Food Production: Crops and Animal Husbandry

Hybridization is the process of crossing two genetically different individuals, often from different species or varieties, to produce offspring with desirable traits.

• Apomixis in flowering plants is defined as the asexual formation of a seed from the maternal tissues of the ovule, avoiding the processes of meiosis and fertilization, leading to embryo development. 
• It plays an important role in hybrid seed production. The method of producing hybrid seeds by cultivation is very expensive for farmers. Also, by sowing hybrid seeds, it is difficult to maintain hybrid characters as characters segregate during meiosis.
• Apomixis prevents the loss of specific characters in the hybrid. Also, it is a cost-effective method for producing seeds.
• So, the correct answer is 'Apomixis'.

Crop rotation is a simple process of growing alternatively legume crops after every cycle of a commercial crop. The leguminous plant have root nodules in which nitrogen fixing bacteria resides which convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms by plants and hence increase the fertility of the soil.

• The organisms which are related by descent are known as breed. They have most of the characters which are similar. 
• The general features, characteristics, size, appearance, etc. of these animals resemble each other. 
• These animals mate or breed with each other in the same breed in order to maintain the pure line breed.

One way of incorporating desirable characters into crop varieties is by hybridisation. Hybridisation refers to crossing between genetically dissimilar plants.

One way of incorporating desirable characters into crop varieties is by hybridisation. Hybridisation refers to crossing between genetically dissimilar plants.

Hybrid varieties of wheat are specifically bred to combine multiple beneficial traits, including disease resistance, improved growth characteristics like tillering, and better root development.

Exotic breeds are the breed of foreign origin. Bos indicus is an Indian Cattle. Whereas Jersey is the dairy breed in the channel island Jersey, Holstein is the dairy cattle breed from Holland and Germany and Brown swiss is the North American breed of dairy cattle. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Jersey is an exotic breed. Red Sindhi is a high yielding cow, originating from Pakistan. Ongole is an indigenous breed, originating from Andhra Pradesh and can produce 12-15 kg milk per day. Sahiwal is an indigenous breed, originating from Punjab and can produce 15-18 Kg milk per day. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

In cattle, there are systems of crossbreeding. In many crossbreeds, one is larger than the other. One is used when the purebred females are particularly adapted to a specific environment and are crossed with purebred bulls from another environment to produce a generation having traits of both parents. 

• The white revolution is associated with an increase in the production of milk. In India, it was launched by Dr. Kureinn who is also known as the father of the white revolution.

• White Revolution in India was a plan of three phases launched in 1970 by the National Dairy Development Board. 
• Its aim was to increase India's dairy production until India became self-sufficient in milk. 
• This program was highly successful and in 1998, India became the largest milk producer in the world. Thus the correct answer is option C.

The Marwari horse is a rare breed of horse from the Marwar region of India, known for its inward-curving ears.

Jamnapari and Black Bengal are the breeds of goats. The Jamnapari goats are of Indian origin and are reared for its high milk and meat yielding capacity. Black Bengal goats are usually reared in Bangladesh. They are reared for milk and meat and generates employment for the people. Thus, the correct answer is A.

Sheep are versatile livestock that provide wool, meat, and hides, making all the listed options correct.

Goats are primarily raised for their meat and milk production, which are their most significant economic contributions.

China is topmost country producing some 48% cocoons and 40.9% of raw silk. Next biggest silk producing country is Japan. India is placed in third position as far as the production of silk in terms of quantity is concerned.

Pig is the most economic meat making animal. The flesh of a domestic pig is known as Pork. Pork may be cooked from fresh meat or cured over time.

Goats are called poor man's cow, because they give you the same benefit as the cow, (i.e., milk, meat) and it's cheaper than the cow so that poor people can afford having them. Goats can be raised by landless agricultural labourers, ladies and children because they can thrive well on variety of leaves, shrubs, bushes, kitchen waste etc. Goats are cheaper to maintain, easily available and have a friendly disposition. Goat hide is used for the manufacture of leather products. Goat hairs are used for the manufacture of rugs and ropes. Goat manure is 2.5 times richer in nitrogen and phosphoric acid than cow manure.

Bharat Merino sheep is developed by cross breeding indigenous Chokla and Nali sheep with Marino sheep. It is done to improve apparel-wool production and quality.

Pork is the meat obtained from the pig. It is one of the most consumed meat all around the world. Mostly pig of four to eight months are reared to obtained pork and they are called as fattening pigs. The different products obtained from pork are sausage, bacon, head cheese. Thus, the correct answer is option D. 

Pashmina is the most sought after wool in the world because of its superior quality. It is found in Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir in India. 

Pashmina goat is a breed of goat inhabiting the plateaus in Tibet and neighbouring areas of Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir, India. They are raised for ultra-fine cashmere wool (known as pashmina once woven). Hence option B is correct.

