In Wisconsin, livestock animals play a large role in the economy, contributing $34 billion to the state and employing more than 43,000 people.
Cows are used for milk or meat production, with around 3.2 million head of cattle total in Wisconsin. There are 1.27 million head of dairy and 260,000 head of beef, according to the latest USDA report.
They can be used for milk or for meat, and are intelligent animals, remembering things from up to three years ago. Cows can also smell up to six miles away and have vision spanning almost 360 degrees.
Cows are ruminants, meaning they have a four-chambered stomach that is used to break down the forage they consume. Additionally, the hormone serotonin being released during milk production plays a key role in reducing cows’ chances of developing hypocalcemia, a condition in which calcium blood levels drop too low, according to a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Chickens are used for egg or meat production, with Wisconsin having around 7.95 million layers. They are the closest relative to a Tyrannosaurus rex and can experience REM sleep like humans. Chickens bathe in dirt to remove old oil from their feathers in order to keep them waterproof. They also have better color vision than humans since they are able to see ultraviolet light, which we are only able to see through a black light.
Sheep are used for milk, meat or wool on the farm, with Wisconsin having around 78,000 head.
They were also one of the first domesticated animals. They have rectangular pupils that allow for a range of 270 to 320 degree vision, which allows them to see everything except directly behind them without turning their heads.
Sheep are able to self-medicate using their philtrum, a groove on their upper lips that allows them to determine the best grasses to consume based on taste. By using the philtrum, the sheep can detect certain grasses that make them feel better when they’re sick. Sheep also have scent glands on their face and hooves that secrete scents to allow for communication with other sheep.
Goats are used for milk, meat or mohair on the farm, with Wisconsin having around 74,000 head. There is a type of goat called a ‘fainting’ goat, but they actually don’t faint. A genetic mutation causes muscles to freeze when threatened, which results in fainting. Instead of having teeth on their upper jaw, goats have a tough dental pad that allows them to break down food.
All breeds of goats descend from mountain goats, which allow them to be extremely agile and great climbers. Some goats can jump 12 feet in one stride! The age-old misconception that goats eat everything is not true. Goats are extremely picky eaters, having a strong and very sensitive upper lip that helps them sort through vegetation.
Pigs are used for breeding or meat production, with around 360,000 on Wisconsin farms, a four percent increase from 2022.
Pigs don’t have sweat glands and therefore wallow in mud in order to stay cool. Pigs are actually very clean animals since they don’t soil the areas where they eat or sleep. They have a strong sense of smell, 2,000 times better than a human’s, which is essential for searching for food and gathering information during social interactions. They are also one of the most intelligent animals in the world, being able to play complex games, use tools, recognize their own names and learn tricks.
