FORMS OF FARM ANIMALS E-NOTE

SUBJECT: AGRIC SCIENCE

WEEK: EIGHT

CLASS: GRADE 7

TOPIC: FORMS OF FARM ANIMALS

SUBTOPIC: FORMS OF FARM ANIMALS

There are different forms of farm animals based on the purpose for which they are kept. The forms include the following

(a) Work Animals: These are animals that are used for work on the farm. They are used for carrying loads, ploughing, harrowing and ridging. The practice of using animals to till the land is found mostly in the Northern parts of Nigeria, e.g. Sokoto, Kano, Adamawa, etc. Examples of animals that do such work are cattle, e.g. bullocks (Sokoto gudali, White fulani), horses, camels and donkeys. These animals are referred to as beasts of burden. They are found in the drier North or Sahel region. Horses are found in an area slightly South of that in which camels and donkeys are also found. Camels live better in the desert region and can go for long distances without food or water. They are able to do this because of the humps on their backs. The hump acts as a body reserve of fat and water which the animal can use during long journeys. Camels can carry heavy loads. Donkeys are found in area below where you find camels. They are also used to carry heavy loads.

Name of farm animal	Male	Female	Young
Cattle	Bull	Cow	Calf
Sheep	Ram(Tup)	Ewe	Lamb
Goats	Buck(Billy)	Doe(Nanny)	Kid
Pigs	Boar	Sow	Gilt
Rabbits	Buck	Doe	Rabbits

 

(b) Dairy Animals: These are animals reared purposely for milk production. Cattle such as White fulani, Sokoto gudali and Red bororo are mostly kept for this purpose. Goats such as nubian goat, jumnapari and surti of India are also good sources of edible milk. The Fulanis who live in Northern Nigeria, Niger Republic and across the grassland belt of West Africa up to Dakar own a lot of cattle for this purpose. To these people owning cattle is as good as having money in a bank. They milk their cattle and sell the fresh milk or make soft cheese (for sale) with it.

(c) Guard Animals: It has been discovered that some animals such as dogs are reared purposely for the protection of farm properties and the farmers themselves against thieves and to guard against other pests. Another example of such animals is the cat.

(d) Poultry Birds: This term refers to all domesticated birds that are either reared or hunted for food. They are reared domestically for the production of eggs, meat and manure for the use of man. Birds include domestic fowl, guinea fowl, geese, turkeys and ducks. Birds generally belong to the non-ruminant and (monogastrics). Fowl is a typical example of poultry which is popularly kept by many animal farmers. Turkeys, ducks and geese are also raised but not in large numbers.

The bird is an animal with a backbone, feathers and wings for flying. The body is covered with feathers of various colours with the tail feathers longer in the male than the female. The legs of the birds are covered with scales which vary in colour. Some birds have folds of skin on their heads which is known as the comb. Birds also have beaks instead of teeth.

Poultry are given different names depending on their sex as well as their age as shown in the table below.

Name of bird	Male	Female	Young
Domestic fowl	Cock or cockerel	Hen or pullet	Chick
Guinea fowl	Male guinea fowl	Female guinea fowl	Chick
Turkey	Tom	Hen	Poult
Goose	Gander	Goose	Gosling
Duck	Drake	Duck	Duckling

 

(e)Aquatic Animals:These are animals that live inside water like rivers, ponds, streams, lakes lagoon and sea. Examples are: fish, shell fish (e.g. crayfish, crabs, etc), turtles. The fish, which is the most common aquatic animal kept (reared) by farmers are also animals with backbones. They are generally found in streams, rivers standing ponds, reservoirs of dams, and artificial lakes. They may be flat or long, big or small, but are adapted for life under water. For example, instead of lungs for taking in air, they have slits and gills on the sides of their heads. They also have fins for swimming instead of front and hind legs as in other land animal forms. Fishes sometimes have scales on their bodies as in Tilapia spp. or they may have smooth skins as in the mud fish. In West Africa, fishes are found in freshwater, salty or the brackish water of the lagoons in coastal areas, as well as in the coastal sea. They may be found either in shallow or deep water in the sea.

(f) Pets: These are animals that farmers keep for pleasure. They are purposely reared as companion in the house. Examples are cats, dogs, etc.

ASSIGNMENT

1. List and explain six types of farm animals and give two examples of each.

2. Draw and label a domestic fowl and a fish.