AGRICULTUREIn the Classroom

How Many of you live in town?

How Many of you live on a Farm?

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE PET A COW?

Approximately 25 million people, or 80%, of Canada’s population live in Urban areas. (cities and towns)

Approximately 6 million people, or 20%, of Canada’s populationlive in Rural areas. (Farms, ranches, and in the country)

YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD? What agricultural products are used to

make this food?

How do we get this product?

Is it grown in Alberta?

BEEF CATTLE There are several different types of beef

cattle some examples are...HerefordAngusShorthornCharolais Simmental

How many months until a calf is born? 9 months

When are cattle ready to be sold to market? 12 – 18 months (usually around 1000 – 1100lbs)

How much does a calf weigh at birth? An average of 80lbs. The calf drinks milk and

eats grass till it is weaned (taken away) from its mother at 6 months.

How many stomachs does a cow have? Four! The multiple stomachs help them digest

grass by “chewing their cud” which means they re-chew food that is already chewed and swallowed.

OTHER THAN BEEF, WHAT COMES FROM COWS? Leather

Its made from their hide and is used to make a variety of items from clothing to basketballs!

Candies, marshmallows, and ice cream These items are made from Gelatin; which is

made from cows bones and horns! Fertilizer

Depending on the type of fertilizer some are made from cows bones and blood.

Soaps, candles, cosmetics, shortening, and chewing gumThese are made from a beef fat called tallow!

COW TERMINOLOGY A heifer is a female cow that hasn’t had a calf yet (birth – 2 years)

A cow is a female that has had a calf!

A bull is a male cow!

PIGS There are several different breed of pigs

but some examples are...DurocChester WhiteYorkshire Hampshire

Pigs are very intelligent and learn quickly. They pick up tricks faster than dogs. Pigs rank #4 in

animal intelligence. Piglets learn their names by two to three weeks of age and respond when called.

A sow can give birth to a litter containing 7 to 12 piglets, about twice a year.

A baby pig, or piglet, weighs about 1.5 kilograms at birth and will double its weight in just 7 days.

Weaning occurs at three months of age. Pigs are very clean animals.

They keep their toilets far from their living or eating area. Even piglets only a few hours old will leave the nest to relieve themselves.

Pigs have no sweat glands, so they can't sweat. Pigs have four toes on each hoof, but only walk on

two toes per foot. A mature pig has 44 teeth.

TYPES OF PIGS

Gilt: A female hog that has not had a litter

Boar: A male hog

Sow: Female hog that has hada litter of pigs.

OTHER THAN PORK... Crayons, Cement, Insulation, Artist

Brushes, Matches, Chalk, Glue, Buttons, Glass, Footballs.

SHEEP

Female sheep are called ewes.

Baby sheep are called lambs.

Male sheep are called rams.

Sheep are timid, nervous and easily frightened animals Their only means of survival is to flock together in

large numbers and to run away from predators. Sheep don't like to walk in water or move

through narrow openings. They prefer to move into the wind and uphill than down wind and downhill.

Sheep usually give birth once a year and have 1-3 lambs. They normally live to be about 8 years old, but

can sometimes live to be as old as 20. When sheep are on their back they will need

to be helped, because they can't get up from that position.

Sheep also have four stomachs just like cows.

OTHER THAN MEAT AND WOOL... The sheep intestines are used for casings in

sausages and some hotdogs. They also make some types of instrument strings.

The bones and horns are used to make shampoo and conditioner, adhesive tape, gelatin capsules, marshmallows, piano keys, and gelatin desserts (ice cream, yogart, and jello).

DAIRY CATTLE There are several different breeds of

dairy cattle! Holstein are the most popular...

Do brown cows produce chocolate milk?

Nope, they produce white milk too!

Do dairy cows have to have a calf in order to produce milk? Yes; however, they are taken away 3 days

after birth. How many servings of dairy per day do

you need?children ages 9-18 need 3 servings of dairy

products daily. How many glasses of milk will a dairy

cow give us in a day?100