Animals That Live on a Farm

Animals are a key component of many farms, but their uses within farming vary. Some animals are bred merely to become food, while others contribute to the produce of the farm through their milk or coats, for example. Other farm animals assist their owners in the efficient running of the farm, by becoming beasts of burden.

  1. Poultry

    • A variety of poultry live on farms and are used to provide meat, feathers or eggs. Chickens are found in the farmyard as well as in dedicated chicken farms, where these birds are bred for meat. Chickens in the latter group are usually killed after six and eight weeks, according to the Compassion in World Farming website, but chickens kept for other purposes can live up to six years. Mankind has been domesticating geese since the days of Ancient Egypt, some 3,000 years ago, and these birds are kept on farms to provide fat, eggs and feathers. Nine species of domestic geese can be found in the U.S., with these birds weighing between 5 and 30 pounds depending on the variety.

    Pack Animals

    • Pack animals are utilized by farmers to transport goods and for labor around the farm site. Horses are perhaps the most well-known pack animals. Horses are used around farms to handle and restrain cattle, plough fields and to transport materials. Llamas can perform similar roles to horses and can be used to tow a cart, for example. Farmers also keep llamas to ward off attacks by foxes and even to give rides to farm visitors.

    Cattle

    • Cattle refers to cows, whose role on the farm is to produce milk as well as meat. Cows are more useful the more milk they produce, so farmers breed cows with the intention of maximizing the milk these animals provide. Since cows generate milk in their mammary glands for the benefit of their offspring, farmers need to arrange for their cows to be impregnated, either by bulls or by artificial insemination, each year. An animal similar in appearance to the cow is the yak, which can sometimes be found on Asian farms. Yak can be crossbred with cows but only their female offspring are fertile. Farmers can use yak herds to produce rope, made from yak hair, as well as milk.

    Other Livestock

    • Sheep are a common sight in the fields of farms, especially in countries such as Great Britain and New Zealand. Sheep live together in flocks; each flock has its own hierarchy of members. Farmers often use trained dogs to herd these animals. Pigs are kept on farms to produce meats such as ham and bacon. These animals, which live in enclosures, are descended from the wild boar.