Farm Animals

Hello. My name is Daisy, and I’m a cow. I am so happy to live here on this beautiful farm with my big family. My herd, which is what you call a group of cows, is full of my sisters, cousins, and aunties. But my family is even bigger than that. It includes all the other animals who live here with us. Every morning, I wake up to the sound of the rooster crowing, “Cock-a-doodle-doo.” It’s his way of saying, “Good morning, world.” Soon after, I hear my friends the pigs snorting happily as they get ready for their breakfast. The air smells like fresh hay and sweet grass. It feels so wonderful to be part of this busy, cheerful place. I love my home and all the amazing sights and sounds that fill my day from sunrise to sunset.

Even though I love living on the farm with people, my family wasn't always this way. My very distant ancestors were called aurochs, and they were wild animals that roamed free. They were much bigger than I am and didn't live with humans at all. But a very long time ago, around 10,500 years ago, something amazing happened. Humans and my ancestors started to become friends. People learned how to care for them, and my ancestors learned that living with people was safe and helpful. Many of my friends on the farm have long family stories, too. The sheep's ancestors were some of the very first animals to live on farms. And the families of the chickens and pigs have also been helping people for thousands and thousands of years. It’s amazing to think how long we have all been living and working together.

Would you like to know what a day is like for me. My favorite thing to do is eat. I spend a lot of my day in the pasture, munching on delicious green grass. After I swallow my food, something special happens. I bring it back up to chew it again. This is called 'chewing my cud'. It might sound a little strange, but it helps me get all the good stuff from the grass. I can do this because I have a special stomach with four different parts. It's like having four tummies to help me digest my food. Twice a day, the farmer comes to milk me very gently. While I'm relaxing, I like to watch my friends. The pigs love to roll around in the cool mud to keep from getting too hot in the sun. The sheep walk around showing off their thick, woolly coats that keep them warm.

All of us animals on the farm have very important jobs to do. My job is to provide fresh, healthy milk that people can drink or use to make cheese and yogurt. The chickens are busy, too. They lay delicious eggs that many people enjoy for breakfast. And my friends, the sheep, give us their soft, cozy wool. People use their wool to make warm sweaters, blankets, and hats. We are all very proud to work together with our human friends. It feels good to know that we help feed and care for people all over the world. Our partnership is very special, and it makes our life on the farm meaningful and happy.