TYPES AND CLASSIFICATION OF FARM ANIMALS

FARM ANIMALS

These are animals domesticated and reared in the farm for food and other purposes. They include the following; Poultry (domestic fowl, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.), Pig, Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Rabbit, Snail, Ducks, Turkey, Geese, Ostrich, Fish, Shrimps, Grasscutter, Bees, e.t.c.(You can list more and verify with your teacher)

CLASSIFICATION OF FARM ANIMALS

They can be classified based on their

1. Habitat.
2. Nature of digestive system/alimentary cannal
3. Uses

1. Classification based on habitat

Habitat is the natural home of an organism which includes animals.

Habitat of farm animals are of two types;

1. Terrestrial habitat:These are farm animals that are reared on land. It includes poultry, cattle, sheep, grasscutter, e.t.c.
2. Aquatic Habitat: These are farm animals reared in water. These include Fish(Catfish, Tilapia), Crabs, shrimps, e.t.c.

• Classification based on alimentary canal/digestive system

The digestive system is the part of the body where digestion of ingested food takes place and also defecation of undigested food material.

This can be classified into two groups

1. Monogastric animals or Non- ruminants: These group of farm animals possess only one stomach compartment (simple stomach). As non-ruminants tthey do not ruminate (Chew cud). Usually they are not able to digest complex sugar such as cellulose. Examples includes Pigs, rabbit, poultry bird, e.t.c.
2. Polygastric animals or Ruminants: These group of animals poses four (4) stomach chamber known as complex stomach. The stomach compartment rumen(the largest), reticulum, omasum and abomasum(the true stomach). They ruminate(chew cud) and are able to digest complex sugars such as cellulose.

• Classification based on their uses

Farm animals are raised for different purposes. These include;

1. Food
2. Hide and skin
3. Horn
4. Milk
5. Income
6. Providing dung and manure
7. Egg
8. Bone
9. Blood
10. Feather

(List the farm animals that falls into each of these categories).

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. A. Define farm animals  b. Discuss the classification of farm animals with examples
2. Describe Polygastric farm animals and differentiate them from monogastric farm animals.
3. Name six products that are derived from farm animals and discuss the uses of each of these products to man and farm animals.