External Features And Measurements Of Selected Farm Animals

External features and measurements of selected farm animals

Anna Lorraine Gutierrez
ANSC 1 Sec. AB-2L

November 21, 2013

1A laboratory report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in ANSC 1 laboratory under Dr. JMUPA Hurtada., 2nd sem., 2013-2014
INTRODUCTION
Animals are one of the important factors for a balanced ecosystem. All animals play an important part in the environment. Some animals help to assist in the cycle of different nutrients throughout the ecosystem while others are important because they help to speed up decomposition. Most animals are important because they are a part of the food chain that helps other animals higher up in the chain survive (ask, 2013). In addition to that, it is also used as a business mainly for food production and clothing.
Some animals which are also present in the Philippines that contribute a lot of percentage on the food consumption of many Filipinos are those animals raised in the farms, which can be sub-divided into two types: livestock and poultry.
Livestock animals are kept or raised for pleasure and profit. It includes cattle, carabao, pigs, horse, sheep and goat. On the other hand, poultry animals are kept by humans because it is a good source of eggs, meat and feathers. This comprises the pigeon, quail, geese, duck, turkey, chicken and rabbit.
The activity that the students worked on was composed of only four selected animals (3 livestock animal and 1 poultry animal) mainly pig, sheep, goat and chicken. Special features, external characteristics, body measurements and differentiation between female and male on a certain species were established.
Pig (Sus scrofa) is a great source of meat and contributes largely on Filipino food consumption. Sheep (Ovis aries) produces meat, milk and hair (wool). This ‘wool’ is manufactured to create a usable product. One good example is the production of sweaters/jackets which are being worn in cold places for protection and covering. Goat (Capra hircus) is a domesticated ruminant mammal that has horns and a beard (for male goat). It is capable to produce milk and meat. The last animal observed was chicken. It is one of the most common and well-known domestic animals kept for its eggs or meat.
Determining the special features of animals and observing their external features can help the observer differentiate female to male. This method has so much importance for it influences many aspects of taking care on a certain species of animal especially on mating. Like humans beings, features of male and female in animals are different. They must receive proper care and appropriate food for them to grow healthy and productive.
Differentiating animals (female or male) is not an easy job to do. There are certain species which you cannot distinguish the dissimilarity among the two genders, which is the female and which is the male. But with the proper use of the senses and technologies, this process will be easier to do than before.

MATERIALS AND METHODS In this laboratory exercise, students wore their laboratory gown, closed shoes and long pants. They also brought soap, hand towel and tape measure. These materials that they used for the activity enabled them to protect themselves from any danger that may occur and helped them to calculate or measure objects to come up with the data. This activity was done in a sty, a place for keeping pigs. Each group was assigned to handle an animal (particularly a pig) for observation and evaluation. With the instruction of the teacher, Pig #5 was the one given to the group. Using a tape measure, each members of the group measured the length (cm) of the pig from its poll to the tip of its tail. Afterwards, heartgirth was also determined. These two components and the table provided by the instructor (Table 1.1) supported the students upon estimating the weight of the pig. They also worked on a technique called ‘eye-ball estimation’, a process to estimate the body weight (kg) through ocular evaluation. Every member included in the group allotted an approximation on the pig’s weight (kg) by just looking or staring at it/ with the use of their sense of sight. Pigs were not the only the farm animal observed. Hence, sheep and chickens were perceived too. Upon looking other introduced farm animals, the students have classified the differences between the male and female and learned how important this method is. This ended the exercise. All students headed back to their room to be able to wash and dry their hands with the use of the soap and hand towel.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In relation to the length from the poll to the tip of the tail, the group got the results of 101 cm, 103 cm, 102 cm, and 101 cm. this data gives an average of 101.75 cm. On the other hand, the group got the results of 94 cm, 94 cm, 94 cm, and 94 which yield to an average of 94 cm (see Table 1.2). These two averages the basis for estimating or allotting possible weight of the pig in kilograms. As the table of measurement has shown, the possible weight of the pig #5 is at the range of 55 cm-63 cm.

The exact value was obtained using ratio and proportion and the solution for this is presented below:

*100 cm-90 cm= 10 cm, 94 cm-90 cm=4 cm, 63cm -55cm =8 cm, and x is in between 55 and 63. x-55 = 4 8 10
10(x-55) = 4(8)
10x- 550 = 32
10x- 550+550 = 32+550
10x = 582 1 (10x) = (582) 1
10 10

x = 58.2 kg

As calculated, the weight of pig#5 is 58.2 kg.

Table 1.1 Body measurements and estimated eights for pigs

Table 1.2 Length (cm) from the poll to the tip of the tail and heartgirth measured by each student in the group.

Length (cm) from the poll to the tip of the tail
Heartgirth
Student 1
101
94
Student 2
103
94
Student 3
102
94
Student 4
101
94
Average
101.75
94

Difference(s) between sheep and goat (tabular form)
SHEEP
GOAT slender produce wool/ have fluffy covering has more craved horns than goat prefers to stay put in his flock
Has upper lip divided by a distinct philtrum.
Its tail hangs down typical browser, feeding on leaves, shrubs, twigs and vines hair has fleece has mane entirely domesticated heavier does not produce wool/ do not have fluffy covering has narrower horns than sheep curious by nature and quite independent
Does not have upper lip divided by a distinct philtrum.
Its tail stands up loves to graze on grass and clover has beard (in male) found in abundance

Difference(s) of female and male sheep One distinction the group has observed was the size. The female sheep was quite smaller than the male sheep. Other than that, there is no noticeable dissimilarity among the two. Maybe somewhat in their behaviors but if the basis was only the external factors or aspects consisting of the two, there is no visible difference at all.

Difference(s) of male and female chicken Aside from differentiating female chicken as the one that lays eggs and the male chicken do not, deeper understanding on the dissimilarity of the two genders is important. Female chicken is smaller than the male in terms of size. The blade and wattle of the male is larger compared of that in female. The color and structure of their wings are not similar with each other. The students have observed a breed of chicken which is easy to classify or distinguish the difference among the two but there are some breeds which do not qualify this feature.

REFERENCES
Ask. Importance of animals to the environment? Retrieved on November 20, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.ask.com/question/importance-of-animals-to-the-environment
Merriam Webster. Livestock. Retrieved on November 20, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livestock

References: Ask. Importance of animals to the environment? Retrieved on November 20, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.ask.com/question/importance-of-animals-to-the-environment Merriam Webster. Livestock. Retrieved on November 20, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/livestock