ABSTRACT
In comparison to crops, the number of types of fully domesticated animals is relatively small (see Table 7.1). Although domestic livestock are as numerous as humans, they consume four times as much plant matter. However, while animal food (including fish and shellfish) provides only one-tenth of the world’s calorific consumption, it is the source of a third of the total protein intake by human beings. The main agricultural animals of the world
|
Animal |
World population 1970-71 (thousands) |
Number of breeds (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
|
Cattle |
1141215 |
247 |
|
Sheep |
1074677 |
230 |
|
Pig |
667 689 |
54 |
|
Goat |
383025 |
62 |
|
Buffalo |
125 412 |
7 |
|
Horse |
66312 |
124 |
|
Ass |
41914 |
12 |
|
Mule |
14733 |
