These chickens are raised for both meat and eggs. While many are caged, the market for free-range chickens is growing immensely. Next time you're at the grocery store, take a closer look at the labels, and be part of the change. On various farms, geese are often seen roaming through fields of crops feeding on weeds, and of course fallen produce. Geese, particularly Chinese geese, have been used for weed control for ages.
Did you know that geese can live outside at night? Just be sure they are hidden from foxes. Camels are kept mainly by nomads particularly on the continents of Africa and Asia. While they can be raised for meat, they are more often grown for their milk, wool and transportation purposes. It is said that a nomad can live strictly off of their camel's milk for nearly one month.
There is as much a variety of cows as there are dogs and cats in the world. Whether they are raised for beef or veal, milk or hides, cows make up approximately 1. Did you know that cows are red-green colorblind?
Why keep cats around the farm? To protect against rodents, of course! The quick nature of a cat allows them to hunt and capture unwanted visitors. But just because they feed off of those vermin, doesn't mean you should not feed them at all. Keep that food bowl full of traditional cat food. Though it is less common in the United States, Canada and Northern Europe, goat meat is a staple elsewhere in the world.
In fact, goat meat is the most consumed meat per capita worldwide, and with a five-month gestation period, the average goat has two baby goats per year. Well, here's a fun fact: if you're ever in the presence of yak, be sure to watch your step. Their manure has no detectable odor! Perhaps this is why the manure, in its dried form, is used for fuel in Tibet. Additionally, farmers raise them for milk, meat and protection. Wapiti is a Native American word meaning "light-colored deer.
A typical elk weighs between and 1, pounds and stands 4 or 5 feet tall. Add in the antlers, and that height nearly doubles. It should come as no surprise that dogs maintain their status as man's best friend even on a farm. Their roles and responsibilities are essential as they help to round up and move herds of cattle and other animals.
Dogs also help guard and protect chicken coops from potential predators. Since quails can only fly short distances, they are often seen scurrying on foot to their destinations. As a member of the pheasant family, quails are raised mainly for their egg production.
They produce anywhere from to eggs per year, with their fertility declining with age. Anyone who's been to the Greek Islands may beg to differ, but China has more donkeys on its land than any other country in the world. While they don't always look like it, a donkey is typically stronger than a horse of the same size. Farmers use them to protect against fox, coyotes or stray dogs.
What exactly is a mule? It is a cross between a female horse and a male donkey! On a farm, they are mainly tasked with pulling, riding and carrying heavy loads. While you might think that all of this manual labor leads to a shorter lifespan, mules tend to be healthier and live longer lives than horses. A female rabbit is called a doe, a male is a buck and a young rabbit is known as a kit. Put them all together, and you've got a bunch of rabbits — which is appropriate because rabbits live in groups.
Did you know that more than half of the world's population of rabbits live in North America? As the largest member of the deer family, it should come as no surprise that the average moose weighs more than 1, pounds. What is surprising, however, is that despite its enormous size, moose feel threatened by creatures of all sizes, including black bears and a pack of wolves.
Your back might hurt just looking at a dromedary camel, but this hump serves more purpose than you know. When food and water are unavailable, a camel can metabolize the fat stored in its hump. Does this mean a dromedary camel will never get "hangry? Made famous by the "The 12 Days of Christmas" song, yes, partridges are a real animal!
Found throughout the world, the most famous gray variety is most commonly found in North America. Partridges enjoy eating seeds and on occasion, insects. Farmers may raise them for meat and eggs. While ostriches are a flightless bird, that doesn't stop them from getting around, and quickly too!
Ostriches are regarded as the largest and fastest running birds. They can sprint 45 miles per hour. For reference, a lion can run 50 miles per hour.
See what we mean? What do lamb and mutton have in common? They are both sheep! Lamb refers to the meat of a young sheep, while mutton is that of an adult. While sheep are a great source of fleece, they are also raised for their meat. Mediterranean cuisine, especially Greek and Turkish, often features sheep. Want to visit a reindeer farm? Head to the Scandinavian or Arctic countries.
There you will find native farmers raising reindeer primarily for meat. Keep your ears out too; reindeer make a clicking noise when they walk. They have a foot tendon that "clicks" over one of their foot bones. While farmers tend to harvest their honey once per year in the fall, they can do it year-round. Honey bees help to produce nearly 1. Most everyone in the United States has their opinions about pigeons, but these creatures who came by way of Europe are a delicacy in other countries.
