FARM ANIMALS ATTLE HEEP The process of people evolving from C S Cattle were first domesticated 9,000 years Sheep were domesticated approximately hunter-gathers to keepers of livestock and ago in Southern Eurasia. Adults can weigh as 11,000 years ago. Most modern breeds origi- farmers began about 11,000 years ago. much as 2,000 pounds. A baby is called a calf, nated from the Middle East and Western Asia. Why this happened is not known. Was the a young female is a heifer, an adult female There are many varieties of sheep, which range environment changing? Were their numbers is a cow, and an adult male is a bull. Horns in size from 150-300 pounds. Young sheep increasing too rapidly to be sustained? Was it grow on cows and bulls in most breeds but are called lambs, an adult female is a ewe, and a natural progression in human development? the horns are often cut off when the cattle are an adult male is a ram. Sheep are herbivores, Regardless of its cause, the results, over time, young. Cattle are herbivores, they eat only eating pasture grass, weeds, shrubs, grains, dramatically affected our way of life. plants and have no upper front teeth. A cow and hay. Only the lower jaw has front teeth so Today, few of us participate in the grow- starts producing milk only after her first calf sheep must tear pasture grass by jerking their ing or raising of our food or making of our is born. Dairy cattle are milked twice a day heads forward and up. Approximately 60% clothes. However, farm animals still provide producing about five gallons of milk. Along of sheep are raised for food production. The us with some of our basic food and clothing with producing milk and its by-products other 40% are raised for wool, which is made needs. On a stroll through Ardenwood’s (cheese, yogurt, butter) and meat (from beef into yarn for clothing, carpets, and uphol- farmyard you’ll encounter some of the more cattle) they are also used as draft animals in stery. Sheep that are bred for their wool have familiar farm animals. some parts of the world, pulling carts, plowing been selected for the presence of a plush long GOATS fields, and carrying loads. undercoat, which grows year round. Goats were domesticated approximately THE RUMINANTS 10,000 years ago in the Middle East and Cows, sheep, and goats are all mammals Western Asia. Adults can range in size from known as ruminants. They have an elaborate 140 to 190 pounds. A baby goat is called a digestive system complete with four stomachs kid, an adult female is called a doe, and an (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and aboma- adult male is called a buck. Both does and sum). First, food is swallowed without bucks have horns. Goats are browsers, mean- chewing it completely. Then food goes into ing they eat a large variety of plants. Goats the rumen where it is stored and broken provide many useful products for humans. down into cud. Later the cud is regurgitated Goat’s milk is consumed worldwide more into the mouth, chewed into a pulp, and than the milk of any other domesticated farm swallowed into the reticulum. In the reticu- animal. lum, inedible fragments of stone are trapped while the remainder of the pulp is strained into the omasum. From the omasum the food goes into the abomasum where diges- tion is completed. CHICKENS Most of the 200 domesticated breeds of ety of sizes and colors depending on the breed Remember, farm animals, like our pets at chickens are descendants of the Red Jungle of chicken. You can watch a chicken clean home, depend on us for good care, while we Fowl of India. A young chicken is called a itself by fluffing dust into its feathers. Chicken depend on them for food, clothing, and labor. chick, an adult female is a hen, an adult male manure makes great fertilizer. is a rooster, and a group of chickens is called a If you have any further questions about farm flock. Chickens are categorized in two sizes: animals, contact an East Bay Regional Park Farm Animals bantam and large, bantam being 30% smaller District Naturalist at one of the following than large chickens. Hens start laying eggs at Visitor Centers: about six months of age, with an average of 4-5 eggs per week. Their feet have sharp claws ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM which they use to scratch for food or to hang 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard Fremont, CA 94555 SWINE (510) 796-0663 All domesticated swine (pigs) are descen- [email protected] dants of one species, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) originally found in Europe, Asia, and North TILDEN NATURE AREA/EEC Africa. Swine weighing less than 120 pounds and LITTLE FARM are called pigs, greater than 120 pounds are Berkeley (510) 525-2233 called hogs. A baby pig is called a piglet, an [email protected] adult female is a sow, and an adult male is a boar. Pigs grow faster than any other farm ani- Illustration of goat by Jessica Sheppard onto branches. The comb is the decorative mal, reaching adult size (up to 800 pounds) Text by Gaeta Bell feature on the top of the chicken’s head. in one year. Pigs are omnivorous, eating just The wattle dangles under the bird’s chin. about anything. They use their snout (nose) This brochure is provided as a public service Chickens are omnivorous, eating insects, to dig in the soil looking for food. The snout of the Interpretive and Recreation Services grains, grass, and weeds. They have sharp is tough cartilage containing sensitive smell- Department of the East Bay Regional Park beaks for pecking grains and seeds. Their food ing pores. Pigs cannot regulate their body heat District. For more information call Ardenwood goes into a pouch at the base of the neck by sweating because of a thick subcutaneous (510) 544-2550 called the crop. The food then passes into the fat layer and relatively hairless skin. They cool Historic Farm gizzard, where it is ground up for digestion. themselves by wallowing, making a bed in Chickens use small pebbles or are fed grit or moist dirt or mud which wets their skin. East Bay Regional Park District ground oyster shells to aid in the digestion of 2950 Peralta Oaks Court P.O. Box 5381 Ardenwood’s farm animals represent a small food. Oakland, CA 94605-0381 sample of all the varieties that have been do- (510) 635-0135 mesticated for human use. We hope you have Hens lay eggs year round, but lay fewer from TDD phone (510) 633-0460 enjoyed your visit with them today. East Bay Regional Park District autumn through winter. Eggs come in a vari- www.ebparks.org 10/06 www.ebparks.org