many many cows!!

I have found some odds and ends information about some cattle breeds! Some of these are very interesting! I’ve learned about so many breeds i didn’t even know exsisted!

Africander: The Africander is a native South African breed. It belongs to the Sanga type and is used primarily for meat production. The breed is usually red with long lateral horns. Sanga type cattle, in huge herds, were owned by the Hottentots when the Dutch established the Cape Colony in 1652. The animals were obtained by the colonists who improved them for use as draft animals. It was Africander oxen that drew the wagons which carried Boer farmers and families on the Great Trek of 1835 - 36 from the Cape of Good Hope to the Orange Free State, Natal and the Transvaal to escape British rule. the word trek is originally Afrikaans, meaning draft.

Beefmaster: Beefmaster cattle have been developed by the Lasater Ranch then headquartered in Texas. The breeding program leading to their establishment was started by Ed C. Lasater in 1908, when he purchasedBrahman bulls to use on his commercial herd ofHereford and Shorthorncattle. The first of these bulls that he used were principally of Girbreeding, although some of the Nelore breed were also used. In 1925 he introduced Guzerat blood into the herd.

Chianina:The Chianina (pronounced kee-a-nee-na) may well be one of the oldest breeds of cattle in existence. They were praised by the Georgic poets, Columella and Vergil, and were the models for Roman sculptures.
The breed originated primarily in the west central part of Italy and was found in a wide variety of environmental conditions. Because of this, the cattle vary in size and type from region to region. The largest representatives of the breed, from the plains of Arezzo and Siena, have supplied most of the foundation stock that has been used in the United States and Canada. The name comes from the Chiana Valley in the province of Tuscany in Central Italy.

Devon: The Devon, sometimes called North Devon, to distinguish it from the South Devonbreed, is one of the oldest beef breeds in existence today. In fact some authorities consider the Devon's origin to be prehistoric, the assumption being that the breed descended directly from Bos lonqifrons, the smaller type of aboriginal cattle in Britain. In fact, according to an offical reference material compiled by the Devon Cattle Breeders Society, Somerset, England; Devon Cattle - The Red Rubies, it appears that the Red Cattle of North Devon may have contributed to the Hereford and other British breed

English Longhorn:The English Longhorn originated in northwest and central England and Ireland.  They are used primarily for meat production.
The English Longhorn became the first breed, in the mid-1700s, that were improved by Robert Bakewell of Leicestershire, England.  Bakewell pioneered the use of inbreeding technique in cattle selection.  He selected the English Longhorn for quick growth and heavy hindquarters.  His selection efforts led the breed to become the most widely used throughout England and Ireland until it was surpasses by the Shorthorn breed in the early 1800s.
Fjall:he conformation of the Fjall or commonly known as the Swedish Mountain breed, was established by the end of the 19th century in approximately 1893. Then the average milk yield was about 12-1400kg with 3-3.5% fat. The weight of the cows was about 300-350kg. No foreign breeds were used when the breed was established. Today the average milk yield is about 5500kg per year with 4.5% fat and 3.6% protein. Although good cows can produce up to 11 - 12,000kg a year. The average weight on cows is now 450kg (350-600). Full grown bulls can weigh 650-800kg. The average height for cows are about 125cm and for full grown bulls 135-140cm.

Greek Shorthorn:This is a rare breed is reared under extensive husbandry condition in mountain areas of the northwest regions ofGreece. A meat animal also used for draft purposes, the Greek Shorthorn is of the Iberian type.
They are usually small size animals (height 0.97 – 1.14 m). The head is small with short and thin horns. The colour of the body is variant from Brown, bay, chestnut, grey and grey-black, similar to the Albanian and Busa.. The colour of the nostril, the mucous of the mouth and the hoofs is usually black. The body weight of bulls is around 300 kg and that of cows around 200 kg.

