ANIMAL DOMESTICATION ~10,000 years ago in the Near East Nomadic to Stationary Controlled animal movement/reproduction Behavioral modification Breed development Caring for Animals May Have Shaped Human Evolution
Source: American Scientist (July-August, 1994). Case, L. 2008. ASAS Centennial Paper: Perspectives on domestication: The history of our relationship with man s best friend. J. Anim. Sci. 86:3245-3251.
GOATS (Capra hircus) Near East ~10,000 years ago Natural herding/ social instincts Ruminants/Grazing Provided meat (not milk or mohair)
SHEEP (Ovis aries) Near East (descended from goats) ~10,000 years ago Natural herding/ social instincts Ruminants/Grazing Rituals/Customs Provided meat (not wool or milk)
Animal Production in the U.S. A. Sheep Production 1. Range or Farm Flocks Western states are range Better suited to rocky, brushy terrain Texas #1 in sheep population Eastern states are farm Concentrate feeding more prevalent 2. Lambing to finish Seasonal lambing - spring Finish weights 110-130 lbs
Animal Production in the U.S. 3. Feeder to finish Growth/fattening phase 4. Wool and Mohair Production in the U.S. is declining Meat is the dominant industry Most wool and mohair imported
SWINE (Sus scrofa) Near East/Asia ~8,000 years ago Wild scavenger Competed for human foods Captive reproduction Provided meat Ancient Humans Dined on Bacon from Weird, Spotted Pigs
JAVELINA (Pecari tajacu) New World pigs Same Family ( Suidae ) as true pigs Different genus than true pigs Will not hybridize with true pigs
Animal Production in the U.S. B. Swine production 1. Farrow to Finish Represent the majority of hog operations Single producer raises and fattens pigs until slaughter or harvest (230-270 lbs) Sows produce piglet Feeder pigs growth/fattening phase
Animal Production in the U.S. 2. Farrow to Feeder Sows produce piglets Wean piglets (40-60 lbs) and sell to a feeder ( feeder pigs ). Producers in this type of operation do not typically have access to an economical feed source.
CATTLE (Bos taurus/indicus) Near East/Europe ~7,500-8,000 years ago Challenge to domesticate Social behavior History/Rituals/Customs Draft power/wealth Provided meat at first 100 s of breeds worldwide Fulani cow in a nomadic herd in West Africa
Then God said, Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds. And so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. Then God said: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground. Genesis 1:24-26. The New American Bible. Saint Joseph Edition
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 American bison-cattle hybrid (½ Bison, ¼ Angus, ¼ Holstein)
Animal Production in the U.S. C. Beef Production 1. Cow-calf operation calf production phase Relatively seasonally labor intensive Breeding season (ideal 60-80 days), calving season (ideal 60-80 days), and processing. 2. Feeder operation growth phase Prevails in the states like Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas. Weaned calves (530-600 lbs) Mostly pasture fed with limited grain supplementation
Animal Production in the U.S. 3. Feedlot growth and fattening phase Yearlings (700-800 lbs) Heavier calves gain faster More resistant to disease High grain based diet Important for taste and marbling Fed for 140 to160 days then harvested
Animal Production in the U.S. D. Dairy production Labor intensive Milk cows 2-3 times/day Technologically advanced nutrition reproduction housing waste management Good cash flow Every-other-day-delivery Heifers are kept and bull calves are sold at 5-10 days to veal or dairy beef production
HORSES (Equus caballus) Asia (So. Central Russia) ~4,300 years ago Trade then war machine Selection for body size Stirrup invented 1,500 years ago in China W. Europe as draft animal Iron horse shoe Early 1900 s millions of horses in U.S. Horses Evolved 4 Million Years Ago
Egyptian art display Brownsville Art Museum.
EQUUS MEMBERS:
Sgt. Reckless - One of America's 100 all-time military heroes https://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/sgt-reckless-combat-veteran http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sergeant_reckless
DONKEYS (Equus asinus) http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/donkey/donkey.htm
CHICKENS (Gallus domesticus) Jungles of SE Asia ~3,400 years ago Descendants from junglefowl Studied by Darwin First use was likely for cock-fighting, later as a source of meat & eggs Commercial selection
Animal Production in the U.S. E. Poultry production 1. Total vertical integration A single company has complete control over all phases of production exception in meat production where there are contract growers Reduces capital risk 2. Layer production Average egg production = 264 eggs/hen/yr
Animal Production in the U.S. 3. Broiler production meat Production units consist of 120,000-130,000 birds per group and up to 6 groups per year U.S. supplies over 50% of all poultry meats imported by other countries and leads all other U.S. meat exports
TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) Mexico ~2,000 years ago Provided meat and eggs Commercial selection Breeding by AI Harvest age (17-20 weeks) and weight (26-32 lbs)
RABBIT (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Iberian Peninsula ~200 years ago Domesticated in Monasteries Garden/kitchen wastes Provided meat 45 U.S. breeds
Meat Rabbit Management Historically: The commercial rabbit meat industry began pre-world War II. Meat-type rabbits being raised as a supple-mentary food source during Great Depression. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cuniculture Factors: Meat rationed for the troops Victory gardens were common Rabbits were integrated Meat was inexpensive Industry began in southern CA Commercial breeds Pelleted diets Wire cages Market Co-ops Processing plants
LIVESTOCK BREEDS WEBSITES: http://www.albc-usa.org/ http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/ http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/0011sp2.htm