ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF MAMMALS

• The mammals are the most important group of animals from

human point of view.
• They are economically important to human beings for many
reasons as they have served or harmed man from earliest
times.
 SOURCE OF FOOD

• Mammals have been serving as food for men since very

ancient time,provide various kinds of meat and meat products.
• Large even-toad ungulates (i.e cattles,buffaloes,goats
etc.)provide the bulk of meat supply of the world.
• Cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, llamas, camels, reindeers, etc.,
provide milk which forms an important product for human
food. Ghee, butter, cheese and curd are prepared from milk.
 ROLE IN AGRICULTURE

• Bullocks, buffaloes, yak, horses and camels are employed for

ploughing fields.
• They provide manure in the form of dung and urine.
• The manure nitrifies soil and yield fuel biogas.
• Bone meal is prepared by crushing bones of cattle, sheep and
goats, etc., is a good fertilizer.
 ROLE IN TRANSPORT

• Mammals do work for us.

• Mammals are also used around the world for transport.
• For example:Horses,donkeys,mules,camels
 SOURCE OF MEDICINE

• Pancreas is a source of insulin,used in treatment of Diabetes.

• Sheep thyroid is a source of thyroxin,used in hypertension.
• Cod liver is a source of vitamin A and D.
• Blood of animals is used in the preparation of vaccines.
 SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT

• Different mammals are used as a source of entertainment like:

• Bull fighting
• Dog fighting
• Circus animals i.e elephants,lions,monkeys etc.
• Hunting
• Decoration
 SOURCE OF SHELTERS

• Furs have been used principally to fashion outer garments.

• Leather and fur are also used for the manufacture of suitcases,
bags, shoes, harness, saddles, belts, purses, garments, etc., and
support big industries.
• Animal pelts have been used as clothing for many centuries.
 AS POLLINATORS

• Arboreal mammals such as bats, squirrels, monkeys, etc., visit

one tree after another in search of fruits may incidentally help
in the pollination of flowers. In East Indies, bats are said to
pollinate bananas.
 OTHER USES

• Hair and Wool:The wool of sheep is the most important

animal fibre. Hairs of camels, pigs, sabbles and a host of
others are made into brushes, etc.
• Perfume:Ambergris, used as a base in fine perfume, is a
product of intestinal canal of sperm whales. Musk, another
substance used in perfumes, is obtained from the glands of
musk deer of Central and Eastern Asia.
• Oil and Fat:Blubber of baleen whale and seal are the source
of edible fat or oil. Eskimos use seal blubber as fuel oil.