CLASSIFICATIONS OF FARM ANIMALS BASED ON TYPES OF STOMACH

CONTENT: (1) Ruminant

(2) Non-ruminant

Farm animals, can be classified into two groups, according to the type of stomachs that they
have. The first group is ruminants while the other group is non-ruminants.

RUMINANT
RUMINANTS (polygastrics) are animals that chew the cud. When ruminant is resting, it has
ability to bring back from the stomach what it has eaten to its mouth again and chew it properly
(regurgitation). This habit is known as chewing the cud. This they can do this because, they
have complex stomach. The complex stomach of a ruminant is made up of four cavities
(chambers) which are: rumen, reticulum, omasumand abomasum. Ruminants can digest (fibre)
grasses and legumes because of large population of micro-organisms (bacteria) in their rumen.
Rumen is the biggest compartment where food swallowed is temporarily stored. Abomasum is
the true stomach where digestion takes place.

Examples of ruminants are: Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Camel

EVALUATION:

1 Mention two characteristics of a ruminant.

2. Explain the term chew the cud.

3. Mention the four stomach compartment of a ruminant.

Sub-Topic 2: NON-RUMINANTS (MONOGASRICS)

Non- ruminants are animals that have simple stomach. They are otherwise called monogastric
animals. This group of animals have single stomach compartment. Examples of such animals
are: rabbits, pigs, guinea pigs, horse and poultry birds.

EVALUATION:

Objective Test

1. Ruminants are animals that feed on

A. Grass B. meat C. pepper D. biscuit
2. The following are ruminants except …..
A. Goat B. seep C. pig D. cattle
3. Which of the following animals can chew cud?
A. Goat B. pig C. hen D. dog
4. The biggest compartment of the ruminant is the ….
A. Rumen B. Reticulum C. Omasum D. Abomasum
5. Which of the following animals cannot feed on fibre?
 A. Pig B. goat C. sheep D. cattle

Essay Questions:

1. What are monogastric?

2. Mention three examples of monogastric animals

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT:

Draw the simple stomach of a monogastric animal and the complex stomach of a ruminant.

PRE- READING ASSIGNMENT:

Read on the uses of farm animals.

REFERENCE TEXTS:

• Agricultural Science for Junior Secondary Schools (1) by A.A Aladeetal.

• Agricultural Science for Junior Secondary Schools (1) by L.A Are etal.

• Spectrum Agricultural Science for Junior Secondary Schools (1) by B.A Adelekanetal.

WEEK 8& 9

TOPIC: CLASSES USES OF FARM ANIMALS

CONTENT: (1) Definition of farm animals and the example

(2) Uses of farm animals.

Sub-Topic1: Definition of Farm Animals and examples.

Farm animals are basically animals that can be domesticated and used by man. Examples
include: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, rabbit, fish, snail, etc.

Farm animals are reared for the following purposes. They are reared for food, work, clothing,
security/protection, sport and recreation, fertilizer, medicine, raw materials and livestock feed.
Let us explain each of the usage briefly.

FARM MAIN PRODUCTS BY-PRODUCTS

ANIMALS
Cattle Milk, meat(Beef) Hides, horns, hooves, bones, blood, manure
Poultry birds Eggs, meat, Feathers, manure
 Goat Milk, meat(Chevon) Hides, horns, hooves, bones, blood, manure
Pig Meat(pork) Lard, bristles, hide, manure
Rabbit Meat, fur manure
Sheep Milk, meat(mutton) Wool, horns, hooves, bones, blood, manure

FOOD: Many food products are derived from farm animals. We get products like meat, milk,
eggs, wool/hair from farm animals. Also animals’ by-products like feathers, bones, blood,
droppings/dung, fat/oil are derived from farm animals. Food products and by-products from
farm animals are very useful to man and industries.

WORK: Bigger farm animals can be used to work in the farm. Bullocks can be used to draw
working machinery like plough, harrows, ridger while cultivating the soil. Donkey, camels are
used to carry farm loads, while horse is used for transportation.

CLOTHING: Fur from rabbit, wool from sheep can be processed into clothes, sweaters and
cardigans. Skins and from cattle, sheep are used for clothing and leather materials. Leather can
be used for foot wear, bags and drum. Feathers of poultry are used in the production of pillows
and mattresses.

Period 2

Security and Protection: Some farm animals’ e.g dogs and parrots are used for protection. The
dogs assist the guards while protecting the house. Their barking alerts the occupants of a house
about strange person entering the house. The parrots also make some sounds to give
information to the keeper in a house. The noises of these animals disturb the intruders into a
house.

Sport and Recreation: Farm animals like horse, ram and chicken (fowl) are used for sporting
activities. Horse is used for games like horse racing and polo game. In Mexico and Philippines,
chicken are used for popular sport like chicken fights.

Fertilizer: Animal droppings from poultry, goats, sheep, rabbit and cow dung are good source of
organic manure (fertilizer) which is used to enrich the nutrient of the soil. That is what is
referred to as farm yard manure.
Medicine: Medicines are manufacture from substances taken from the body of some farm
animals. Thyroid glands, hormones (insulin) taken from the body of sheep and cattle can be
used to cure diabetes. For example, insulin is used to cure diabetes. Vaccine is obtained from
egg white (albumen) which is used by the doctor to treat people.

Raw materials: Some animals’ products and by-products are used by the agro-allied industries.
Animals’ bones, hooves, are used for adhesives. Fats are use candles, soap and points.

Livestock feed: The bones and blood of slaughtered farm animals can be used as feed
ingredients e.g bone meals and blood meal.

Evaluation:

(1) Name eight farm animals.

(2) Name two products we get from each animals below (1) cattle (b) pigs (c) poultry

(iv) fish

(3) Mention four uses of farm animals.

(4) Mention two animals that can be used for security.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT:

Objective Test:

(1)Farm animals are those animals that can be …………… by man. (a) fed (b)hunted
(c)domesticated (d) eaten.

(2)Which of the following is not a farm animal? (a) dog (b) turkey (c )ram (d) antelope.

(3)Which of these farm animals provides wool and fur? (a)fowl and rabbit (b)Sheep and rabbit
(c) goat and sheep (d) cow and pig.

(4) Milk can be obtained from ………. And ………….. (a) Sheep and cat (b) cow and fowl (c)
rabbit and turkey (d) goat and cow.

(5)Which of these animals CANNOT be used for sport? (a) horse (b)pig (c)ram (d)bull

Essay Questions:

1. Name six farm animals and products each of the animals.

 2. Name the animals that the following products are derived. a. fat, b. skin, c. mutton
d. beef e. dung f. feathers g. pork h. eggs i. scales. j. milk k. droppings. l. horns.

REFERENCE TEXTS:

• Agricultural Science for Junior Secondary Schools (1) by A.A Aladeetal.

• Agricultural Science for Junior Secondary Schools (1) by L.A Areetal.

• Spectrum Agricultural Science for Junior Secondary Schools (1) by B.A Adelekanetal.

WEEK 10:

Revision.

Week 11 – 13: Examination.