CHARACTERISTICS OF FARM ANIMAL

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CATTLE

1. It has large body size
2. It is a ruminant that grazes on herb and pasture
3. It has four pairs of hoofs on each limb
4. Male and female have horns
5. Calves at least once in a year
6. Produces a calf in one parturition
7. The udder has four glands
8. Well formed earlobes
9. The gestation period is between 283-305 days
10. Their puberty age ranges between 8-12 months

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GOATS

1. They are very hard and can survive unfavourable environment conditions
2. They have medium size
3. Male and female have horns
4. They are vey prolific and can produce kids three times in two years
5. Have unturned tail
6. They are reared mostly for meat, skin, milk and fibre
7. They are the most acceptable breed of farm animals
8. Male is often with beards
9. The gestation periods between 145, 154 days or 4-5 month
10. They are mostly reared on the extensive system

GENEREAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SHEEP

1. They have medium size with long legs
2. Have long thin tail which hang down
3. The ear lobes are long and dropping
4. They are grazers and can also scavenger on relish of road size
5. They are kept mostly for meat, wool, fleese and milk purposes
6. Leather from sheep hides are sued to make shoe, gloves and jackets
7. They seem to be very stupid in appearance and behaviour
8. The gestation period is between 151-154 days or 51/12 months.
9. Only the males have horns, but the female are polled
10. Twining is very common (Delivery of twins).

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PIGS

1. They have a high deposit of fats hence their association with ponds or water because of catabolism.
2. They are very prolific producing 8-16 piglets at a time
3. They can farrow twice in a year
4. The gestation period is very short, it is 114 days (3monts, 3 weeks and 3 days)
5. They have high feed convertibility
6. They can produce at any time
7. They are monogastric animals and are mostly omnivores in natures
8. The neck is short and fixed i.e. the neck is immovable
9. The tail is short and coiled.

See also:

FORMS OF FARM ANIMALS

CLASSIFICATION OF CROP ACCORDING TO THEIR USES

Common Disease of Farm Animals

DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS

FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE DESIDING ANIMAL FEED