Classes and Uses of Farm Animals – JSS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note (Second Term)

Farm animals are grouped into classes according to the use people make of them. The seven classes in this note are work animals, dairy animals, beef animals, guard animals, poultry, pet animals and aquatic animals.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. name the classes of farm animals;
2. explain the use of each class;
3. give examples of animals in each class;
4. name the common types of poultry;
5. explain why one animal can belong to more than one class.

What are farm animals?

Farm animals are domesticated animals kept by people for food, labour, security, pleasure or income.

• Domesticated: tamed and raised by people instead of living wild.
• Food: meat, milk, eggs and fish.
• Labour: ploughing and carrying loads.
• Security: guarding people, houses and farms.

What are the classes of farm animals?

There are seven classes of farm animals: work animals, dairy animals, beef animals, guard animals, poultry, pet animals and aquatic animals.

What are work animals?

Work animals are animals used as a source of labour for farm work and transport.

• Tilling the soil: some breeds of cattle are very good for certain farm operations, such as ploughing.
• Carrying loads: donkeys and camels carry goods from place to place.
• Carrying farm produce: loads are moved from the farm to the market or the house.

What are dairy animals?

Dairy animals are farm animals reared mainly for milk production.

• Cattle: some breeds are the major dairy animals because they are good milk producers.
• Goats: can be kept for milk.
• Sheep: can also be kept for milk.
• Milk products: milk can be made into butter, cheese and yoghurt.

What are beef animals?

Beef animals are animals kept for meat production.

• Cattle: give beef.
• Sheep: give mutton.
• Goats: give goat meat.
• Pigs: give pork.
• Poultry and fish: also give flesh eaten as food by people.

What are guard animals?

Guard animals are animals kept for security purposes.

• Dogs: protect their owners and guard properties or farm compounds.
• Tracking: dogs can be trained to track down thieves.

What is poultry?

Poultry are domesticated birds kept for meat and eggs used as food.

The common types of poultry are:

• Chicken: the most common poultry bird, kept for meat and eggs.
• Duck: a water-loving bird kept for meat and eggs.
• Guinea fowl: a bird kept for meat and eggs.
• Turkey: a large bird kept mainly for meat.
• Geese: large birds kept mainly for meat.

What are pet animals?

Pet animals are animals kept in houses for pleasure rather than for work or food.

• Dogs: kept as companions at home.
• Parrots: kept in cages for their colour and speech.
• Fish: kept in small tanks or aquariums.

What are aquatic animals?

Aquatic animals are animals that live in water and are domesticated in a water environment.

• Fish: the most important aquatic animals to man.
• Catfish: a domesticated fish reared in ponds.
• Tilapia: another domesticated fish reared in ponds.
• Use: fish are eaten as food and sold for income.

Can one animal belong to more than one class?

Yes, one animal can belong to more than one class because it can have more than one use.

• Cattle: can be work animals, dairy animals and beef animals.
• Dogs: can be guard animals and pet animals.
• Fish: can be aquatic animals, beef animals (food) and pet animals.
• Goats and sheep: can give both meat and milk.
• Chicken: gives both meat and eggs.

Evaluation

1. What are work animals? Give two examples.
2. Which farm animals are kept for milk production?
3. State two reasons for keeping dogs.
4. List the common types of poultry.
5. Name two aquatic animals that have been domesticated.

Assignment

Name the seven classes of farm animals and give one example of an animal in each class.