Man is not only denizen of this wonderful world of ours. He says he has inherited this earth; so too are other animals of the earth. It is sheer arrogance not to admit our dependence on other animals. They contribute not a little to our welfare. Even the so-called wild animals have some part to play in our lives on earth. Now let us see how some animals help man.
The first and foremost is the cow. Who can deny that one does not enjoy a cup of milk? Next to the mother’s milk, the cow’s milk is the best for all, especially for children and the sick. From milk, butter, cheese, ghee etc. are made. Skimmed milk is also nutritive. Furthermore, milk goes into the manufacture of sweets. The male of the cow, that is the ox, has been used as draught animal from time immemorial. So the farmer uses it for ploughing his field, and for pulling his cart. Milk is so valuable and in great demand that dairy farming has come to be one of the major industries. The animals are slaughtered for their meat. Some countries like Australia, Argentine and the United States have vast cattle ranches which supply world’s meat.
Next to the cow is the horse. Man’s civilization has a lot to do with the horse. Till recent times, the horse was used for riding, ploughing and pulling carts. In olden days, armies were proud of their cavalries, that is horse troops. Even today horse races are very popular and perhaps a costly pastime. The race horses are worth thousands of dollars. The horse is a very noble animal and very sensitive too. The Arabian horses are famous even today.
Then we may mention the sheep. In the matter of number and use, the sheep stands foremost. The sheep supplies man with wool for his clothing and meat for his table. In cold countries the sheep thrives very well and the wool is found very useful in the manufacture of warm clothing. The lamb is a symbol of innocence.
The list will not be complete without the mention of the dog. The dog was as wild as the wolf. How it came to be domesticated, is a matter of speculation. But one thing is certain, since the dawn of civilization, the man and the dog were friends. They have found each other’s company useful. No other animal is so faithful and sincere as the dog. There are very many kinds of dogs. Some are good at hunting; some are vigilant and house-keepers. Some are beautiful and so kept as pets. The dog’s sense of smell is so highly developed that it is used by the police in tracing criminals.
nutritive full of nutrition
valuable useful