一 生态学是关于生物系统与环境系统相互关系的科学。家畜生态学则是研究家养畜禽与环境系统相互关系的科学。它既是畜牧业生产的基础理论之一,又是当代新兴应用学科的一个分支。因此无论在科学理论的学科体系上或是在生产实践的作用上,都是十分重要的。

The significance and principal fundamentals of livestock ecology, a new scientific branch in animal science and Ecological science, are discussed in this paper. This new scientific branchisconsidered as a necessary tool and theory for the utilization of natural resources, especially of the biological resources, as well as for animal production, i. e., an ecological way for increasing the productivity of farm animals. The author describes the main rules and principles of this new scientific branch Finally, a brief history of Livestock Ecology in China is summarized, and particular emphasis is laib on the progress of the recent years. The author has also enumerateb three main view points of the development of animal husbandry, the rational utilization of natural resources and the theory and methodology of this new scientific branch.