• Sheep are kept indoors and fed on leaves, grain, and dry fodder during the winter season. 
• This is done to protect them from the cold weather. Also, sheep do not lose their extra energy to keep themselves warm.

• Lohi is one of the breeds of sheep which are reared for the production of wool. This breed is found in the northern regions of Punjab. 
• The face is dark in color and the body produces a high amount of wool. The wool produced by this breed is known for its high quality. 

Pashmina is the finest quality of wool obtained from Changthangi or Pashima goat. The goat is native to Tibet and Ladakh. They survive in grass and at low temperature. It provides wool for the famous Kashmiri shawl i.e., Pashima shawls. Thus the correct answer is option B.

Bikaneri or Magra is mainly found in eastern and southern part of Bikaner. The wool obtained from it is of high quality and used for making carpets. The most important strain of Magra has flocks with extremely white and lustrous fleece, found in a few villages around Bikaner. Thus the correct answer is option A.

There are a number of shrubs and low trees that are used for ruminant fodder. Many are nitrogen-fixing, meaning that they can help to regenerate nitrogen depleted soils, and many are also excellent soil binders. As fodder, nitrogen-rich species are generally highly palatable and rich in protein and provide excellent supplementation for goats that are ill or weak, or when forage is not of good quality.

The recommended periods for shearing of wool are winter (February - March) and rainy (August - September) seasons when rich grazing ground is available.

A cloven hoof or split hoof is a hoof split into two toes. This is found on members of the mammalian order Artiodactyla. Examples of mammals that possess this type of hoof are cattle, deer, goats and sheep.

The Lohi sheep is found in southern Punjab in Pakistan. It is used for its carpet quality wool and meat production. The body is white and the head is usually tan, black or brown. The Lohi breed of sheep is the biggest and most productive of all the breeds. 

Angora hair or Angora fibre refers to the downy coat produced by the Angora rabbit. Angora is known for its softness, thin fibres, and what knitters refer to as a halo (fluffiness). It is also known for its silky texture. It is much warmer and lighter than wool due to the hollow core of the Angora fibre. It also gives them their characteristic floating feel.

The major sources of shearing of sheep is for their wool. The wool is used widely in the world for making clothes.

The Lohi sheep is a breed of a domestic sheep from South Punjab and Pakistan.

Pashmina is the finest wool obtained from a special kind of goat (Pashmina) living in high altitude regions of India.

The Merino sheep have been imported for Improving indigenous breeds. The Merino sheep are the most economically influenced breeds. This breed is originated from Spain.

The Merino is the most historically relevant and economically influential breeds of sheep which is much prized for its wool.

Hisardale is a new breed of sheep which was developed in Punjab by crossing Bikaneri ewes and Marino rams. So the correct option is "Bikaneri ewes and Marino rams"

. The Himalayan mountain goat sheds its winter coat every spring and the fleecers caught on thorn bushes. One goat sheds approximately 3-8 ounces of the wool fiber. this wool of Himalayan mountain goat is highly prized and the breed is 'Pashmina'.

In India, pashmina is obtained from pashmina goats in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, Lahul and Spitti valley of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Kashi, Chamoli and Pithargarh districts of Uttranchal. The pashmina obtained from Jammu and Kashmir is known as changthangi pashmina whereas that obtained from H.P and Uttranchal is known as chegu pashmina.

Vitamin B$ _{12}$ is also called as cobalamin. It is a water-soluble vitamin. It helps in normal functioning of the brain and nervous system as it is involved in the synthesis of myelin. The best sources of Vitamin B$ _{12}$ include eggs, milk, cheese, milk products, meat, fish, shellfish and poultry. Goat's liver and kidney and spirulina are excellent sources of vitamin B$ _{12}$.

There are 3 types of indigenous pigs - Desi, Ghori and Ankamali.
Some locally known populations are : Nicobari pigs and Andaman wild pigs (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Doom (Assam), and Ghungroo (West Bengal). 

The Lohi sheep is found in southern Punjab in Pakistan. It is used for its carpet quality wool. Nali is a good carpet-quality wool breed, with the densest and heaviest fleeces among the breeds of Rajasthan.

Angora hair or Angora fibre refers to the downy coat produced by the Angora rabbit. While their names are similar, Angora fibre is distinct from mohair, which comes from the Angora goat. Angora fibre is also distinct from cashmere, which comes from the cashmere goat. Angora is known for its softness, thin fibres, and what knitters refer to as a halo (fluffiness). It is also known for its silky texture. It is much warmer and lighter than wool due to the hollow core of the angora fibre. It also gives them their characteristic floating feel. Yarns of 100% angora are typically used as accents. They have the most halo and warmth, but can felt very easily through abrasion and humidity and can be excessively warm in a finished garment. The fibre is normally blended with wool to give the yarn elasticity, as Angora fibre is not naturally elastic. The blend decreases the softness and halo as well as the price of the finished object. Commercial knitting yarns typically use 30–50% angora, in order to produce some halo, warmth, and softness without the side effects of excessive felting.