AGRI 2372 A Global Agricultural Society

Transcription

1 AGRI 2372 A Global Agricultural Society About the course: Designed initially as a global course (General Ed. course requirement) Requirement dropped the following year Next year offered as AGRI 3372 Contemporary Issues (Intensive Writing course) About the textbook author: P.R. Cheeke

2 Chapter 1 DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS (AND PLANTS) AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN WELFARE Learning Objectives: 1) To briefly discuss the evolution of humans, emphasizing the roles of animals (and plants) in the development of human society. 2) To discuss the domestication of the major species on a global basis to illustrate the diversity of animals and plants that contribute to human welfare. 3) To discuss the diverse contributions of domestic animals and plants to humans, particularly emphasizing some of the roles that might be less familiar to North Americans.

3 Chapter Outline: I. EARLY HUMAN EVOLUTION II. THE DOMESTICATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS III. ROLES OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN HUMAN WELFARE IV. ROLE OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE V. LIVESTOCK IN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS VI. CONCLUSIONS Source: Heifer International.

4 Chapter 1 - DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS (AND PLANTS) AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN WELFARE I. Early Human Evolution - Earliest archeological evidence of Homo erectus (1.6 million years ago) from Africa indicates: Hunter-gatherers Used fire Developed tools Social organization 100, ,000 years ago, Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa to Asia and Europe Source: Smithsonian Institute (

5 NatGeo Jan. (2013)

6 Chapter 1 - DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS (AND PLANTS) AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN WELFARE Humans Evolved as Omnivores: Cooking with fire detoxifies plant toxins/increased energy (supporting smaller gut and larger brain size) and protein digestion Dental morphology (similar to both herbivores & carnivores) Early humans consumed organs, (including brains), fat and bone marrow Opportunistic feeders (both plant and animal food products) Cultures without livestock have remained to this day as primitive hunter-gatherers N.B. The topic of evolution is accepted by the Catholic church.

7 Chapter 1 - DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS (AND PLANTS) AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN WELFARE Hunting and Gathering: Humans existed as hunters and gatherers, gathering foods like seeds, fruits, roots and tubers. The distribution and characteristics of plant species were determined by the environment; the physical (climate, soil, topography) and biological interactions of plant, animal and human populations. No one truly knows what caused humans to propagate and grow specific kinds of plants near their homes. But it changed life as it was and changed humans and their surrounding environment forever. This evolved into organization of a more agrarian society. About 4,500 years ago, tribes from the Middle East introduced agriculture throughout Europe, displacing many hunter-gatherer societies (article). Source: Crop Science Department, Oregon State University.

8 II. The Domestication of Plants and Animals Source: Gen Ed. 110/Washington State University.

9 Source: C. Simpson (PLSS 3332: Plant Propagation Lectures).

10 Source: C. Simpson (PLSS 3332: Plant Propagation Lectures).

11 Source: Ms. C. Simpson (PLSS 3332: Plant Propagation Lectures).

12 Source: Wikipedia (

13 Early Crops Meso-America : maïze, bean, avocado, tomato, vanilla, cocoa South America : tobacco, groundnut, potato, sweet potato, cotton, tomato, pineapple, peppers, Cassava, rubber-tree Middle East : oats, barley, rye, wheat, peas, lentil, flax, olive-tree, vine, fig-tree, date palm-tree Central Africa : millet, sorghum, yam, coffee, oil palm-tree Western China : millet, soya, tea South-East Asia, Southern Pacific : rice, banana, sugar cane, orange tree, egg plant, coconut tree, pepper Source: Ms. C. Simpson (PLSS 3332: Plant Propagation Lectures).

14 Source: Ms. C. Simpson (PLSS 3332: Plant Propagation Lectures).

15 Yams Sweet Potatoes

16 Plant Domestication The domestication of plants is one of the first steps in moving towards a full-fledged agricultural economy, although the process is by no means a one-directional movement. A plant is said to be domesticated when its native characteristics are altered such that it cannot grow and reproduce without human intervention. Domestication is thought to be the result of the development of a symbiotic relationship between the plants and humans, called co-evolution, because plants and human behaviors evolve to suit one another. In the simplest form of co-evolution, a human harvests a given plant selectively, based on the preferred characteristics, such as the largest fruits, and uses the seeds from the largest fruits to plant the next year. Fig Tree in the Judean Desert of Israel Source:

17 Plant Domestication The most important food crops were and still are seed/grain crops like wheat, barley and rice, which provided carbohydrates, and legumes which provided proteins. Rudimentary genetic selection and propagation cycles allowed these people to select for high yield, seed size, and other desirable qualities. Single plants of some species (grape, fig, olive, pomegranate, potato, yams, banana and pineapple) could be selected directly from wild populations and fixed through vegetative propagation. Source: Ms. C. Simpson (PLSS 3332: Plant Propagation Lectures).

18 Animal Domestication Figure: American Scientist (July-August, 1994). Case, L ASAS Centennial Paper: Perspectives on domestication: The history of our relationship with man s best friend. J. Anim. Sci. 86:

19 DOMESTICATED BOVIDS Cattle (Bos taurus/bos indicus) ~7,500-8,000 years ago from Near East/ Europe Challenge to domesticate Social behavior History/Rituals/Customs Provided meat at first 100 s of breeds world-wide Water buffalo (Bubalis bubalis) ~4,000 years ago from Pakistan Uses include work, milk, and meat Typically fed low quality, fibrous diet Yak (Bos granniens) ~4,000 years ago from Himalayas Uses include work, hides, milk, and meat Others (Banteng, Bison, Musk ox) N.B. Widely used in Asia as a work animal. Photos: Wikipedia.

