Grade 4 Agriculture Domestic Animals – Domestic Animals And Their Uses Notes
Agriculture — Domestic Animals
Subtopic: Domestic Animals and Their Uses
Domestic animals are animals people keep on their farms or at home. In Kenya children and families see these animals every day. They give food, help with work, and can earn money for the family.
- Food: milk, eggs, meat, honey.
- Clothes and items: wool, skin, feathers, beeswax.
- Work: carrying things, ploughing, transport.
- Fertilizer: animal dung helps soil grow crops.
- Income: farmers sell animals or animal products.
Common domestic animals and their uses in Kenya
Uses: Milk (🥛), meat, hide, dung for fuel and fertilizer.
Seen often in Rift Valley and Central highlands. Small dairy farms supply milk to towns.
Uses: Milk, meat, skin. Easy to keep for small families.
Common in many parts of Kenya, especially drier areas like parts of North Eastern.
Uses: Meat (mutton), wool, skin.
Kept for wool and meat in many rural areas.
Uses: Eggs (🥚), meat, feathers.
Very common in homesteads. Chickens give eggs every day.
Uses: Meat (pork), sale for income. Manure for farms.
Often kept by small farmers near homes.
Uses: Milk, transport, meat, hides.
Important in Northern Kenya where the land is very dry.
Uses: Carrying water and goods, transport, ploughing small farms.
Donkeys are useful on many Kenyan farms and in rural towns.
Uses: Honey, beeswax. Also help plants to make fruit (pollination).
Beekeeping is a good source of income in many rural areas.
Uses: Guarding the home, helping to herd animals.
Dogs keep homesteads and livestock safe.
How to care for domestic animals (simple rules)
- Give clean water every day.
- Feed them good food and let them graze safely.
- Give a clean shelter from rain and sun.
- Keep them healthy — vaccinate and see a vet when sick.
- Be kind: treat animals gently.
- Draw your favourite domestic animal and write two things it gives you.
- Visit a neighbour's small farm (with an adult) and count how many animal types you see.
- Match game: write animals on cards and their uses on other cards — pair them.
Note for children: Always ask an adult before you touch farm animals. Washing hands after handling animals keeps you healthy.