Many farm animals earn their keep through work or supplying necessities.
As in other industries, mechanization has rewritten the job descriptions of some farm animals but not all of them. Farmers still depend on farm animals for varied tasks for which there is no mechanical substitute, or the farmers just prefer the agility--and loyalty--of animals. As long as there are farms, there will be some type of farm animal that has a job.
Food and Clothing Source
Chickens readily fulfill their job of providing eggs and, sometimes, meat.
An obvious and essential job of farm animals is providing sustenance and basic life necessities. Farm animals provide eggs, milk, cheese, butter and yes, even meat. Other animals provide wool and other fleece materials. Some animals give us high-quality leather, such as goatskin, cowhide or lambskin.
Protection
Donkeys are very wary of anything strange entering their territory.
Guard dogs are still prolific on goat, sheep and alpaca or llama farms, living with the herds in the pastures day and night. They are trained to keep the herd intact, and some breeds, such as the Great Pyrenees, are incredibly strong, territorial and valuable. Tom Tower, a farmer in Dripping Springs, Texas, also uses a donkey to protect his more vulnerable horses. "Donkeys are great protectors and will chase stray dogs, coyotes or other animals out of their pastures quickly," said Tower. "My donkey has even come up with porcupine quills as evidence of his protective skills!"
Herding
Some farmers still use horses and dogs to herd cattle.
Herding with animals is not as necessary as it used to be, with trucks and other motorized vehicles replacing horses and dogs. However, some farmers still use dogs and horses to help herd, sometimes in combination with vehicles. This is particularly true for rough terrain. In instances where other tasks are combined with herding, such as vaccinations, a calf might need to be caught and roped, which cannot be done safely from a vehicle.
Show and Competition
Farmers who raise calves for rodeo roping know the type and size required.
Showing can be a steady, and sometimes lucrative, income-generating activity. Some farmers will raise farm animals specifically for show, supplying the livestock to local high school agricultural groups, for example. Horses can compete in both Western and English disciplines for prize money. Bulls or cows are bred and raised for rodeo events as well as other show competitions.
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