You might picture agriculture this way: fields of corn, grazing cows, and maybe a farmer on a tractor. But when you think of pet care, you probably think of how you bathe your favorite dog or trim your cat’s nails.
Farming and pet care; what on earth could these two have in common? So, let’s go on a fun adventure and find out how pet care has to do with agriculture.
Know that farmers have been taking care of animals along with farming work for thousands of years. Gradually over time, they came to know about the care, cleanliness and satisfaction of animals. This made pet care a very common practice in the agricultural sector. Therefore, we cannot consider it an independent field of work.
Some examples that would help explain:
- Brushing: Horses and cows are brushed by farmers. This is done for two purposes: One, to keep the hair healthy, and two, to check for skin problems. This activity falls under agriculture, a term you should find familiar by now.
- Nail care: Hoof trimming is necessary for farm animals such as goats and sheep. A practice similar to cutting your pet’s nails.
- Bathing: You also bathe your animals after farming to keep them healthy and from acquiring any illness so that they will further continue working. That relates to agriculture, since we use the animals in like ways, which seem to relate to the practice of farming.
So you can say that these things are somehow connected because if you do not take care of your animals then they will not be able to perform in agriculture.
Pet Grooming Relates to Agriculture: Here is how
Now we are telling you some other things, then your doubt about how does pet grooming relate to agriculture will be cleared:
- Keeping farm dogs healthy: Whenever we try to groom the dogs working on the farm, a bond is formed between you and them. After this, they become more loyal to you, in such a situation the dogs are in a great position to guard the fields.
- Increases production: When we groom farm animals like sheep, goats and cattle frequently, then it gives us information whether they are sick or not. In such a situation, when you use them in agriculture, then you will know in advance who to take and who not. This means that groomed animals remain healthy and their production increases.
- Better quality animal products: Good grooming of animals raised to produce wool or fur gives high quality fibers. It is like giving your sheep a day at the spa to improve their wool!
- Better milk production: If you keep your milk animals for agriculture, then cleaning the udders and grooming the dairy cows well can increase the production and quality of milk. Happy cows give better milk! So you could say these two complement each other.
- Establish an early warning system for health problems: No matter what animal is kept, grooming gives the farmer a clear view of his animals and thus helps to detect any potential or incipient health problems.
- Relieve some stress from animals: You may be surprised, but regular grooming can make your farm animals relaxed, therefore less stressed, and perform better whenever you use them in agriculture.
- Improved ability to tolerate heat: If you have animals with thick hair, such as sheep or alpacas, good grooming can help them improve their thermoregulation in hot weather. In that case, it will mean that there will be fewer cases of heat stress.
- Reduces the risk of skin disease: Well-groomed fur can prevent tangles and irritation to the skin. This prevents dangerous infections from occurring if these conditions are ignored. It is, so to say, like preventive health care for animals on the farm.
- Better protection from diseases: Sometimes your animals are found roaming from one farm to another; in such circumstances, it is necessary to take care to prevent the spread of diseases or infections.
Role Of Pet Groomers In Agriculture
You have already come to know the relation of how pets help in agriculture and why pet grooming is important. Therefore, the need of pet groomers is also there somewhere for this, so know about them too:
- Working dogs: Many pet groomers help farm owners in keeping the health and performance of herding dogs. Regular grooming avoids problems such as being glued to burrs or thorns in their coats.
- Show animals: They do so to prepare livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats for competitive shows and fairs, making sure they look the best.
- Animal Health: Groomers help in maintaining the overall health of animals because an animal groomer will be able to recognize any probable skin problems, parasites, or injuries the animal may have.
- Specialised skills: Agricultural pet grooming is undertaken with larger animals and outdoors; it requires special equipment.
- Community role: These groomers can also play a paramount role in farming communities with various animals to care for.
So who would have thought that there is so much in common between bathing dogs and farming? The tools we use and our general approach to caring for the animals we hire are linked to pet care-farming.
