At state fairs like this one in Iowa dairy cows are judged on their frame dairy strength sturdy rear feet and legs and quality udder traits CHAPTER ONE What is Animal Science Visit a state fair and it’s likely animals are being shown in competitions The best animals win ribbons or prizes Students studying animal science raise these animals to compete Award winning show animals often sell for large sums of money Animal science is the study of domesticated animals Domesticated means tamed Animal science is part of agriscience the larger industry of agriculture
Animals provide food and fiber for human use Biology helps people understand animals when they raise them for profit Ranchers produce animals for food wool or breeding They rely on suppliers for the materials they need to raise animals Another part of animal science includes companion animals or pets Even though pets don’t provide food or fiber people view companion animals as part of a satisfying life These animals need quality care and nutrition too
Native Americans used the meat hide bones and sinew of the animals they killed leaving very little waste Humans have long relied on animals for food companionship shelter clothing fuel fertilizer and services Even animal wastes called manure improve the soil for growing food Some countries use dried manure for fuel Agriculture and livestock plays an important part in economies worldwide Americans spend around 15 of their money on food People in other parts of the world spend up to 70 of their income on food
In 2012 approximately 113 million swine were used for meat Animal science focuses on the biology and food production of beef cattle dairy cattle horses poultry sheep and swine It includes foods that come from animals such as meat eggs and dairy products The food industry is important in the United States Without the livestock industry we’d have to rely on wild animals like deer and elk for meat and supplement our protein with beans and grains Animal science and growing crops go together Many animal producers also grow their own feed for their animals