Holstein:The Holstein cow originated in Europe. The major historical developement of this breed occured in what is now theNetherlands and more specifically in the two northern provices of North Holland and Friesland which lay on either side of the Zuider Zee. The original stock were the black animals and white animals of the Batavians and Friesians, migrant European tribes who settled in the Rhine Delta region about 2,000 years ago.
For many years, Holsteins were bred and strictly culled to obtain animals which would make best use of grass, the area's most abundant resource. The intermingling of these animals evolved into an efficient, high-producing black-and-white dairy cow

Icelandic: The Icelandic cattle are found on the island of Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean. They originated from cattle brought from Norway during the settlement of Iceland in the 10th century. It´s a dual-purpose breed and a very small one, total Icelandic cattle stock counts only 75,000 including 30,000 lactating cows.
The breed is usually polled and especially colourful with about 6 basic colours and more than 100 colours schemes. The most common colours are red or red pied, brindle, brown and black or black pied. Icelandic cows average 430 kg while bulls average 600 kg. The breed is usually polled.

Jersey:The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel off the coast of France. The Jersey is one of the oldest dairy breeds, having been reported by authorities as being purebred for nearly six centuries.
The breed was known in England as early as 1771 and was regarded very favorably because of its milk and butterfat production. At that early date, the cattle of Jersey island were commonly referred to as Alderney cattle although the cattle of this island were later referred to only as Jerseys. Jersey cattle were brought to the United States in the 1850's.

Kerry:Kerry cattle are most probably the descendants of the Celtic Shorthorn, brought to Ireland as long ago as 2000 B.C. They are still found grazing in the marginal pastures of the hill districts of southwestern Ireland. Kerries were imported to the United States beginning in 1818 and the breed prospered through the early 20th century. But by the 1930's, however, it had practically disappeared from North America. Today there are few Kerrys in the United States and only a few herds, based on recent imports, in Canada.
The Kerry is a small-sized, fine-boned dairy breed, mostly black in color. Cows weigh between 780-1000 pounds and are horned. Milk production averages 7000-8000 pounds, but can occasionally exceed 10,000 pounds, with over 4% butterfat. Kerrys are hardy and long-lived, often still calving at 14-15 years of age.
By 1983 the world population of pedigreed Kerrys had dropped to around 200. The Irish Department of Agriculture has since taken steps to support the maintenance of the breed and numbers are again creeping upwards.

Lohani:The Lohani is a draft type that is found in the Loralai district in Pakistan's Baluchistan Province and Dera Ismail Khan in NWF Province. They have a red coat splashed with white spots. Their average weight at maturity is 300 kg  for the males and 235 kg for the females.
They have a short-stature and a small size. Short thick horns, small ears, short neck, well developed hump, moderate dewlap, black switch of tail, small tucked up udder in cows, and it is a hardy and sure-footed animal. Male stock are suitable for light work in hilly and sub-hilly areas.

Morucha: The Morucha originated in the region of Salamanca in Spain.  With a current population of 161,000 animals it is an important Spanish breed.  Historically the breed was used as a draft animal and has been used to produce fighting bulls but it is currently primarily used for beef production.  They are thought to have originated from Black Iberian cattle. Current (1999) ranked geographic distribution would be as follows: Salamanca, Cáceres, Samara, Ávila, Valladolid, Badajoz, Palencia, Toledo, Jaén, Ciudad Real, Madrid and some areas of Portugal.
It is average in size with the males weighing as much as 900 kilograms and Morucha females up to 500 kilograms. It is either black or blue-roan (gray).
The breed shows a strong maternal instinct and good fertility rate with a productive life of 14 to 16 years.  The breed exhibits good foraging abilities and is adapted well to less intensive production systems.

Shorthorn: The Shorthorn Breed of Cattle originated on the northeastern coast of England in the counties of Northcumberland, Durham, York, and Lincoln. These counties all touch the North Sea and lie between the Cheviot Hills and the middle part of England. The first real development of the Shorthorn breed took place in the valley of the Tees River. This river, the valley of which is so well known in the development of the breed, lies between Durham and York counties, and the large cattle that inhabited this fertile valley early became known as Teeswater cattle. In addition to having acquired a reputation for producing excellent cattle, the Tees River Valley excelled in crops, pastures, and generally high plane of agriculture.

Telemark: This is a horned, redsided dual purpose breed. It is found mainly in the mountainous regions of southeastern Norway. It is considered a good grazing animal and an efficient milk yielder on a high-roughage diet. Live weight range for cows is 400-500 kg. Registered population in 1995 was 96 heifers (2 years and younger) and 396 cows. Semen reserves in 1995 was 27,175 units (44 bulls).


Information all from: http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/

Chicke Breeds

This time I'm going to be talking about the different types of chickens. One or two from each letter of the Alphabet! 

