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Farm Animals' Agricultural Roles

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Farm Animals' Agricultural Roles

Read the information and complete the questions. Think about how animals can support a farm in ways other than producing food.

Animals at work on a New Zealand farm

A farm is an ecosystem: living things interact with one another and with non-living parts of their environment, such as soil, water and sunlight. Animals can contribute to farming in several ways. Dairy cows turn grass into milk. Sheep provide fleece and are raised for meat production; their manure adds nutrients to soil. Bees pollinate many flowering crops by carrying pollen between flowers. This helps plants produce seeds and, in some crops, fruit. In the past, horses were used to pull carts and farm equipment; today, tractors usually do this work. Horses can still help on some farms by carrying a rider to check livestock. Farm animals need suitable food, water, shelter and careful handling. Healthy animals are more likely to thrive and provide the products or services people depend on.

Check the roles

Use the farm information to answer each question.

1.Which farm animal helps flowering crops by carrying pollen between flowers?

Bee
Sheep
Dairy cow
Horse

2.Select the two products described in the information as coming from sheep.

Fleece and meat
Milk and eggs
Honey and fleece
Fruit and meat

3.Complete the sentence: Manure from farm animals can add to soil.

4.Match each animal with one role described in the farm information.

Bee
Dairy cow
Horse (in the past)

Pulled carts and farm equipment
Pollinates flowering crops
Produces milk from grass

5.True or false: Pollination can help some crops produce fruit.

TrueFalse

6.The farm has healthy flowering plants but very few bees visiting them. Explain one possible effect this could have on a crop that depends on pollination.

7.A farmer uses a tractor instead of a horse to pull equipment. What farm role has changed, and how could a horse still help on some farms?

8.Name two things animals need from people to support their health and wellbeing, according to the information.

9.Choose one animal from the information. Explain how its role can benefit people or the farm ecosystem. Include a cause-and-effect link in your answer.

10.Design a simple farm-care sign for one animal from the information. Draw the animal and add two labels showing what it needs to stay healthy.

Draw and label your sign here.