The animals of the farm are those species domesticated by man, that is, they are animals that go through a process of socialization with humans and are reared in a rural environment, they are also provided with food, water, protection against natural predators and diseases. Most of these animals are selected and bred for various purposes. Its main purpose is to provide food to its owners, either by eating these or the food they generate.
These domestic animals play a significant role for our daily lives, both for the supply of food , but also become part of our affection. The breeding of these animals is very different, since the farmer controls his production, that is, only a farmer decides which animal will reproduce and when. At present there is a wide variety of domestic animals, but they vary according to the country. However, keep in mind the following species:
1. Hens.
The main advantage of these birds is that they produce eggs, meat and fertilizer, in a very cheap way and without too much effort. Most of the hens rest in the trees, this peculiarity makes them favorable for their care, since in this way they avoid being attacked by other animals such as foxes and raccoons, however we must have a suitable conditioned space that provides shade and protect chickens and chicks from the cold.
Their food is very varied, they can eat: grass, fruit, leftovers, compost. We must bear in mind that each race produces a different number of eggs, for example:
- Babcock hens are very famous for their gigantic size eggs.
- Castilian black hen (can only be found in Spain), they lay more than 220 eggs per year.
2. Cows.
Its most important aspect is that they provide us with milk, meat and leather. There are different breeds of cows, all with particular characteristics. For example, the cow of the "Holstein" breed, it stands out for the large amount of milk they produce; The other races are raised by the large amount of milk they produce and by the meat. Their diet includes: Their diet includes: stems, leaves and seeds and varieties of proteins and hay. The most intense care is directed to cows that provide more milk.
3. Goats.
It is an all-terrain animal which provides us with dairy products (two and four liters of milk a day), meat and an unexpected gardening service. Their diet includes: grass, hay, small branches from bushes, vegetables. It is necessary that in winter we provide them with shelter, since they tend to be very prone to diseases. Another very positive factor of this animal is they are ideal to eliminate weeds.
4. Porks.
It is one of the most intelligent and sensitive animals. Many think they are dirty animals, so they always keep them locked, however, it is better to let them run freely because in this way the pigs generally have a decent level of hygiene and at the same time the quality of the meat will improve considerably. You can feed almost everything: milk, bread, corn, compost, fruits, vegetable peels, food left over, etc. Their colors vary, we can see pink, white, black and brown pigs.
5. Ducks.
They are the easiest birds to breed and the best of all is that they require less space. When they are chicks, we can place them with a corralito, in this way they will remain safe. After they grow up, it will be enough to install a small house where they can take refuge at night. The negative point of the ducks is that they are birds that require a lot of food. These give us eggs (smaller than chicken eggs) and their meat is very juicy.
6. Rabbits.
They are very appreciated animals that do not require much care, they are also relatively inexpensive to maintain and only require a small house to shelter from the cold. These small mammals provide a natural source of fertilizer for the soil. In many countries its meat is appreciated for its flavor and texture.
There are certain farm animals that serve exclusively for reproduction, such as: the rooster and the bull.
In a farm we can also find animal guards or guides, like dogs, and it perfectly defends itself against intruders, both people and animals.
Cats are also animals used by farmers, since they hunt rodents and other undesirable small animals.
