Roles of Animal Production to A Nation Economy

The importance of animal production to a nation economy derives largely from its provision of animal protein foodstuff, employment, industrial raw materials and foreign exchange earnings, and extends to several socio-cultural roles among different societies.

The recognized role of animal production in the nutrition of humans particularly as source of animal protein stems from the common knowledge that 35 per cent of the nation’s meat supply comes alone from sheep, goats not to mention supplies from cattle, swine and poultry. Failures to meet demand for the animal protein have resulted in continual importation of animal products with or without official permission. Optimum animal protein intake, without exaggeration, is required for optimum physical and mental development of every individual. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO, 1985) of the United Nations recommended a minimum of about 56 g of protein intake per person per day to be consistent with good living. About 50 per cent (or 28 g) of this should come from such animal protein sources as meat, milk, eggs and fish. The British Medical Association recommended a higher minimum intake of 68g per person per day. Most tropical countries consume less than 10 g of protein per person per day out of which only about 3.2 g is animal protein compared to the recommended daily intake of 28 g. The expected role of animal production is to fill the wide gap of about 25 g of daily animal protein intake per person.

Engagement in farm animal production activities provides gainful employment and means of livelihood to a large cross section of humans as herdsmen, butchers, livestock specialists, manufacturers and suppliers of feeds, drugs and other production inputs, marketers and traders in the diverse animal products produced regularly and on daily basis. In other way, animal production activities offer an alternative full employment during the dry season when other agricultural production activities are reduced or non-existent. The alternative means of employment at off season enables the people concerned to earn a living while discouraging tendency to engage in vice habits.

The provision of primary industrial raw materials of animal origin is a major consideration for undertaking production of animals in most countries. Africa especially Nigeria is known for export of the famous ‘Morocco leather’ obtained from the skin of Red Sokoto breed of goats in addition to the hides and skins from other livestock. Milk and eggs produced in large quantities in the developed nations form raw materials for large and long chain of assorted industrial firms upon which the economies of the countries depend. The economy of Holland is largely dependent on dairying activities, so also are nations of Australia and New Zealand whose revenues are derived substantially from live animals, beef and other meat products. India has also been able to developed milk production from buffalo.

Export of industrial raw materials of animal source naturally translates into huge foreign exchange earnings for the exporting countries. As a result, nations aspiring to earn large foreign revenue make specific plans to develop their livestock industries for optimum productivity. The potentials of a Nation livestock industry to develop in order to satisfy domestic demands and earn huge foreign exchange within their region and other  regions are clearly indicated in the impressive contributions of the subsector to the economy. These important roles and benefits from a well organised livestock production system are yet to be tapped to the fullest in some countries especially the tropics.

However, one role of animal production that seems to have been exploited perhaps to its maximum is the use of livestock production to meet socio-cultural obligations in marriages and festivals, where animals are used for sacrifices and as symbols of social status in the communities concerned. These cultural obligations are of tremendous social values to a large section of producers. There is a great task ahead to re-orientate and modify these values into the primary objectives of animal production which entail provision of animal protein food needed for growth development, gainful employment and improved livelihood. There is also an urgent need for repositioning the industry to earn foreign exchange for the nation as well as produce raw materials for industrial growth.