Rabbit, Goat, Sheep, Poultry, Fish and Pig Farming with Feed Technology

Livestock and poultry in Indian tropical and subtropics play a critical role in agricultural economy by providing milk, wool, meat, eggs and draft power and provide flexible reserves during period of economic stress and buffer against crop failure. Rabbits are raised up off the ground and are one of the cleanest animals produced as meat and hence do not even need to be wormed. Rabbits are among the most productive of domestic livestock, making them efficient sources of food for an ever increasing population with diminishing resources. Up to 98.7% of the rabbits can be used for meat, fur, in laboratories, as fertilizers, in toys and novelties. The large demand for animal wool seems to be assured. Sheep rearing is the major source of livelihood to small and marginal farmers and landless laborers in hilly areas, arid and semi-arid region of India. Goat is a multi functional animal and plays a significant role in the economy and nutrition of landless, small and marginal farmers in the country. It creates employment to the rural poor besides effectively utilizing unpaid family labor. There is ample scope for establishing cottage industries based on goat meat and milk products and value addition to skin and fiber. Fish is a good source of animal proteins; Man has realized its importance from the very inception of the evolution of the human race. It has been the sole diet for many island nations before the evolution of farming techniques. Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India today. The production of agricultural crops has been rising at a rate of 1.5 to 2 % per annum that of eggs and broilers has been rising at a rate of 8 to 10 % per annum. From a backyard hobby it has culminated into an industry. Among the various livestock species, piggery is most potential source of meat production and more efficient feed converters after the broiler. Apart from providing meat, it is also a source of bristles and manure. Pig farming will provide employment opportunities to seasonally employed rural farmers and supplementary income to improve their living standards. The contribution of pork products in terms of value works out to 0.80% of total livestock products and 4.32% of the meat and meat products. This book basically deals with rabbit keeping, feeding systems, feed requirements and balanced rations, angora wool utilization in cottage industries, useful information for goat breeding measures of increasing potential of range land nutrients requirements of goats, conversion efficiency of indigenous breeds of goats, sources and functions of the nutrients in sheep, breeds of poultry, inheritance of plumage in turkeys, commercial poultry farming, nutrition of broiler type chickens, how to economise on poultry feed cost, principles of fish culture, culturable fish and shellfish, nutritional requirement and artificial shrimp feed preparation, types of antibiotics for pigs etc. This book provides detailed information on the livestock and poultry farming and rearing technique with described process of feeding systems, feed requirements and balanced rations, harvesting commercial products from them. This book is an invaluable resource for the entrepreneurs, institutions and professionals.