Poultry Facts
Poultry is the term used to describe domesticated birds used for their meat, feathers, or eggs.
One turkey can lay 90 eggs in 1 year, while one chicken can lay about 270 eggs in the same amount of time!
DID YOU KNOW... chickens with brown earlobes lay brown eggs, and chickens with white earlobes lay white eggs?
Both are equally healthy for you, too! Chicken eggs incubate for 21 days. Turkey and duck eggs incubate for 28 days.
A male chicken is a ROOSTER. A young female is a PULLET and a mature female chicken is a HEN. A baby chicken is called a CHICK.
A fun fact from local duck farm, Maple Leaf Farms, is that female ducks(hens) quack, but male ducks(drakes) do not quack. Instead, they make a softer, whispery hissing sound.
Pig Facts
In the past, pigs were left outside to roam for their own food. Now they are fed by farmers everyday.
DID YOU KNOW... pigs do not have sweat glands like people?
Therefore, they can not regulate their temperature very well. Because of the weather in this country, many pigs could not survive without the help of their farmers. They were likely to freeze in the winter and overheat in the summer. Modern-day pigs live indoors at a comfortable temperature of 78 degrees F. This helps them to survive the seasons.
Male pigs are called boars, while castrated males are called barrows. A young female pig is a gilt before having a litter, and is called a sow afterwards. Farrowing is the term use to describe the birth of piglets.
DID YOU KNOW... Indiana is ranked fifth in the nation for pork production?usda.gov What a great contributor to the state's economy.
Horse Facts Come and see the show horses in the South Pavilion during your Follow Me Barn Tour!
Horses and ponies are used for all types of activities, including recreation, work, and sport. Horses help farmers, policemen, and many others everyday!
Newborn horses are called foals. Fillies are female babies and colts are male babies. These newborns can stand within an hour of being born, and walk and run soon after.
DID YOU KNOW... a horse's height is measured in hands?
One hand equals 4 inches. How many hands tall are you?
Draft Horse Facts
Draft horses are very similar to other horses. However, they are usually larger and much stronger! These horses used to be used for farming and logging, and still are in many parts of the world.
DID YOU KNOW... the Belgian draft horse is the most popular draft breed in the United States?
You can see the draft horses at the Indiana State Fair in August!
Beef Cattle Facts DID YOU KNOW... that sheep wool is used to make clothing and carpet for your home? Do you have these fabrics in your home?
Cattle have long been a part of this country's agriculture. They are used for their meat and hide.
DID YOU KNOW... that cattle digest food differently than humans?
Cattle are ruminants. This means that cows have a four-part stomach: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. The abomasum is the most like a human's stomach.
Dairy Facts
Dairy cows can produce 6-7 gallons of milk per day. They drink up to 50 gallons of water, too! Males are called bulls and females are called heifers until they have they own calf. Then they are called cows and can starting making milk and other dairy products for you!
Ever wonder how milk from the cow becomes milk on your table?
Be sure to come by the Farm Bureau building to explore more during the Indiana State Fair! Follow Me Barn Tours can take you up-close with dairy cows from all over the state!
Sheep Facts
Sheep were domesticated over 12,000 years ago. They were origianlly used for meat, milk, wool, and skins. Sheep are still used today for these purposes, and many more!