List of domesticated animals (or domestic animals) and farm animals with interesting facts and images. Learn these farm animals list to improve your vocabulary words in English. It doesn’t matter which country you come from or what your native language is, we all know what kinds of animals can be found on the farm. But do you know how to refer to them when speaking English? Would you recognize their names if they were mentioned in a conversation?
Domestic Animals & Farm Animals
What Are Farm Animals and Domesticated Animals?
Domesticated or domestic animals are animals that are bred to serve varying purposes of humans. Domesticated animals differ from wild animals in that they are born, raised, conditioned, and reproduced to work with, respond to, or serve humans in one form or another.
Farm animals are a type of domesticated animal that serve purposes in the form of agriculture. They may be raised and used for their meat (such as chicken or pigs), milk (such as from cows or sheep), or labor (such as horses, cattle, or donkeys).
Types of Domestic Animals
Domesticated animals are generally classified into two types: those that serve as farm animals (or livestock, animals raised for making commodities), or those that serve as pets. Cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens are considered farm animals, while cats and dogs are considered pets.
There may be some overlap in these categories. For example, a dog may be considered a pet, but it can also be (colloquially) considered a farm animal if used as a shepherding dog. In some countries, laws exist as to what animals are considered pets (in the United States, for example, horses are considered livestock, not pets).
List of Domestic Animals & Farm Animals
- Cattle (cows and bulls)
- Rabbit
- Duck
- Shrimp
- Pig
- Bee
- Goat
- Crab
- Deer
- Turkey
- Dove
- Sheep
- Fish
- Chicken
- Horse
- Dog
- Cat
- Geese
- Llamas
- Ostriches
- Camels
- Oxen
- Reindeer
Domestic Animals Names
Domesticated Animals & Farm Animals (with Facts & Examples)
Cattle
Cattle (cows and bulls) were domesticated as long ago as 6500 BCE, with some regarding the domestication of the animal to go as far back as 10,000 years ago. Cattle are bred for their meat, labor, and milk. Popular breeds include Angus, Wagyu, Kerry, and Holstein.
Rabbit
Domesticated rabbits are used for their meat and pelts. They are also considered to be good pets, common breeds include Californian, Alaska, Opposum, Fox, Lynx, Brazilian, and Isabella.
Duck
The American Pekin Duck is a breed of duck that is primarily used for meat. It was introduced to the Americas in March 1873 when a ship of nine specimens arrived in New York City from Beijing, China. Three of the duck hens of this group had laid three hundred eggs by July 1873.
Shrimp
Pig
Pigs are believed to have been domesticated in the Mesopotamian region and Turkey from at least over 11,000 years ago. They have also been believed to be domesticated separately in China 8,000 years ago. Common breeds include the Welsh, American Yorkshire, and Large White.
Bee
- Bees make honey.
Goat
Female goats, also known as nannies or does, will produce a large amount of milk during a single year. In a ten-month period, they will produce 90 quarts of milk each month. Some goat breeds are used only for their meat, and this includes the Kiko and Boer breeds.
Crab
Deer
Turkey
Modern domesticated turkeys are descended from domesticated turkey breeds of Central America and Mexico — breeds that were domesticated by Native Americans almost 2,000 years ago. Compared to wild turkeys, they are less genetically diverse and can not fly.
Dove
Sheep
Sheep are known for their meat (known as mutton) and their milk, but they are also known for the wool they produce. In a year, a single sheep can produce anywhere from 2 to 30 pounds of wool. Wool is commonly harvested (especially in the United States) in the spring.
Fish
(plural: fish)
Chicken
Though some chickens are bred distinctly for their meat or their eggs, there are some breeds that are considered to be dual-purpose. These include breeds like the Black Australorp, Speckled Sussex, and the Rhode Island Red.
Horse
Horses are domesticated animals that serve as transportation, agricultural labor, and occasionally as a food resource. They originated in Central Asia and have been used as domesticated animals for thousands of years. Popular breeds include Arabian, Clydesdale, and Palamino.
Dog
The exact location, or even region, of the domestication of the dog — is not known, but theorists place the time of its domestication from 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. It is believed the dog is descended from an extinct wolf-like ancestor.
Cat
The ancestor of today’s domesticated cat is believed to be Felis silvestris lybica, or the North African (or Southwest Asian) Wildcat. The period of time of domestication is believed to be the Neolithic Period (10,000 to 4,500 BCE) in the Near East/Fertile Crescent region.
Donkey
Donkeys (Equus asinus) are grazing animals that spend as much as 16 hours a day feeding. When compared to horses, they are not as ready to show a response of fear — leading some to assume stubbornness. Donkeys are very social animals and will befriend other donkeys and horses.
Geese
The domesticated goose (Anser anser domesticus) is a domesticated grey goose, descended from the greylag or swan goose species. Geese are raised for their meat and eggs, but also for their feathers, which are referred to as down.
Llamas
Llamas (Lama glama) are domesticated animals that have their origins in South America, particularly the Andes Mountain region. They are used as pack animals (able to carry 25 percent of their body weight for 5 to 8 miles), for meat, and for their wool.
Ostriches
Ostriches are considered only partly domesticated animals, but they are raised as livestock for their meat and eggs. Ostriches are the largest birds on the planet, with adult males reaching 7.8 feet tall, and weighing anywhere from 200 to 300 pounds.
Camels
The Dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a one-humped camel that originated in North Africa and the Middle East. It is a long-domesticated species, with naturally-occurring wild specimens not appearing for as long as 2,000 years. It is used for its meat, milk, hides, transport, and labor.
Oxen
Oxen are a type of cattle used specifically for draught purposes — pulling plows, wagons, and carts. They are usually castrated male cattle that are valued for their strength, heft, weight, and ease of control. North American oxen commands include words like back, haw, get up, gee, and whoa.
Reindeer
The reindeer is native to northern regions of Eurasia and North America, and can be considered semi-domesticated — though it is still used for its meat, milk, and pelts. It is the only domesticated deer in the world and is used by the Inuit, Sami, Nenets, and Yakut peoples.
Domestic Animals & Farm Animals Video
Learn a huge list of animals with American English pronunciation.
Farm and Domestic Animals Images
Learn farm animals list with interesting images in English.
Mahabharata katha