Pigeons are raised on farms typically for their meat. Don't scoff — their exceptional nutrition facts might have you contemplating a bite! Turkeys gobble, right? Well, it depends on whether they are male or female! Did you know that female turkeys don't gobble? By providing your farm animals with routine veterinary care and following the Healthy People tips, you are less likely to get sick from touching, owning, visiting, or working with farm animals.
Read below about diseases that can be spread by farm animals. Visit the Healthy People section to learn about staying healthy around farm animals. Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease of animals caused by bacteria found in the environment. Although it is rare in the United States, people can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals, including farm animals.
People who live in areas where anthrax has occurred should consider vaccinating their livestock against the disease every year. How it spreads: Farm animals can become infected with anthrax when they ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water.
People get infected by having contact with sick or dead animals or eating meat contaminated with spores. People can also get anthrax through a cut or scrape in the skin. Anthrax is not contagious, which means it is not spread from person to person.
Who is at risk: Anthrax is rare in the United States, but anyone who comes in contact with anthrax spores can get sick. People at higher risk for anthrax include veterinarians, livestock producers, laboratory professionals, and people who handle animal products for example, hides, wool, or hair.
Signs in farm animals: Animals do not always appear sick, but if they do, they can get sick suddenly and die quickly. Clinical signs vary by animal species. Typical signs include fever, staggering, depression, difficulty breathing, or seizures. Often, infected animals do not show signs of illness and are found dead before the cause is known.
Symptoms in people: The symptoms of anthrax in people depend on the type of infection and can take anywhere from 1 day to more than 2 months to appear. All types of anthrax have the potential, if untreated, to spread throughout the body and cause severe illness and even death. Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by contact with infected animals and contaminated animal products like raw unpasteurized dairy products like milk or cheese. How it spreads: The most common way people get brucellosis is by eating or drinking raw dairy products.
Who is at risk: Anyone can get brucellosis, but people who consume raw dairy products or work closely with animals may be more at risk. Signs in farm animals: Farm animals most commonly infected include sheep, cattle, goats, and pigs, and less commonly horses. Most animals infected with brucellosis show no signs of illness. For animals that do show signs of illness, symptoms vary by animal species and can include infection of reproductive organs, abortions, and stillborn or weak calves.
Symptoms in people: People with brucellosis usually become sick within weeks of exposure, but symptom onset can begin anywhere between 5 days to 6 months after exposure. Sick people have flu-like symptoms. Sometimes brucellosis can become a chronic illness that can be difficult to treat and potentially lead to more severe health consequences.
Occasionally, brucellosis can affect reproductive organs and cause miscarriage. Campylobacter are bacteria that can make people and animals sick with a disease called campylobacteriosis. How it spreads: Campylobacter most often spread to animals and people through the feces poop of infected animals, contaminated food, or the environment.
Many types of farm animals, including those found at zoos, petting zoos, and fairs , can carry Campylobacter and other germs that make people sick. Who is at risk: Anyone can get a Campylobacter infection, but children younger than age 5, adults aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more at risk for serious illness.
Signs in farm animals: Farm animals infected with Campylobacter usually show no signs of illness, but if they do, they might experience diarrhea. Symptoms in people: People can have diarrhea often bloody , fever, and abdominal cramps.
The diarrhea may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Symptoms usually start within 2—5 days after infection and last about 1 week. Orf virus causes infections in sheep and goats and can also spread to people. In animals, Orf virus infection may be called sore mouth, scabby mouth, or contagious echyma.
Goats are typically more severely affected than sheep. How it spreads: Animals spread Orf virus to each other through cuts or abrasions in the skin, typically during suckling. Activities such as bottle or tube feeding, shearing animals, or petting animals can cause infection. Animal bites can also cause infection. Who is at risk: Anyone can get infected with Orf virus, but people with weakened immune systems are at risk for developing more serious illness.
Signs in farm animals: Animals with Orf virus infection usually develop sores on the lips, muzzle, and in the mouth. Sheep and goats may also get sores on their lower legs and udder when infected lambs or kids baby goats nurse. Most animals recover completely from Orf virus infection. Symptoms in people: People infected with Orf virus usually get sores on the top layer of the skin, typically on the fingers, hands, or forearms.
