1. Domestication and Importance of Livestock Chapter 1

2. Objectives Discuss briefly the history of the domestication of farm animals List and explain the functions of livestock Describe the size of the livestock industry in the United States

3. Domestication of Animals Cattle – Descendants of Bos taurus and Bos indicus – Tamed in Neolithic Age – First brought to America by Columbus in 1493 – Major growth in Great Plains states – Early pioneers took dairy, beef cattle westward

4. Domestication of Animals (cont.) Swine – Descendants of Sus scrofa and Sus vittatus – First used for food in Neolithic Age – Tamed by Chinese about 4900 B.C. – First brought to America by Columbus in 1493 – Major growth in Corn Belt states

5. Domestication of Animals (cont.) Sheep – First tamed in early Neolithic Age – Probably descended from Moufflons and Asiatic urial – Big Horn sheep native to North America – Domestic breeds first brought by Columbus – Northeast U.S. sheep-producing center

6. Domestication of Animals (cont.) Goats – Descended from Pasang, Grecian ibex, Markhors, and Tahrs – Tamed in Neolithic Age – Closely related to sheep – Early goat importations from Switzerland – Milk goats brought to the United States by John Smith and Lord Delaware

7. Domestication of Animals (cont.) Horses – Evolved from Eohippus – native to North America – Domesticated in Central Asia or Persia – Brought to America by Columbus, 1493 – Originally used for pulling loads and riding – Today, used mostly for riding and racing

8. Domestication of Animals (cont.) Poultry – Chickens Raised by Chinese about 1400 B.C. Domesticated in India about 1400 B.C. May be descended from Gallus gallus – Turkeys – tamed by Native Americans – Ducks – descended from Anas boschas; domesticated by Romans, Chinese

9. Domestication of Animals (cont.) Poultry (cont.) – Geese Tamed shortly after chicken Regarded as Egyptian sacred bird – Poultry brought by early explorers, colonists – Modern industry concentrated in southern U.S. – Demand for small farms increasing

10. Classification of Common Farm Animals Kingdom Animalia (animal) – Can be classified as kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species – Domestic animals in Animalia kingdom – Domestic farm animals Phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata Class Mammalia (livestock) or Aves (poultry)

11. Classification of Common Farm Animals (cont.) Class Mammalia – Four-chambered hearts – Warm-blooded, or homeothermic – Have a diaphragm – Bodies covered in hair – Embryos develop in mother’s uterus – Animals are born alive; mammary glands

12. Classification of Common Farm Animals (cont.) Class Aves – Four-chambered hearts – Warm-blooded, or homeothermic – Bodies covered in feathers – Light, hollow bones and air-sac system – Lay eggs, do not secrete milk – Have beaks and gizzards instead of teeth

13. Functions of Animals Converting Feed into Food – Both non-ruminants and ruminants convert feed that cannot be used directly for human consumption, such as roughage, meat/bone meal, and plant stems, into human food – Waste products are used as animal feed – Animal products important to U.S. diet

14. Functions of Animals (cont.) Clothing – Provide fiber and skins for clothing – Wool, leather Power – In past, provided much power for humans – Little animal power in use in U.S. today – Still used for power in some parts of world

15. Functions of Animals (cont.) Recreation – Horseback riding – Horse racing – Livestock shows

16. Functions of Animals (cont.) Conservation – Grass and legumes used for feeding livestock are also soil-conserving crops – Animal manure can be used as fertilizer and fuel Can be dried and burned Raw material for methane gas digesters

17. Functions of Animals (cont.) Stabilize Farm Economy – Utilizes available resources such as land, labor, capital, management ability Concentrate Bulky Feeds – Livestock convert bulky feeds (hay) into a more concentrated form

18. Functions of Animals (cont.) By-Products – Edible: variety of meats, oleo, gelatin – Hides: leather, wool goods – Inedible fats: cosmetics, soap, glue, etc. – Livestock feeds: blood meal, bone scraps – Drugs: insulin, cortisone, thrombin, heparin, epinephrine, rennet, corticotropin

19. Consumption of Livestock Products Decrease in consumption of livestock products has slowed due to positive marketing campaigns Decline in consumption of cholesterol related to livestock products Poultry industry is also stepping up efforts to promote and market products

20. Size and Scope of the Livestock Industry in the United States Income and Costs

21. Size and Scope of the Livestock Industry in the United States (cont.) Income and Costs (cont.)

22. Size and Scope of the Livestock Industry in the United States (cont.) Leading States in Livestock Production

23. Size and Scope of the Livestock Industry in the United States (cont.) Number of Livestock on Farms

24. Animal Health Products Feed additives – Control and prevent diseases – Enhance growth, improve feed efficiency Biologicals – Vaccines – Bacterins – Antitoxins

25. Animal Health Products (cont.) Pharmaceuticals – Medicines for disease control and prevention Research and development of animal health products are expensive, which can lead to higher food prices

26. Trends in Animal Agriculture Consumption and Production – Concern over cholesterol levels affects food consumption trends – Consumers demanding leaner meat, less fat in meat and dairy products – Need for increased efficiency may result in fewer, larger operations; more automation

27. Trends in Animal Agriculture (cont.) Consumption and Production (cont.) – Research affecting livestock production: Higher swine embryonic survival rate Shortening of calving interval for dairy cattle Improved methods of artificial insemination Biotechnology – Emphasis also on disease prevention

28. Trends in Animal Agriculture (cont.) Biotechnology – Areas of research impacting livestock industry: Cloning Superovulation Sex determination In-vitro fertilization Embryo transfer

29. Animal Welfare and Animal Rights Animal Welfare – Emphasize the humane treatment of animals – Believe animals can be used for human benefit – Support essential uses, such as for food and medical research

30. Animal Welfare and Animal Rights (cont.) Animal Rights – Varying views – Some want animal liberation – Others recognize the need to use animals, and work to eliminate animal suffering – Some militant animal rights groups break laws through theft and property damage

31. Animal Welfare and Animal Rights (cont.) Legislation – Federal, state, and local laws Enforced by the APHIS Address the humane treatment and care of animals – First federal law for humane treatment pass in 1873 – People working with livestock should provide humane treatment.

32. Animal Identification A variety of methods in use, including ear tags, tattoos, electronic collars System of unique identifying numbers to establish information database National Farm Animal Identification and Records (FAIR) – voluntary system aimed at better animal information management

33. Food Safety U.S. has one of world’s safest supplies Major issues regarding food safety: – Bacterial contamination – Pesticides in food – Drug residues in food – Irradiation of food – Genetic engineering

34. Food Safety (cont.) Consumers want zero risk, however, safety specialists know there is no such thing Food safety can be defined in terms of risks and benefits – If benefits far outweigh potential health hazards, risk is considered acceptable

35. Food Safety (cont.) Four major bacterial pathogens (CDC): salmonella, campylobacter, E. coli, and listeria monocytogenes FDA regulates food additives USDA and FSIS ensures plants meet requirements HACCP monitors food production

36. Endangered Species Crossbreeding emphasized to create animals better able to meet market demand Many purebred lines almost gone due to crossbreeding Selection for uniformity, crossbreeding, and decline in purebred lines – Results in a loss of genetic diversity

37. Endangered Species (cont.) Genetic diversity allows animals to adapt Loss of natural resistance to disease due to dependence on antimicrobials and anthelmintics Maintaining genetic diversity within species also contributes to scientific research