is a need to pay attention to details to make decisions.

It is important to mention that the breeder prioritizes the best interest of the animals in animal husbandry, while in livestock farming, the best interest of the breeder comes first. In this situation, it does not matter what is best for the animals instead people focus on what is good for the business.

Another difference between animal husbandry and livestock farming is that in animal husbandry all the people involved will be in close contact with the animals while in livestock farming, all the people involved in the operation won’t have any contact with the animals. It is important to mention that happy animals grow faster, utilize feed more efficiently, and end up being more productive which means more profitability in the end.

Finally, it is important to say that both animal husbandry and livestock farming go hand in hand. They involve in improving both the atmosphere and nature which is a great thing. These two types of farming also help in transportation and provide animal waste that serves great for the soil. Both animal husbandry and livestock farming bring along tremendous benefits for society in general.