A - Appenzell Pointed Hood Hen: This Hen has been in the Alps for many centuries. It was supposedly said to be bred in the 15th  century. They are adapted to the mountain conditions are able to walk on rocky ground and fly very well. They spend their nights in trees and in snow.  They have "narrow, forward-inclining hood feathers on the head". 

B-Brahma:  Brahmas are light, dark, and buff.  They have yellow skin and lay a brown egg. They are used for production of heavy roasters and are fairly decent egg layers.  The ancestry of this chicken traces all the way back to China! 

C-Cornish: They can be dark, white, white laced red, or buff. Cornish also have yellow skin and lay brown eggs. They are used a meat bird. Cornish chickens have broad muscled bodies.  They have short feathers that are pretty close to their bodies and sometimes they have areas of exposed skin.“Cornish were developed in the shire (county) of Cornwall, England where they were known as “Indian Games”. They show the obvious influence of Malay and other oriental blood. They were prized for their large proportion of white meat and its fine texture.”

D-Dorking: The Dorkings have white skin and lay a white egg. They are used for meat and eggs. They are developed for their fine quality meat.  It’s been believed that they originated in Italy, but have been introduced in Great Britain.  Dorkings have a rectangular body and very short legs.

H- Houdan: Have a white skin color and lay white eggs.  They are good egg producers and produced fairly well meat.  Orginated in France, and are high class table fowl.

J- Jersey Giant: Have yellow skin and lay brown eggs.   They are a cross between Orpingtons, Javas, and Langshans. They are becoming the largest chickens developed in America. Developed in New Jersey.

L-Langshan: have white skin and lay brown eggs. They are use for meat and eggs.  Originated in China and are still considered one of the older breeds.

M-Malay: have yellow skin and lay brown eggs. They are strictly ornamental fowl. This breed is very old from Asia.  They have projecting eyebrows which make them seem tall and appear bold.

Beef Identification

To make the pictures larger, click on the picture and it will appear bigger. 

Try to identify all the parts and cuts of beef cattle first before you you look at the answer key.

Word Bank: 

shank face brisket knee shank

hock flank crest shoulder-point

poll dew-lap chest-floor underline

dewclaw chuck quarter stifle rump loin

hooks pin-bones loin  ribs twist

rump tailhead cod round pastern 

shank brisket plate flank back muzzle

rib crop ear heart-girth rump shoulder  

pin bones

Beef Parts:

1.  Crest
2. Poll
3. Face
4. Muzzle
5. Dewlap
6. Shoulderpoint
7. Brisket
8. Chest floor
9. Forearm
10. knee
11. shank
12. pastern
13. underline
14. dew claw
15. hock
16. flank
17. stifle
18. quarter
19. pin bone
20. tail head
21. rump
22. loin
23. back
24. crop
25. topline
26. ribs
27. hooks
28. heart girth
29. shoulder
30. ear
31. rumo
32. cod
33. twist
34. pin bones

Cuts of Beef:
A. Loin
B. Rib
C. Rump
D. Round
E. Chuck
F. Plate
G. Flank
H. Brisket
I. Shank

Can Pets Predict the Weather, Among Other Things?

It has been said that animals have a sixth sense where they can predict the weather…  Do they really have a sixth sense? I’ve found a research that has been conducted about the sixth sense, and I’ve decided to share some things that I’ve found.  

            “According to a survey by the Associated Press and Petside.com, more than two-thirds of dog and cat owners say they’ve received weather warnings from their pets. Even more surprisingly, almost half report they’ve been alerted to bad news by their animals.”
 “It’s not that they have a sixth sense but that their senses are much more acute than those of humans,” says Dr. Nicholas Dodman, professor of animal behavior at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
“For example, a dog’s most highly developed sense is its ability to smell,” he explains. “We humans have something like 12 million olfactory receptors in our noses. Dogs can have up to 4 billion. So, it’s hardly surprising that they have an incredible ability to detect trace amounts of odors.”
“So, let’s suppose a storm is miles and miles away and lightning flashes. That may generate ozone molecules that travel in the breeze ahead of the storm. Your dog smells those and becomes agitated and starts to shake.”
“Then, when the storm hits, you think, ‘Oh, my goodness, my dog has a sixth sense!’”
“Storms are also preceded by pressure changes in the air,” says Dr. Ben Hart, a veterinarian at the University of California, Davis who has studied animal behavior for almost 50 years. “It’s possible that dogs and cats can pick up on these changes.”
Hart says animals that have been frightened by thunderstorms in the past will be especially attuned to all the stimuli that accompany them.
Static electricity might also play a role in an animal’s ability to “predict” the weather.
“People have reported getting shocks off their dogs during storms,” says Dodman. “That’s not unusual, considering that dogs are running around on insulated foot pads wearing the equivalent of a big furry angora sweater. They’re perfectly designed to acquire a static charge. So, when they touch their nose to something, they are shocked and will remember that painful experience.”
How do these scientists explain a dog or cat’s reported ability to foretell bad news?
“We tend to remember those things that impress us the most,” says Hart. “So, if our dog appears to warn us and something bad happens afterward, we’ll remember that. But we’ll forget the other hundred or thousand times he acted that way and we didn’t get bad news.”

