Farm animals are animals that are domesticated and reared by humans. They are generally referred to as livestock. Examples are cattle, sheep, goat, poultry, rabbit, camel, horse, donkey, grass cutter, fish, snail, etc.
Types of farm animals
Farm animals have different features and are useful for different purposes. Some animals possess fur, wool, or hair and breastfeed their young, they are referred to as mammals.
Examples of mammals are rabbits, cattle, sheep, goats, etc. Some farm animals possess feathers and have beaks for feeding, they are referred to as birds or poultry. Examples are chicken, duck, goose, quail, etc.
Some have scales, gills for respiration and live in water; they are called fish. Examples are mackerel (titus), horse mackerel (kote), herring (shawa), tilapia, blue whiting, and hake (panla).
Alaska pollock (okporopo), Argentine silus (ojuyobo), and catfish. Other forms of farm animals are invertebrates (lacking back backbone): molluscs, snails and insects, e.g bees. Each of these animals has different features, a scientific name and a breed. Below are details of common farm animals.
Cattle (Bosspp)
They are hoofed mammals which may be humped animals (Bosindicus) or humpless (Bostaurus), horned or polled. Breed of cattle includes Sokoto gudali, keteku, red bororo, N’dama, muturu, white Fulani, etc.
Goat (Caprahircus)
They are hoofed mammals with male and female animals having horns. The male goat possesses beards and has a unique smell. Breeds of goat are Sokoto red, angora, West African dwarf, Kano brown, etc.
Sheep (Ovisaries)
They are hoofed mammals very similar to goat, even in sound (bleat), but possess wool on their bodies. It may be polled or horned, but females do not have horns. Breed of sheep includes ouda, yankasa, balam,i etc.
Pig (Susdomesticus)
These are mammals whose nose is modified into a snout possessing two holes. They are highly prolific animals. They do not possess sweat pores and are usually found bathing in muddy places to lower their body temperature when reared extensively. Breeds of pigs are Duroc, Yorkshire, Berkshire, Poland China, large white, etc.
Chicken (Gallusdomesticus)
These are birds, they have a beak for feeding, long toes with claws for scavenging and feathers to cover their body. Breeds include Cornish, Sussex, barred mouth rock, Rhode Island red, etc.
Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
These are small farm animals with fur and a highly developed sense of smell. They are referred to as pseudo ruminants because, despite having concentrates as their basic feed stuff, they can easily digest grasses like ruminant animals. Breeds include chinchilla, Flemish giant, French giant, etc.
Note: Breed refers to a stock of animals of the same species having a distinctive appearance. This appearance might be the fur or skin colour pattern, behaviour or abilities.
The distribution of these animals is affected by pests and disease, the climate of an area in terms of rainfall distribution, availability of water, cultural beliefs, religion, and availability of food.
GENERAL EVALUATION
- Mention three breeds of goat
- What does breed mean in animal husbandry
- What are livestock?
- What is the scientific name of sheep, pig and rabbit?
- What are farm animals
- List three types of farm animals with examples
THEORY
- What is a farm animal?
- What is the name of the meat gotten from A. goat, B. cattle, C. pig D. sheep