These sores may be painful and last up to 2 months. Other symptoms can include mild fever, fatigue, or swelling of lymph nodes. Sores caused by Orf virus usually heal without scarring. Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by the germ Cryptosporidium or Crypto for short , which is spread by swallowing poop from an infected person or animal. The risk is greatest from contact with young calves, especially calves with diarrhea. How it spreads: Crypto spreads through swallowing poop containing the germ after contact with an infected person or animal, or through contaminated food or water.
Who is at risk: Anyone can been infected with Crypto, but people with weakened immune systems are more at risk, especially for severe disease. Signs in farm animals: Farm animals, especially pre-weaned calves, can carry Crypto without any signs, but they may have mild diarrhea. Symptoms in people: Symptoms include profuse, watery diarrhea with cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea.
The symptoms typically resolve within 1—2 weeks. Although most kinds of E. How it spreads: E. Many types of healthy farm animals, including those found at zoos, petting zoos, and fairs , can carry E. Who is at risk: Anyone can get sick from E. Newborn farm animals are at risk for E. Signs in farm animals: Healthy farm animals, especially calves and cows, sheep, and goats, can carry some types of E. Newborn farm animals may experience diarrhea from Enterotoxigenic E.
Symptoms in people: Symptoms depend on the kind of E. Symptoms of a Shiga toxin-producing E. Symptoms usually start within 3—4 days after infection and last 5—7 days. Some people with STEC infection develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome HUS , a type of kidney failure. Some influenza viruses that primarily circulate in animals have on rare occasion infected people. For example, some avian influenza bird flu viruses as well some swine influenza viruses can cause infections in people.
Not all influenza viruses found in birds or pigs are known to cause human infections. How it spreads: Flu viruses are highly contagious. Most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
People can also spread flu to each other. Avian pdf icon [PDF — 2 pages] and swine pdf icon [PDF — 2 pages] flu can spread to people through contact with the virus from saliva, nasal secretions, or poop from infected animals. A person can also get flu through contact with virus-contaminated surfaces, poultry coops, pig pens, and supplies. Less often, flu can also spread to people through touching infected animals and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Who is at risk: It is rare for avian or swine flu to spread to people.
Anyone can get the flu, but children younger than 5 years of age, pregnant women, people 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at high risk for serious flu complications. People who work closely with large numbers of birds and pigs, such as poultry or pig producers, are at risk of infection if their animals are infected. Anyone at high risk of serious flu complications planning to attend an agricultural fair or farm where swine are present should avoid close contact with the pigs and swine barns, including pig exhibitors and family members with high risk factors.
Signs in farm animals: Both birds and pigs can be infected with flu viruses without showing symptoms. If they do get sick, poultry flocks can experience a range of illness, from decreased egg production to extremely high death rates.
Symptoms in pigs can include fever, depression, coughing, discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and lack of appetite. Symptoms in people: With both avian and swine flu, infected people can have symptoms similar to the human seasonal flu, such as fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, and coughing.
They may also have red eyes, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. In some people, serious complications from flu can occur, such as inflammation of the heart myocarditis , brain encephalitis or muscle myositis, rhabdomyolysis tissues, and multi-organ failure for example, respiratory and kidney failure.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can affect people and animals. Many kinds of animals can carry the bacteria in their urine, including farm animals. Cows, pigs, and horses can be vaccinated to protect against certain strains of leptospirosis. How it spreads: The bacteria that cause leptospirosis spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and survive there for weeks to months.
People get infected through contact with urine or other body fluids except saliva from infected animals, or through contact with water, soil, or other materials such as animal bedding contaminated with urine from infected animals. Who is at risk: Leptospirosis occurs worldwide, but is most common in tropical and subtropical climates. It has been associated with contact with infected animals and activities in contaminated lakes and rivers, such as swimming, wading, kayaking, and rafting.
It is also a risk for people in certain jobs that involve contact with animals or their waste, like farmers, sewer workers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians. People working directly with farm animals or cleaning up after them such as cleaning barns, stables, or stalls may be at risk for leptospirosis.
Signs in farm animals: Leptospirosis can infect a wide range of animal species, including cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and horses. Many animals infected may not show any signs of illness. For animals that do show symptoms, they can vary greatly and include fever, kidney and liver failure, and spontaneous abortions or stillbirths.
Symptoms in people: People with leptospirosis might not have any symptoms, but those who do will usually become sick within 2 days to 4 weeks of exposure and can have high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rash.
A small number of people with leptospirosis can have more severe disease, such as liver and kidney failure, hemorrhagic pneumonia, and even death. Early treatment with antibiotics is important, and can reduce the duration and severity of illness.
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