Farm animals, also called livestock, are animals that are domesticated and reared by humans for various purposes such as:

• Food production (meat, milk, eggs, fish)


• Income generation (selling animals or animal products)


• Work or draught power (ploughing, carrying loads, transport)


• Protection (guarding property or farms)


• Raw materials (hides, wool, leather)


• Recreation and companionship (pets)

They depend on humans for food, shelter, care, and protection, unlike wild animals.

When observing farm animals, you should:

• Look at the animal closely: Notice size, body shape, skin, feathers, horns, legs, tail, and head.


• Compare differences between species (cattle vs goats) and breeds (dairy vs beef cattle).

Identify animals based on characteristics:

• Cattle: Hoofed, large body, may be humped, produces milk and meat, used for draught.


• Goats: Small, horned, produces milk and meat, hardy and adaptable.


• Sheep: Wool or hair, produces meat, hides, and wool.


• Pigs: Hoofed, snout, wallows in mud, produces meat.


• Poultry: Feathers, beak, lays eggs, produces meat.


• Fish: Aquatic, gills for breathing, provides food.

Recognize their uses while observing: This helps you connect physical features to their role on the farm.

Purpose: Observation develops skills to describe, identify, and classify farm animals.

Familiarisation involves learning the types, uses, and habits of farm animals:

• Work animals (Draught animals): For labour (cattle, donkeys, horses)


• Dairy animals: For milk production (cattle, goats)


• Meat animals: For meat (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry)


• Poultry: For eggs and meat (chicken, duck, turkey)


• Guard animals: For protection (dogs)


• Aquatic animals: For food from water (fish)


• Pets: For pleasure and companionship (dogs, cats, rabbits)

• Learn the habits: feeding, movement, reproduction, habitat.


• Identify local breeds and common animals in your environment.


• Connect each animal to its primary use (e.g., dairy cows → milk, goats → meat and milk).

Purpose: Familiarisation helps you manage animals properly and understand their importance in agriculture.

Farm animals can be classified based on:

Habitat

• Terrestrial animals: live on land (cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens)


• Aquatic animals: live in water (fish)

Reproduction

• Mammals (Viviparous): give birth to live young (cattle, goats, sheep, pigs)


• Birds (Oviparous): lay eggs (chicken, duck, turkey)

Digestive System

• Ruminants: complex stomach, chew cud (cattle, goats, sheep)


• Non-ruminants: simple stomach (pigs, poultry)

Size

• Large animals: cattle, camels, horses, donkeys


• Small animals: rabbits, guinea fowl, fish, snails

Animal	Key Characteristics	Main Uses
Cattle	Hoofed, may be humped, dairy breeds have well-developed udders	Milk, meat, draught
Goat	Small, horned, hardy	Meat, milk
Sheep	Wool or hair, horns may be present or absent	Meat, wool, hides
Pig	Hoofed, snout, wallows in mud	Meat
Poultry	Feathers, beak, lays eggs	Meat, eggs
Fish	Aquatic, gills, streamlined body	Food

• Food production: meat, milk, eggs, fish


• Income generation: selling animals or products


• Work / Draught power: ploughing, transport


• Protection: guard animals for security


• Raw materials: hides, skins, wool, leather


• Recreation / Companionship: pets provide pleasure


• Ecological role: manure improves soil fertility

• Purpose of rearing (meat, milk, eggs, work)


• Breed and adaptability to the environment


• Availability of feed and water


• Disease resistance and health management


• Housing, space, and shelter


• Market and economic viability

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Summary

Farm animals are domesticated animals that provide food, income, work, protection, raw materials, and companionship. By observing and familiarising yourself with their types, characteristics, and uses, you can manage them properly and understand their role in agriculture.