Dodman calls this “superstitious learning.”

He likens it to a baseball player who discovers a hole in his sock on the day of a big game. He hits a home run and wears a sock with a hole in it for the rest of his career.

“The sock didn’t cause the home run,” Dodman says. “It’s just that humans often make the wrong connection.”

If it’s any consolation, however, he says that dogs and cats make wrong connections, too.

“Your pet may be frightened by the smell of lamb cooking. That’s maybe because he once burned his nose on the stove and he associates that painful experience with the smell, not the hot burner.

“It’s easy for us to misinterpret what’s really going on,” Dodman adds. “Like when you’ve had a bad day at the office and come home and your dog puts his head on your lap. Your response is, ‘My dog knew I had a bad day at work.’ He didn’t. He just knew when you walked in the door that your posture was different and you looked sad. It’s your body language. Dogs can read you like a book.”

“It’s natural to assume more understanding and human sense than there is,” says Hart. “But when you say that to people like my sister, she’ll tell me, ‘No, Ben, you’re wrong. I know my dog really understands what I’m going through or what happened.’”

“You just can’t argue with that.”

How Do Pets Warn of Impending Danger?

• 64% hide in a safe place
• 56% cry
• 52% become hyperactive
• 36% bark or meow persistently

Source: AP-Petside.com survey of pet owners who believe their animals can predict bad things happening.

This article originally appeared in PetsMatter May / June 2011, published by the American Animal Hospital Association. Copyright © 2011 AAHA. 

So maybe animals don't have a sixth sense, but it's a work in progress, and we probably won't know more about it for a while. We have to wait for more researches to be done.

AI Part 2

In my last blog, I talked a little and found some info on the history of AI and how it works. Now, for the weird stuff! How it's collected and and stored! It's kinda interesting to me to see how far we've com along in advancing our animal industry!!!!

Now the Collecting and storing art of AI is tricky for me to understand, and I've watched videos and learned about it in class, so I've found a website that has some good information about it. If you'd like to learn more see the works cited for more info.

One obvious factor which determines degree of success of AI is the quality of the semen used. Much has been learned about factors affecting semen quality and methods of evaluation and means of maintaining quality through lengthy storage. The commercial AI industry has a tremendous responsibility to sell only high quality semen. Unquestionably, they are fulfilling this obligation.

Collection of Semen

Several methods of obtaining semen have been developed. The artificial vagina method is most widely used today for the collection of bull semen. The bull is allowed to mount a teaser cow and ejaculates when the penis is directed into the artificial vagina. The artificial vagina consists of a firm cylindrical tube with a thin-walled rubber lining. The jacket formed is filled with warm water. A rubber funnel connected to a collection receptacle is attached to one end of the cylinder. When the jacket is properly filled and the artificial vagina lubricated and properly applied, this method of semen collection is highly successful.

Cleanliness must be practiced to avoid contamination and deterioration of semen quality. Proper and careful treatment of the bull is essential to bring about adequate precollection stimulation which will increase quantity and quality of semen obtained.

Obviously the collection of semen from a bull is a specialized skill and should be attempted only by those with the proper equipment, training and experience. Adequate facilities for controlling the bull and teaser animal must be maintained so that danger of injury to personnel as well as the animals is minimized.

Semen Extension

The main reason for extending (diluting) semen is to increase the number of females serviced from one ejaculation. A normal ejaculate from a dairy bull will contain 5 to 10 billion sperm which can be used to inseminate 300 to 1000 cows if fully extended.

