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When it comes to livestock on her ranch, Judy Dresser has learned that bigger may not always actually be better. She has kept six miniature black Angus beef cattle on her ranch for some time. She started breeding and selling the cattle -- which are native to Australia -- two years ago. She actually has come to consider her so-called designer beef to be like part of the family. In comparison to standard Angus cattle which weigh in at between 1,000 to 1,200, her "Lowline" breed register at between 600 to 800 pounds. The Dresser Ranch is the only one that breeds Lowline Angus in the Bay Area at the present time. It is one of only eleven Lowline breeders in California, according to the American Lowline Registry. Experts maintain that mini-cattle are becoming more common -- there are twenty-six different breeds of the smaller stock. There are mini-Holsteins, Herefords and Jerseys, to name a few breeds. Some people have come to keep the mini-cattle as pets. Some people in suburban communities have even taken to owning these smaller cattle. Indeed, about eighty percent of all min-cattle are sold to be used as pets. Some are purchased for show purposes as well. Interestingly, most of the people who buy mini-cattle are women. Experts say that women want smaller versions of cattle and think that the mini-cattle are cute.
Pet Biological classification:
All the pets are included in the general biological classification along with their wild relatives.
Livestock, as a rule, belongs to the class of mammals, group of artiodactyls and to the sub-group of ruminants. (Exception - horse and donkey, they are neither artiodactyls nor ruminants). In complete sense, the livestock, that is the animals, whose existence basically depends upon humans and without whom, in turn, it is very difficult for humans also, are not more than 7-8 species. These species have played historical role in the development of culture. They are cow (or large horned livestock), sheep, goat (small horned livestock), buffalo, two types of camels, llama, alpaca and reindeer. In Africa and Asia, functions of bull are performed by zebra, and in Tibet – by yak. If two breeds of camel are considered to be one breed, then from ruminants only ten species can be counted as actual livestock. Out of artiodactyls, not ruminants, pig belongs to livestock. Non- artiodactyl livestock - horse and donkey;
Dog and cat are carnivorous (Carnivora).
Rabbit and porpoise - rodents (Rodentia);
Pet birds are classified as follows:
Group of fowl-like birds (Galliformes) - hen, turkey, Japanese quail, guinea fowl, pheasant and peacock
Group of pigeon-like (Columbiformes) - ordinary and Turkish pigeon
Group goose-like birds (Anseriformes) – swan, goose and duck
Group of passerines (Passeriformes) - canary
In recent times in Africa, ostriches are reared, who belong to the group of Struthioniformes.
Pets, types of animals, domesticated by man: Economic advantage played the decisive role in the domestication of animals. The tamed animals were more reliable source of food, than the wild ones, whose numbers were dwindling with the process in perfection of hunting technology. All the domestic animals came from wild ancestors, but differ from them by their behavior, external forms, internal organization, efficiency, which has grown under the influence of man. Except for silkworms and bees, all domestic animals belong to vertebrate. Out of large number of types of wild animals one some is domesticated, belonging to various types, classes, groups, families and breeds. Domestic animals include: actually large horned cattle, sheep, goats, reindeers, camels, llamas, buffalos, yaks, gayals, horses, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, porpoises, hens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowls, pigeons, bees, silkworms. The animals which are almost domestic one: some fishes, kept in ponds and aquariums, “decorative” birds (canaries, peacocks), laboratory animals. Transitive step from wild to pets are the Siberian stag, spotted deer; foxes, polar foxes, Siberian sables, minks, swamp beaver, kept in cages. These animals are at the stage of domestication.
Science is still not clear about the wild ancestors of pets. It is assumed, that the relatives of house pigs - different kinds of wild boars (European, Indian, Mediterranean), sheep - wild sheep, spread in Europe (Corsica, Sardinia), far-east, Middle and Central Asia. Wild ancestors of goats are considered screw horned goats, large horned cattle - wild ox. Regarding the origin of horses, many scientists agree that the original ancestors of horses – tarpan and Przewalski horse. Wild Bankiv hens are considered as ancestors of numerous breeds of domestic hens. |
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