What is the shortest gestation period among common livestock species listed?

The shortest gestation period among common livestock species is associated with chickens. Chickens have an incubation period of about 21 days from the time the egg is laid until it hatches. This is significantly shorter than the gestation periods of other common livestock species, such as horses (approximately 11 months), cattle (around 9 months), and sheep (about 5 months).

Understanding the differences in gestation periods is important in livestock management, as it affects breeding schedules, production planning, and overall herd management. Chickens, being birds and laying eggs, have a different reproductive strategy compared to mammals, which accounts for their shorter reproductive cycle.