20 BISON (Bison bison) North American origin Pre-Columbian estimate of 60 million head Near extinction by 1890 Presently, >400,000 head Hybridize with cattle: Females sub-fertile Males sterile Recently domesticated Unique traits Niche meat markets N.B. Loved by environmentalists.

21 GOAT (Capra hircus) Near East ~10,000 years ago Natural herding/social instincts but less gregarious than sheep Ruminants/Grazing, but are better browsers than sheep Provided meat (not milk or mohair) N.B. Blamed for erosion.

22 SHEEP (Ovis aries) Photo: Wikipedia. Near East (descended from goats) ~10,000 years ago Natural herding/ Social instincts Ruminants/Grazing Rituals/Customs Provided meat (not wool or milk) N.B. Hair breeds common in LDCs.

23 HORSE (Equus caballus) Asia (So. Central Russia) ~4,300 years ago The ancestral Przewalski s horse Initially for Trade, then as a war machine Tremendous influence on human history (Riding/Work/Politics) Selection for body size Stirrup invented 1,500 years ago Iron horse shoe Western Europe as draft animal Early 1900 s millions of horses in U.S. Source: N.B. Probably the most abused domesticated species.

24 Donkey (Equus asinus) A major work animal in many countries. More hardy than horses, especially more heat-tolerant. Also used as guard animals (article). N.B. Donkeys evolved in deserts of Africa.

25 SWINE (Sus scrofa) Near East/Asia ~8,000 years ago Old vs. New World Pigs Wild scavenger Captive reproduction Selection for docility Family garbage disposal until 20 th Century Primary source of meat Pastured Pork (Polyface Farms) N.B. Pork is the most important meat source in the world.

26 SWINE (Sus scrofa) Figure 2. Global status of pig breeds. Source: The state of the world s animal genetic resources for food and agriculture (1st), 2006 [8] Source: Chen et al. (2007)

27 CHICKENS (Gallus domesticus) Descendants from SE Asian junglefowl Domesticated ~3,400 years ago First for cock-fighting Provided meat & eggs Suitable for subsistence farms - Family without chickens is sign of poverty Commercial line selection/ Hybridization (Corporate-owned) Pastured Poultry Other major/minor poultry include Ducks, Geese, Guinea fowl, Muscovy, Pheasants, Pigeons, Quail, Ratites, Turkeys N.B. Studied by Charles Darwin

28 RABBIT (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Iberian Peninsula ~400 years ago Domesticated in Monasteries Garden/kitchen wastes Provided meat U.S. breeds Other small species include, for example, cane rats, capybaras, and guinea pigs Rabbits vs. Hares (article) N.B. Increased importance in development projects to alleviate hunger and poverty.

29 OTHER LIVESTOCK SPECIES Camels Guinea pigs Llamas Reindeer Deer/Elk Reptiles Other terms: Aquaculture Game farming Microlivestock N.B. Niche species or breed of cultural and(or) geographic importance.

30 III. Role of Animals and Animal Products in Human Welfare Multiple benefits from livestock production (A symbiotic relationship - Animals may live a life free from fear and stress): Animal proteins generally have higher nutritional value than plant proteins (e.g., eggs and meat). (Link to recent article in Nature on early cheese making.) Major source of wealth (as dowry and as walking banks ) Cultural roles (animal sacrifices, cockfighting, bullfighting, rodeos, shows) The sacred cow of India (dung, milk, and work) Animal dung as fuel (e.g., from dung patties to biogas (methane), typically from conversion of straw or other fibrous feeds, as well as for fertilizer) Use of feathers, fur, hair or wool (natural fibers) as less important than in the past Leather Still is widely used for various purposes Pharmaceutical and medical products (e.g., antibodies and hormones) Animal Power Important in many developing countries, but still used in European countries (Poland and Russia). Animal power is making a come-back due to fossil fuel shortages (Brazil and Chile). Oxen and buffalo can subsist on fibrous feeds. N.B. Draft animals provide the power for the cultivation of nearly 50 percent of the world s cultivated land and the hauling of over 25 million carts. More than 240 million cattle and 60 million buffalo are kept as work animals (Teleni and Murray, 1991).

31 IV. Role of Livestock Production in Sustainable Agriculture Terms for discussion: Sustainable Agriculture Alternative Agriculture (to Monoculture) Soil Erosion Crop Rotations Optimal Resource Utilization (nutrient recycling) Crop-Livestock Integration Land Stewardship (shaping values) Industrial Agriculture

32 V. Livestock in Development Programs The perception of many animal scientists is that research plays second fiddle to grant funding awarded to plant scientists to do research. Reasons? Expatriate (foreign) experts have livestock as the bad guys. Reasons? The multiple roles that livestock fulfill are often ignored by economists and politicians. Philanthropic organizations (Heifer International). N.B. Timely article (link) Source: Heifer International. Grassroots approach to development: Passing on the Gift

33 VI. Conclusions Table 1-1 Contributions of livestock to human well-being in a global context (Adapted from Hodges, 1999) - Provision of work-draft animals - Transportation of goods and people - Animal fat and protein for improved nutrition - Milk to enable human infants to survive - Leather, wool, and horn for clothing and shelter - Animal fat for burning for illumination - Dung fuel for cooking and heating - Animal power for pumping water to irrigate crops - Benefits on crops in integrated farming systems - Conversion of fibrous vegetation to human-edible food - Influence on human culture and values, traditions and rituals.