There are several good semen extenders. Those made from egg yolk or pasteurized, homogenized milk are two of the most widely used. A good extender not only adds volume to the ejaculate but favors sperm survival and longevity. Dilution rate depends on quality of the ejaculate--number of sperm cells, percent alive and mobility. As few as 12 million sperm per insemination have given good conception rates.

Penicillin and streptomycin are added to semen extenders. These antibiotics inhibit bacterial growth and reduce danger of spreading diseases such as vibriosis.

Semen Storage

The discovery that bull semen could be successfully frozen and stored for indefinite periods has revolutionized AI in cattle. In 1949, British scientists discovered that addition of glycerol to the semen extender improved resistance of sperm to freezing. Glycerol acts to remove water from the sperm cell prior to freezing and prevents the formation of cellular ice crystals which would damage the sperm. There are two methods of freezing and storing semen: dry ice and alcohol (-100 degrees F) and liquid nitrogen (-320 degrees F). Liquid nitrogen is preferred because there is no evidence of fertility deterioration with age. Fertility gradually declines in semen stored in dry ice-alcohol.

Frozen semen can be stored indefinitely if proper temperature is maintained. A recent report told of a calf born from frozen semen stored for 16 years. Fresh, liquid semen can be successfully stored for 1 to 4 days at 40 degrees F.

Semen is usually stored in glass ampules. Other methods appear promising, particularly the French-straw. Several AI organizations have gone to this method exclusively.

Artificial coloring is frequently added to semen extenders in order to distinguish one breed from another. Complete identification of the bull is required on each individual semen container.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK!!! I"M GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A POST OF QUESTIONS WITH SOME 

ANSWERS!! SO PLEASE ASK! :) 

Works cited :http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ds089

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_Advantages_and_disadvantages_of_artificial_insemination_in_animal

Artificial Insemination Part 1

 Today, I've found some interesting things about AI... Yes, it's kinda weird and all the stuff, but you get used to it.   

Artificial insemination (AI) is a process by which sperm are collected from the male, processed, stored and artificially introduced into the female reproductive tract for the purpose of conception. AI has become one of the most important techniques ever devised for the genetic improvement of farm animals. It has been most widely used for breeding dairy cattle and has made bulls of high genetic merit available to all.

HISTORY OF AI

The history of AI is interesting. Old Arabian documents dated around 1322 A.D. indicate that an Arab chieftain wanted to mate his prize mare to an outstanding stallion owned by an enemy. He introduced a wand of cotton into the mare's reproductive tract, then used it to sexually excite the stallion causing him to ejaculate. The semen was introduced into the mare resulting in conception.

Anthony van Leeuwenhook, inventor of the microscope, first observed human spermatozoa under magnification. This finding led to further research. Spallanzani is usually considered the inventor of AI. His scientific reports of 1780 indicate successful use of AI in dogs.

In 1899, Ivanoff of Russia pioneered AI research in birds, horses, cattle and sheep. He was apparently the first to successfully inseminate cattle artificially. Mass breeding of cows via AI was first accomplished in Russia, where 19,800 cows were bred in 1931. Denmark was first to establish an AI cooperative association in 1936. E.J. Perry of New Jersey visited the AI facilities in Denmark and established the first United States AI cooperative in 1938 at the New Jersey State College of Agriculture.

The AI industry has grown tremendously in the United States since its beginning. In 1970, USDA reported that 7,344,420 dairy females were bred artificially, 46% of the female dairy cattle population.

Now that you have learned a little about AI, you are probably wondering... what are the good things, and what are the bad things? Well... Let me tell ya!

Advantages:

- You can use semen from a dead animal that has had semen stored.

-The semen can be used in thousands of females a year, rather than a lower number in the "mating season"

Disadvantages:

- it's not a job that you can learn by doing it over, and messing up. A trained professional should come in and do it for you.

-if the semen is not stored properly it will go bad.

-you usually only get s 60%70% contraception rate. depending on the animal

Overall AI has become a big part of the animal industry. You usually see a lot of it in cattle.  It’s helped the animal population grow and become larger. I hope when I get to do my internship with the vet that I’ll be able to see how this is done in real life!!!  I also want to get into how they store the semen and stuff like that. Which I will cover in my next blog!!!

