General principles

• Animal Science


  Refers to the total store of knowledge relative to the breeding, feeding, health, care and management of animals and the marketing and processing of animals and their products as gained through practical experience and research methods
• LIVESTOCK


  common mammalian farm animals such as cattle, buffalo, hog, goat,

  sheep and horse.
• POULTRY


  domestic avian species or birds such as chicken, duck, turkey, goose, quail etc.
• MICROLIVESTOCK


  term used to refer to smaller creatures of becoming conventional livestock ( rabbit, guinea pig, honey bees, snails, rodents insects, earthworms etc.)
• Horses and cattle were domesticated primarily for transportation and draft work purposes.
• Early people found animals that form large herds or flocks and eat a wide variety of feeds are easier to domesticate.
• Domestication involves more than simply taming. Animals

  are considered to be __ when:

  • they are kept for a distinct purpose
  • humans control their breeding
  • their survival depends on humans
  • they develop traits that are not found in the wild
• Sheep (Ovis aries)

  • Domesticated in the mountains of Southeast Europe and Central/Southwest Asia.
  • Favorable because of their wool and meat for which they are still used and bred today.
• Because of selective breeding for traits and other results of domestication, sheep are the only species of livestock that would be unable to return to the wild.
• Modern cattle are descendants of Bos taurus and Bos indicus.
• Bos indicus are the humped cattle found in tropical countries. They are more resistant to diseases, parasites, and heat than the cattle that came from the Bos taurus.
• The horse evolved from a tiny four-toed ancestor called Eohippus (dawn horse).
• Originally, horses were used for meat and milk, but eventually became useful as pack and draft animals.
• The modern breeds of swine came from two wild stocks: the European wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the East Indian pig (Sus vittatus).
• Pigs were utilized more in settled farming communities than in nomadic groups because they are difficult to move for long distances.
• • Sheep have stockier bodie
  • Goats have shorter tails
  • Goat horns are long and grow upward, backward, and outward; sheep horns are spirally twisted
  • Male goats have beards; male sheep do not
  • Male goats give off a strong odor in the rutting (breeding) season; male sheep do not
• • Goats do not have scent glands in the face and feet; sheep do have these scent glands (scent glands are specialized organs that secrete pheromones that attract females)
  • Goats are more intelligent and have a greater ability to fight and fend for themselves.
  • Goats can easily return to the wild state.
• Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were being raised by the Chinese about 1400 BC, but were domesticated in India in at least 1000 BC.
• The wild jungle fowl of India (Gallus gallus) may have been the early ancestor of most tame chickens.
• Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) descended from two wild species: one from Mexico and one from the US.
• The wild mallard duck (Anas bochas) is thought to be the ancestor of all domestic breeds of ducks. Ducks were tamed at an early date. China has probably raised ducks on a commercial basis longer than other parts of the world. In the country we have the mallard duck (itik) Anas platyrnchus and muscovy duck (bibi) Cairina moschata
• The goose (Anser anser) was probably tamed shortly after the chicken. It was regarded as a sacred bird in Egypt 4000 years ago.
• Swine industry represents about 79% of the total value of production of livestock in the country and represents more than 55% of the total daily animal meat consumption of Filipinos
• Backyard Farm


  any farm or household, whether farming or non-farming, tending at least one head/bird of animals and does not qualify as a commercial farm
• Commercial Farm

  any livestock/poultry farm which satisfies at least one of the following conditions:

  • tending at least 21 heads of adult and at least zero head of young
  • tending at least 41 heads of young animals
  • tending at least 10 heads of adult and at least 22 heads of young
  • at least 500 layer, or 1,000 broiler chicken
  • at least 100 layers and 100 broilers if raised in combination
  • at least 100 birds of duck regardless of age
• Beef cattle

  • Considered one of the least developed industries in our country.
  • There is a declining local population and a high slaughter rate, making the local beef unable to meet the demands of the growing population. To respond to the problem, the government imports beef.
• buffalo

  • an indigenous livestock resource that plays a vital role as an excellent animal in farm activities.
• The Philippine water buffalo (carabao) is an indigenous livestock resource that plays a vital role as an excellent animal in farm activities.
• Carabeef is used in the manufacture of some meat products like sausages, luncheon meat, meat loaf and corned beef. It is also passed in the wet market as beef.
• Carabeef produces red meat containing 30% more protein, 70% less fat and 50% less cholesterol than beef.
• One of the early purposes of domesticating cattle and other livestock was for milk as much or more so than meat.
• The country’s Milk production came from dairy carabao, dairy cattle and dairy goat. Overall, the trend in milk production was increasing from 2013 to 2017 at an average annual rate of 3.93 percent.
• goat


  Commonly known as the “poor man’s cow” because of small initial investment. It occupies a small housing space, thrives on browse and survives on vegetation unpalatable to other ruminants.