Factors Affecting Animal Nutrition In Tanganyika*

Abstract

The need for studying the feeding of livestock is based, ultimately, on the need for animal products to counteract deficiencies in human dietaries. That this is an urgent need is• obvious to everyone when it is remembered that the 2,300 million human population of the world is showing a net increase of 20 million per year or two extra mouths to feed every three seconds. As long ago as 1798, Malthus pointed out that the human population was increasing at a greater rate than its ability to feed itself and it is unfortunately true that the greatest rate of population increase is occurring in the less enlightened areas where the' standards of agricultural production are low. A recent census has shown that less than one-third of the earth's surface is climatically suitable for crop growth and that less than 10 per cent is being cultivated. Much of the cultivated area is being used for purposes other than the production of foods. Foods from arable land may supply the fats, carbohydrates and most of the proteins required by man, but a number of accessory food constituents are needed for growth and the maintenance of health. These additional substances are largely supplied by animal products and, although the quantities of milk and meat required are not large, their effects are considerable.