Imortance of farm animals

Farm animals are what keeps a farm able to be productive and stay in business. Farms are normally family owned and has been passed down from previous generations. People who run productive farms love and respect the land and animals. It is a job that is not for everyone but is very rewarding for the people who love to farm. Keeping and maintaining healthy animals on a farm in very important. Without animals there would be no farm. There are a few steps to basic farm animal care and I will share them with you. First off the main step to having healthy farm animals is to check on their well being daily. They will require adequate amounts of feed all year round. Farm animals also need proper shelter from the elements such as wind, rain, sun, and harsh winter days. If you ever notice one of your animals is showing signs of being sick such as: refusing to eat, head lowered, not moving around a lot, or coughing and eyes matted, you should contact your local veterinarian immediately. It is also very important to have routine check ups for your farm animals every 6-12 months. If you follow these simple steps you should always have healthy happy farm animals.

Sheep

Sheep are common to see on a farm. Sheep are meat animals and they are also very important because of their wool. Sheep are herd animals and you should never keep a sheep alone. They do best in large numbers. They have a life expectancy of about 10-12 years.  Sheep belong to the ruminant classification of animals meaning that they have a four chambered stomach and they do the cud-chewing behavoir. The cud-chewing behavoir is a process in which that food is regurgitated, re-chewed, and swallowed again. Sheep are grazers, their diet consist of forages such as: grass, weeds, hay, and silage. Sheep love to eat grain but too much can make them sick or even kill them. Small amount of whole grain to a sheeps diet is ok and will keep them very happy. Sheep like any other animal need routine checks to make sure they are healthy and happy. They need to be on a de-worming scheldule at least twice a year. If you notice any sickness in your sheep herd contact your local veternarian immediately. Sickness and disease can spread very rapidly through your sheep herd. Sheep are a prey animal when it comes to predators. When danger arises they flee not fight. Animals that prey on sheep are coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and Fox. Many sheep farmers keep a herd dog with the sheep to maintain safety within the herd. A popular herd dog is a great pyrenees. This is a very large breed dog that is bred to stay with the herd and protect them. The dog never bothers the sheep. He does an excellent job protecting the herd. By followint these simple steps to sheep care you should maintain a healthy and productive herd.

Cats on the farm

It is very common to see cats living on a farm. Most farmers want cats in their barn or around their house to catch and kill annoying rodents (mainly mice and rats). Cats are excellent hunters and this instinct just comes natural to all cats. Just because you see your barn cat chomping down on mice doesn't mean he/she does not have to be fed. Cats spend a lot of time hunting and they burn a lot of calories doing so. You should always provide your feline hunter with plenty of fresh clean water and adequate amounts of cat food. Normally a short haired cat does better as a farm cat than a long haired cat because you don't have to worry about their coat getting matted and trash caught and tangled in their fur. If you have rescued a shelter cat to become your barn cat you will need to keep them in a cage for a few days until they are comfortable with you and their new environment. Once they are comfortable with their new home they will become an excellent rat killer around your farm. It is very important to keep have your barn cat checked by your local veterinarian at least once a year. Cats get sick just like any other animal and they need to be healthy to keep their pest killing skills at its best. If you notice that your barn cat is not acting normal or refusing to eat be sure to take him/her to your local veterinarian. Cats should be de-wormed every 6 months. They also need to be on a flea and tick preventative every month as they will pick up external parasites from rodents that they kill. Proper veterinarian care will prevent sickness and disease and keep your barn cat healthy and happy. It is also very recommended that you spay or neuter your barn cat. This will prevent your cat from having unwanted litters and keeps them close to your home. Unaltered cats will wonder and it increases their chance of getting hit by a car and getting caught by dogs or coyotes. Barn cats can be very beneficial to your farm and with these simple guidelines will allow them to live a long healthy happy life.