Draught Animal Power (DAP)

  The draught power of an animal  depends on the species, breed, 
  size, body weight and the  intensity  of  feeding. The energy 
  output is also  influenced  by  climate and terrain, training 
  and  management  factors,  nature  of  work and  finally, but 
  decisively,  the  implement ( agriculture  tools)  efficiency 
  itself. Majority  of  draught  animals (DAs) produce  between 
  0.3 to 0.6 kW on a sustained  basis.  Assuming a conservative 
  average of  0.4 kW per DA, the power  output for an estimated  
  300  million  DAs in the  world  may  be in the  order of 120 
  million  kW.  Replacement  of  a majority of these animals by 
  tractors appears unfeasible in the foreseeable future in most 
  low-income countries.

  The  DAP  system  can  fulfill  its  potential  role  only if 
  conscious  attempts  are  made to upgrade it.   The following 
  procedures would  certainly enhance DAP's contribution to the 
  rising demand for energy in farming:
  (a)   increase the number of days of utilization of DAs,
  (b)   better  food  and  health  care for animals should mean 
        increased output,
  (c)   better implements and carts enable  better  utilization 
        of DA energy potentials,
  (d)   better  recovery and  use  of  by-products  during  the 
        animal  working  life and after death, will improve the 
        economics of the DAP and
  (e)   breeding  schemes  can  improve  on  motive  power  and 
        efficiency of the DAP system.