Let’s shake things up a little! At AZPetVet we primarily treat cats and dogs, along with birds,
rabbits, pocket pets and exotic pets at some of our locations too! And in celebration of NationalFarm Animals Awareness Week, we thought it might be fun to look at some interesting farm facts in honor of this awareness week. Old McDonald might have taught us a thing or two about the farm, but we bet you didn’t know all of this before today!
- Goats and sheep don’t have teeth on their upper jaw. They have a hard palate that helps them grind their food.
- Sheep make a bleating sound. A baby lamb can identify its mother by her bleat.
- One mature ewe (female sheep) produces 7 to 10 pounds of newly shorn wool a year – enough to make a man’s suit
- Goats were the first animal to be domesticated, according to many historians.
- The goat is among the cleanest of animals, and is a much more selective feeder than cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and even dogs. Goats do eat many different species of plants, but do not want to eat food that has been contaminated or that has been on the floor or the ground.
- The chicken is the closest living relative to the T-Rex.
- Some breeds of chickens can lay colored eggs. The Ameraucana and Araucana can lay eggs of green or blue.
- Chickens have over 200 distinct noises they can make for communicating.
- Pigs are considered the 4th most intelligent animal (after chimpanzees, dolphins, and elephants).
- A group of pigs is called a “sounder.”
- Cows can recognize their names (though they may not come when called!).
- Cows have a memory of about three years.
- Cows are social animals who form bonds with each other. In a herd of cows, many will form cliques together.
- Goats are great swimmers.
- Some wild goats can climb trees and can walk along a ledge not much wider than a tightrope.
- Geese are faithful, mate for life, and mourn when their partner dies.
- Pigs can run 11 miles per hour – that’s faster than a six-minute mile!
- Cows can sense a storm coming and will lie down.
- Goats have rectangular pupils, allowing them to see well in the dark.
- Ducks’ feathers are waterproof. A special gland near the tail produces oil that spreads and covers the outer coats of feathers.
So take a minute to celebrate these fascinating animals during National Farm Animal Week. If you have never been out to a farm before, think about taking a little trip to get to know these animals up close and personal. There are many local farms that allow you to pet and feed the animals. Check it out!
Source: http://www.mspca.org/programs/pet-owner-resources/pet-owner-guides/farm-animal-care-adoption/interesting-facts-about.html