Question

Explain the meaning of pastoralism and compare nomadic herding and commercial livestock rearing under the following heads.
1.Area
2.Process and
3.Domestic animals.

Answer 1

Hint:
>This word comes from the word “Pasteur” which means outdoor lands.
> It is a type of animal husbandry.
> Animal husbandry is the branch of science that deals with the practice of breeding and taking care of farm animals for products that are useful for humans.

Complete answer:
Nomadic Herding
Area: Nomadic herding is associated with three important regions. The region from the Atlantic shores of North Africa to Mongolia and Central China. The second region extends over the tundra region of Europe and Northern Asia. In the southern hemisphere, it is seen in South-West Africa and on the island of Madagascar. The number of pastoral nomads has been decreasing. This is due to:
> The imposition of political boundaries
> New settlement plans by different countries

Process: The animals are released in open fields (Pasteur) for grazing. The people who domesticate these animals also move around with their herd to different places. These people are nomads. Therefore, it is called Nomadic herding.

Domestic animals: In tropical Africa, cattle are the most important livestock, and in Sahara and Asiatic deserts, sheep, goats and camels are reared. Yak and llamas in the Arctic and sub-Arctic areas, reindeer are reared in the mountainous areas of Tibet and Andes.

Commercial Livestock Rearing
Area: Important countries where commercial livestock rearing is practised are New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay and the United States of America.

Process: The rearing of animals is done in an organized and scientific manner. Such an approach is important for the commercial purpose of rearing. The number of animals kept in a pasture depends upon its carrying capacity. This is an activity which specializes in rearing only one type of animal.

Domestic animals: Important animals include sheep, cattle, goats and horses. Animal products such as meat, wool, hides and skin are processed and packed scientifically and then they are exported to different markets around the world.

Note:
> Around 53% of the total milk production and 74% of the total meat requirement of India, is met from the animals reared by pastoralists.
> The government does not have any official data on pastoralists, but through survey reports, there are estimated to be around 13 million pastoralists in the country.