There are loads of animals reared in farms for different purposes such as food supply, clothing materials, income, and so on. For that reason, it is essential to classify these domestic animals. Let’s take a look at the types of farm animals in this article below!
What are farm animals?
Farm animals are those animals that are reared on a farm with the main purpose is to produce something of value to humans, whether it is fibers, meat, egg, milk, honey, and lesser-known products, such as gelatin, or tallow.
Others are used as a beast of burden or herding animals while some are kept by hobbyists who do it more for the experience than the potential income.
Types of farm animal
There are numerous methods to classify farm animals. Generally, they are categorized based on the following criteria:
1. Based on the Biological characteristics
Birds
Birds include chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and other birds that can provide meat and eggs. Furthermore, bird down and feather materials can be gathered and used for jackets, bedding, cushions, and pillows.
Hoofed animals
This group includes horses, cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and pigs. They are raised to produce commodities such as meat, milk, or labor like pulling loads, rounding up animals, etc. These hoofed animals can also be reared for their fur, wool, and angora.
Fish
Fish can be farmed to sustainably produce a supply of flesh for human consumption. Commonly farmed fish include salmon, trout, and tilapia.
Exotic farm animals
These animals are making inroads on farms but are still a little left of the center such as alpacas, llamas, ostriches, and emus. In addition to being raised for their fiber and wool, they are also kept for oil, game for hunting ranches, etc.
2. Based on the digestive system
Monogastric animals
Monogastric animals are those that have only 1 stomach where digestion occurs. They eat rations high in concentrates, including poultry, pig, horse, donkey, rabbit, guinea pig, and cane rats.
Ruminant animals
have complex stomachs and chew the cud. Ruminant animals are designed to eat forages, including goats, sheep, cattle, and buffalo.
Pseudo-ruminant animals
This group has a three-chamber stomach in the digestive system that allows them to eat large amounts of roughages like ruminants. Examples of pseudo-ruminants are camels, alpacas, horses, hamsters.
These animals significantly contribute to farms, ranging from meat, milk, and egg production to companionship and income generation.
3. Based on the purpose
Work animals
These animals are kept by humans and trained to perform tasks such as carrying loads, plowing, ridging, and many more. Work animals used for transportation include horses, camels, and donkeys. While bull or water buffalo can pull carts and ploughs, monkeys can be utilized to pick coconuts from palm trees.
Dairy animals
They are bred for the ability to produce large quantities of milk, including goats, sheep, donkeys, camels, and so on.
Guard animals
Since domesticated animals present particularly protective or territorial behavior, certain breeds like dogs and geese can be utilized to guard property.
Poultry
They are raised primarily for meat and eggs but also for feathers, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl.
Pets
Pets are kept by human beings as a source of companionship and recreation, including horses, dogs, cats, pigs, birds…
Aquatic animals
Aquatic animals are bred, raised, and harvested for meat including fish, shrimp, oyster other organisms in all types of water environments.
Popular animal breeds on farms
Cows
Cows are one of the most popular breeds in the world. Cow’s milk is made into a variety of everyday products such as cheese, butter, cream, and yogurt whereas most of the body can be used for meat.
Sheep
Sheep are popular to be a dual-purpose breed because they are suitable for both meat and fleece production. The four major products from sheep are lamb, mutton, wool, and milk.
Goats
Amongst domesticated animals, goats are one of the oldest. Like other breeds, goats are solitary, social and a great source of meat, milk, and even hair.
Chickens
This type of animal also has a place on the farm. Their main purpose is to produce eggs or meat for human consumption.
Pigs
This breed is prized for its meat. Ham, smoked pork, gammon, bacon, and sausage are other common products that are made from pork.
Conclusion
Raising farm animals is an enormous business. Those animals have always contributed to human societies by supplying food, pulling loads, guarding property, and so on. Hope that you have known about types of farm animals after reading my article and don’t get frustrated with tons of classification ways above!