Livestock are an important part of our nation’s agricultural industry and also an important part of our survival. Not only do these animals serve to produce food high in protein, vitamins and minerals; they also provide many by-products which we could not live without.
Those involved in the production of livestock animals must understand the needs of animals at each stage in their life cycle. These agriculturalists realize that they are raising livestock for two major purposes.
-First, for meat and by-products (this means the animal will be sent to market or slaughtered at the appropriate point in its lifecycle)
-Second, to produce more animals (these are the males and females that are bred to create offspring).
Farmers and ranchers feed and care for animals according to their needs, which depend upon their age and their location.
A cow's hide, or skin, is about 1/8" thick! In comparison, the thickest areas of human skin (soles of feet and palms of hands) is only 4 millimeters thick. Cattle's thick hide helps protect them from the cold and other elements.
Vocabulary
bull: male cattle
calf: baby cattle
cow: female cattle
Cattle make
-milk
-meat
-leather