Animal Husbandry (technology)

Animal Husbandry is a technology that revolves around the management and care of domesticated animals for various purposes, as a fundamental aspect of rural society. The primary animals raised through husbandry include cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, horses, and goats, among others. Livestock are typically kept in close proximity to settlements in pens, pastures or barns.

Breeding is essential to maintain and improve desired traits in animals. However, selective breeding techniques are limited, mainly relying on natural mating and some rudimentary selection based on observed characteristics. Feeding animals largely depends on available natural resources like grazing lands, crop remnants and forage. Supplementary feeding with grains or other foodstuffs is also common, especially during harsh seasons when natural resources are scarce.

Sheltering animals is important for protection from harsh weather conditions and predators. Basic shelters or enclosures are constructed using local materials such as wood, thatch or stones. Animal husbandry practices are often shaped by traditional knowledge passed down through generations and are influenced by local customs, climatic conditions and the availability of resources. The understanding of animal health and veterinary care is scant indeed, relying mainly on observation and traditional remedies.

Tech 2: Settled Farming

Rooted in the Neolithic era, animal husbandry began the transition from nomadic hunting to settled farming, marking the genesis of human-animal coexistence. his era witnessed the initial stages of domestication, where animals were selectively bred for docility and utility. Present societies still at this level construct rudimentary shelters to protect their domesticated animals, ensuring their safety and well-being. Selective breeding practices do exist, but are crude, driven by the necessity for traits like milk production, wool quality and strength.

For cultures like this, there's an interdependence between humans and animals. The survival of both are intricately linked, fostering a sense of mutual reliance and coexistence. Animals provide food in the form of meat and dairy, materials like wool and leather for clothing and shelter, and labour for agricultural tasks. Their utilitarian value is central to the sustenance and progress of societies that still exist at this technology.

Animals are imbued with spiritual importance, often attributing them with symbolic meanings or associating them with deities or natural forces. Some animals hold revered statuses and are depicted in art and rituals, signifying fertility, strength, protection and other qualities. They feature prominantly in mythology and folklore; stories and legends involving animals convey moral lessons or cultural beliefs, further emphasizing their importance within the cultural fabric of these societies.

Tech 3: Working Animals

Groundbreaking developments take place in the Chalcolithic period, as societies harness the power of animals like oxen and horses for ploughing and transportation. This revolutionizes agriculture, unlocking new possibilities for cultivating crops and easing the burden of manual labour. By utilizing these draft animals, farmers can efficiently plough larger expanses of land, paving the way for increased agricultural productivity and the ability to sustain larger populations. This introduction of draft animals marks a pivotal moment reshaping the landscape of farming practices.

Simultaneously, an understanding of animal feeding and nutrition has taken shape. Farmers recognize the significance of catering to the dietary needs of their domesticated animals to ensure optimal health and productivity. Observations and early experiments lead to improved feeding practices, aligning the diets of animals with their specific nutritional requirements. This burgeoning comprehension of animal nutrition proves instrumental in enhancing the well-being of livestock, ultimately contributing to increased yields of milk, wool and other essential resources.

Tech 4: Care & Management

A significant shift occurs with the Bronze Age, as rudimentary veterinary practices begin to emerge, marking a pivotal step in caring for domesticated animals. This witnesses the gradual development of basic veterinary knowledge aimed at treating common ailments that afflict livestock. Early practitioners draw from experience and observations to create remedies and treatments, addressing issues that impact health and well-being.

Too, there are remarkable advancements in herding techniques, shaping the management of livestock. Innovations include the introduction of trained dogs, assisting in the management of herds and flocks, enhancing the efficiency of herding practices. This solidifies the dog's role in these cultures, making them invaluable as companions. Such herding techniques streamline the process of livestock management.

Tech 5: Grazing & Breeding

A transformative shift occurs in land management and grazing practices in the Iron Age as societies implement innovative techniques to optimize pasture health. Rotational grazing emerges as a pivotal method, allowing for the systematic movement of livestock across different grazing areas. This strategy prevents overgrazing in specific regions, enabling pastures to recover while ensuring a continuous supply of nutritious forage for animals. Such practices contribute significantly to sustaining the health of grazing lands, enhancing livestock nutrition, ultimately supporting the well-being of both animals and ecosystems.

A surge of experimentation in cross-breeding and hybridization techniques arises. Seeking to cultivate desired traits in domesticated species, ancient breeders embark on deliberate breeding programs. By selectively pairing animals with specific characteristics, they aim to create new breeds or enhance existing ones, optimizing qualities such as milk production, strength or disease resistance.

Tech 7: Horse Collar

During the Migration Period, from the 5th to the 7th centuries, the introduction of the horse collar replaces the previously used throat-and-girth harness with a curved padded collar that fits around the horse's shoulders, redistributing the weight of the load from the animal's neck to its shoulders and chest. This design alleviates pressure on the horse's windpipe, allowing it to breathe more freely while pulling heavier loads. The collar's shape and padding prevent choking and discomfort, enabling horses to exert more force without straining their airways. This drastically enhances the horse's pulling capacity, making it a more effective and powerful draft animal. The adoption of the horse collar revolutionizes agricultural practices and transportation, enabling farmers to plough larger fields, transport heavier loads and increase overall productivity.

Tech 9: Wheeled Plough

A refinement of plough technology takes place in the High Middle Ages, from the 11th to the 13th centuries. The introduction of the heavy wheeled plough features an iron ploughshare, offering a sturdy construction equipped with a wheeled frame that supports the ploughshare — a metal blade responsible for cutting and turning the soil. This significantly enhances the plough's ability to penetrate and turn the earth, even in dense or compacted soils; the durable metal component allows for deeper furrows and more efficient soil preparation, breaking up hardened ground with greater ease. The wheeled design not only provides stability but also facilitates smoother movement across the field, reducing resistance and effort required by the operator or draft animal. As a result, farmers can till larger areas of land more effectively, preparing the soil for planting with improved precision.

See Animal Husbandry (sage study)