Farm Animals | Definition, Examples & Characteristics

What are Farm Animals?

Farm animals are animals raised or kept primarily for consumption, to generate income and to help with some farm operations. Another name for them is Livestock. The difference between farm animals (FA) and wild animals is that farm animals live among men while wild animals live in the wild, forest, jungle, etc.

Examples of Farm Animals

Farm animals are animals kept or raised on farms. The common ones are goat, sheep, cattle, ox, camel, buffalo, horse, donkey, mule, pig, chicken, turkey, duck, and goose. Some animals are grouped as micro-livestock and they include rabbits, cane rats, guinea pigs, etc.

Also Read: Gestation Periods of Various Farm Animals

Classes of Farm Animals

Farm animals can be grouped based on their digestive system. These classes include monogastric, ruminant and pseudo-ruminant animals.

Also Read: List of Sounds that Domestic Animals Make

1. Monogastric Animals (Simple Stomach)

Examples of monogastric animals include:

• All poultry species
• Pigs
• Horses
• Donkey
• Rabbits
• Cane rats
• Guinea pigs

2. Ruminants Animals

Examples of ruminants include:

• Goats
• Sheep
• Cattle
• Buffalos

3. Pseudo-ruminant Animals

Examples of pseudo-ruminants include:

• Camels
• Alpacas

Also Read: 10 High Milk-Giving Animals Excluding Cows

There are many reasons attributed to raising farm animals. These include:

• Meat production
• Milk production
• Egg production
• Companionship
• Income generation

Also Read: Reasons for Keeping or Raising Animals

General Characteristics of Farm Animals

Some of the qualities or characteristics of farm animals are as follows:

1. Farm animals thrive or do well in confinements or domestic environments. Farm animals are often raised or kept in a confined or fenced environment. Despite this, they still do and grow well in this particular area or environment. However, the place (farm) must be conducive and adequate feed and water must be provided always.
2. They have accustomed to sharing homes with humans and other fellow farm animals. This is one of the reasons they are also called domestic animals. Many of these animals shed their hair a lot so investing in pet hair lint rollers is a good idea to keep your clothes clean.
3. They coexist quite peacefully with both animals of the same species and different species.
4. They are calm and friendly in nature and behavior except they are agitated or threatened or sense a threat.
5. They pass the domestic traits to their young or offspring. Thousands of years ago, these animals lived in the wild before they were captured by humans. After many years of living with humans, they naturally lose the traits of the wild.
6. They are generally diurnal animals (awake and more active during the day) except for a few that are both diurnal and nocturnal (awake and more active at night).

Always remember that all animals on farms are regarded as farm animals or livestock animals.