UNIT 1DOMESTICATION AND IMPORTATION OF LIVESTOCK

Domesticate

Domestication- means to adapt the behavior of an animal to fit the needs of people.

• The domestication of animals began when early humans had contact with wild animals, which they hunted for food and skin.

• After a period of time they began to confine some of these animals to insure steadier supply of food and clothing.

• Some historians believe that the human race would never have become civilized without the domestication of animals.

BD

Cattle• Modern cattle are descendents of Bos taurus and Bos

indicus

• Bos taurus came from the Celtic Shorthorn (British Isles)

• Bos indicus are humped cattle found in tropical countries. They are more resistant to some diseases, parasites and heat than are cattle which came from Bos taurus.

• Cattle were probably tamed early in the Neolithic Age about 18,000 years ago.

• Cattle are not native to the U.S. Christopher Columbus brought cattle to the new world on his second voyage in 1493.

Celtic Shorthorn (Bos Taurous)and Humped or Eared cattle (Bos Indicus)

Swine• American breed of swine came from two wild stocks:• European wild boar (Sus Scrofa)

• East Indian pig (Sus Vittatus)

• The first people to tame pigs were the Chinese. Written records show that this took place about 4900 B.C.

• English settlers brought swine with them to America . Pork and lard were then exported for other products.

European Wild Boar

Sheep

• Sheep were among the first animals tamed by the human race.• The ancestry of sheep is not as well know as that of

other domestic animals. There are more than 200 breeds of sheep in the world.• Most present day sheep probably came from the wild

big-horned sheep of Asia. The only sheep native to North America are the Big Horn or Rocky Mountain sheep. Sheep were used by early settlers primarily for the wool production.

Rocky Mountain Big Horned Sheep

Functions of Domesticated livestock

• Livestock convert feed grains and roughage's into food for human consumption (controversy).• Nonruminant animals such as swine and poultry are

fed large amounts of grain because they cannot use much roughage in their diet.• However, about 30% of the feed fed to swine and

poultry in the U.S. consists of fish meal, meat and bone meal, and tankage.• About 80% of the human population of the world gets

most of it’s protein, fats, iron, niacin, and some vitamins from the meat produced by ruminant animals.

• Food products from ruminants provide about:• 1. 45 % of the protein• 2. 32 % of the fat• 3. 50 % of the phosphorus• 4. 77 % of the calcium

• Found in the diets of people living in the United States.• About 1/3 of the total amount of food eaten by

people in the U.S. comes from ruminants.

Size and Scope of the Livestock Industry in the United States• The total value of Agricultural products sold from

farms in the U.S. in 2004 was more than 240 billion dollars.• The value of livestock and livestock products sold

in 2002 was over 125 billion dollars.

• Leading States in Livestock Production:• Texas• Iowa• Nebraska• California• Wisconsin• Kansas• Minnesota• Illinois• Pennsylvania• Missouri

BD

•Leading States in production Categories• Beef - Texas• Swine - Iowa• Dairy - California• Sheep - Texas• Chickens - Iowa• Eggs - Iowa• Turkeys - Minnesota

BD

LIVESTOCK AND THE ENVIRONMENT

• People are more concerned about the environment today than ever before. Livestock producers must deal with animal waste, odors, and dead animals in ways that do not harm the environment.

Changes in Livestock Production

• Trend towards larger livestock operations.• Confining cattle on large feedlots.• Hog operations entirely indoors.• Lack of space to dispose of animal waste.

• Changing Environment of Agriculture• Population shift to rural areas.• Farmers must deal with attitudes while still maintaining production.• The cost of handling the waste falls on the individual farmer.• A poultry ranch of 200,000 hens, a beef feedlot of 1,200 head, or a

10,500 head hog operation may produce as much waste as a city of 20,000.

BD

In groups answer the questions below regarding your assigned law and discuss with class.

• Federal and State Laws• 1 Federal Water Quality Act of 1965• 2 Refuse Act of 1899• 3 Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965• 4 Federal Clean Air Act• 5 Federal Humane Slaughter Act of 1958• 6 Animal Welfare Act 1966• 7 Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act 2008

1. Define 2. Why is it important?3. Give an example of how it has or will be implemented.

Livestock Laws

• Animal Trespassing • Owner of an animal is liable for damage an animal does

if it strays onto another person’s property.• Estray - a domestic animal of unknown ownership

running at large.• A person may take possession of and use an Estray found on his

or her property.• Public notice of possession must be posted.• Owner of horse/Cattle - 1 year• Owner of a Sheep/Hog - 3 months

•Animal on Highways• An animal straying onto public roads if involved in an accident, may

cost the owner damages if negligence can be proved.

BD