Works cited :http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ds089

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_Advantages_and_disadvantages_of_artificial_insemination_in_animal

  

Fun Facts!

This week I've decided to look up some fun animal facts to share with you!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. I know they aren't really "large animals"... but who knows sometime that vet may have to work on a small animal!  But, I thought it would be fun to do something different this week. Enjoy! 


*There are a few animals with some facts and then a Quiz. If you want to know more, see the works cited to find the URL and you can have even more fun animal facts! :) 


Dogs:

• -In total there is said to be around 400 million dogs in the world.
• -The average life span for a dog is around 10 to 14 years.
• -Dogs have formed such a strong bond as pets, workers and companions to humans that they have earned the nickname "man's best friend"

Cats:

• Cats conserve energy by sleeping for an average of 13 to14 hours a day.
• A group of cats is called a clowder, a male cat is called a tom, a female cat is called a molly or queen while young cats are called kittens.
• Cats have powerful night vision, allowing them to see at light levels six times lower than what a human needs in order to see.
• Cats have flexible bodies and teeth adapted for hunting small animals such as mice and rats.

• Cats are one of, if not the most, popular pet in the world.
• There are over 500 million domestic cats in the world.

  
  
  Squirrels
  
• Squirrels are rodents.
• There are around 280 different species of squirrel.
• Most squirrels are small and have big eyes and bushy tails.
• Their large eyes help them skilfully climb trees and avoid predators.
• Squirrels eat mostly nuts, fruits and seeds.
• Squirrels are born blind
• Flying squirrels can’t fly like birds but they can glide between trees.

Below is a quiz for you to take to see how well you know animals. Yes, I know not all the information is above, but this is to test your knowledge! Have Fun!!! 

1. What food makes up nearly all (around 99%) of a Giant Panda’s diet?

2. True or false? Mice live for up to 10 years.

3. What is the name of the phobia that involves an abnormal fear of spiders?

4. What is the largest type of ‘big cat’ in the world?

5. True or false? Crocodiles have no sweat glands so they use their mouths to release heat.

6. Eagles are very good at spotting potential prey from a long distance, why?

7. What are female elephants called?

8. True or false? Owls can turn their heads completely backwards, allowing a 360 degree view.

9. Bees are found on every continent of earth except for one, which is it?

10. True or false? Cats spend an average of 13 to 14 hours a day sleeping.

11. What is the fastest land animal in the world?

12. A ‘doe’ is what kind of animal?

13. True or false? Cougar’s are herbivores.

14. Groups of lions are known as what?

15. Is a dolphin a mammal?

16. What is the largest land animal in the world?

17. True of false? Snakes have slimy skin.

18. What is the only continent on earth where Giraffes live in the wild?

19. How many pairs of wings does a bee have?

20. What type of animal is the largest primate in the world?

21. Is a shark a fish or a mammal?

22. What is the most recognizable feature of a hedgehog’s appearance?

23. True or false? Owls are far-sighted, meaning that anything within a few inches of their eyes can’t be seen properly.

24. What is the name of an adult female horse?

25. What are baby goats called?

26. What is the tallest animal in the world?

27. True or false? Rabbits are born blind.

28. What is the most recognizable physical feature of the male lion?

29. How many legs does a spider have?

30. The crocodile species is believed to have been around for how long? 2 million years or 200 million years?

Animal Quiz Answers

1. Bamboo

2. False - Captive mice live for up to 2 and a half years while wild mice only live for an average of around 4 months.

3. Arachnophobia

4. The tiger, weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds).

5. True - They often sleep with their mouth open to cool down.

6. Because they have excellent eyesight.

7. Cows

8. False - Their field of view is about 270 degrees.

9. Antarctica

10. True

11. The cheetah (it can reach speeds of up to 120kph – 75mph).

12. A female deer.

13. False - They are carnivores.

14. Prides

15. Yes

16. The elephant - The largest on record weighed around 12,000 kilograms! (26,000 lb).

17. False - Snakeskin is smooth and dry.

18. Africa

19. 2

20. The Gorilla

21. A fish

22. Their spines of spiky hair.

23. True

24. A mare

25. Kids

26. The giraffe - The average height is around 5 metres (16ft) and the tallest on record stood nearly 6 metres (20 ft) tall.

27. True

28. Its mane

29. 8

30. 200 million years

Works Cited: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/