General Livestock Terms

1. Livestock – Domesticated farm animals raised for food, fiber, or labor.

2. Herd – A group of cattle, goats, or other large animals.

3. Flock – A group of sheep or poultry.

4. Breed – A group of animals with specific characteristics.

5. Hybrid – An offspring from two different breeds or species.

6. Purebred – An animal of a recognized breed with documented ancestry.

7. Crossbreeding – Mating animals of different breeds.

8. Sire – The male parent of an animal.

9. Dam – The female parent of an animal.

10. Offspring – The young produced by an animal.

11. Gestation – The pregnancy period in animals.

12. Estrus (Heat) – The reproductive cycle phase when a female is receptive to mating.

13. Estrous cycle – The full reproductive cycle of a female.

14. Artificial Insemination (AI) – Breeding animals using stored semen.

15. Natural Service – Breeding through direct mating.

16. Conception – The fertilization of an egg, leading to pregnancy.

17. Lactation – The production of milk after giving birth.

18. Colostrum – The first milk, rich in antibodies.

19. Parturition – The act of giving birth.

20. Weaning – The process of transitioning young animals from milk to solid food.

21. Branding – Marking animals with a hot iron or freeze brand.

22. Ear Tagging – Attaching an identification tag to the ear.

23. Tattooing – Marking animals with permanent ink.

24. Microchipping – Inserting a microchip for identification.

26. Pedigree – A record of an animal’s lineage.

27. Registration – Official documentation of a purebred animal.

28. Breed Standard – The ideal characteristics of a breed.

29. Linebreeding – Mating closely related animals to preserve traits.

30. Outcrossing – Breeding unrelated animals to increase genetic diversity.

31. Neonate – A newborn animal.

32. Juvenile – A young animal before reaching maturity.

33. Mature – An animal that has reached full growth.

34. Culling – Removing animals from a herd for various reasons.

35. Market weight – The ideal weight for selling livestock.

36. Growth rate – The speed at which an animal gains weight.

37. Finishing – The final stage of feeding before slaughter.

38. Carcass – The body of a slaughtered animal.

39. Yield grade – A measure of meat quality.

40. Dressing percentage – The proportion of live weight converted into carcass weight.

41. Meat – The flesh of animals used for food.

42. Beef – Meat from cattle.

43. Pork – Meat from pigs.

44. Mutton – Meat from mature sheep.

45. Lamb – Meat from young sheep.

46. Chevon – Meat from goats.

47. Poultry – Domestic birds raised for meat or eggs.

48. Dairy – Products made from milk.

49. Leather – Animal hide processed into material.

51. Ruminant – An animal with a four-chambered stomach (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats).

52. Monogastric – An animal with a single-chambered stomach (e.g., pigs, poultry).

53. Roughage – High-fiber feed like hay and pasture.

54. Concentrates – Grain-based feed high in energy.

55. Silage – Fermented forage used for feeding livestock.

56. Supplement – Extra nutrients added to an animal’s diet.

57. Creep feeding – Feeding young animals before weaning.

58. Free-choice feeding – Allowing animals access to food at all times.

59. Feedlot – A facility where livestock are fattened before slaughter.

60. Forage – Plant material consumed by grazing animals.

61. Vaccination – Giving animals injections to prevent disease.

62. Quarantine – Isolating sick or new animals to prevent disease spread.

63. Parasite – Organisms like worms or ticks that harm livestock.

64. Biosecurity – Measures to prevent disease introduction

65. Deworming – Treating animals to eliminate internal parasites.

66. Antibiotics – Medicines used to treat bacterial infections.

67. Mastitis – An udder infection in dairy animals.

68. Hoof Rot – A bacterial infection of the hooves.

69. Bloat – A condition where excess gas builds up in the stomach.

70. Scours – Severe diarrhea in young animals.

71. Barn – A structure for housing livestock.

72. Pasture – Grazing land for livestock.

73. Corral – A fenced area for holding livestock.

74. Feed Bunk – A trough where animals eat.

76. Farrowing Crate – A pen used for sows giving birth.

77. Milking Parlor – A facility for milking dairy cows.

78. Free-range – Allowing animals to roam freely.

79. Intensive Farming – Raising animals in confined spaces.

80. Extensive Farming – Raising animals on large open land.

81. Social hierarchy – The ranking system in animal groups.

82. Dominance – The highest-ranking animal in a group.

83. Flight Zone – The area around an animal where it reacts to human presence.

84. Handling – The way livestock are moved and controlled.

85. Stress – A negative response to environmental conditions.

86. Instinct – Natural behaviors in animals.

87. Herding – The act of gathering livestock into groups.

88. Animal Welfare – Ensuring animals are treated humanely.

89. Enrichment – Activities that improve an animal’s quality of life.

90. Humane Slaughter – Ethical and regulated methods of animal processing.

91. Auction – A place where livestock are sold.

92. Slaughterhouse – A facility for processing animals.

93. Processor – A company that converts livestock into food products.

94. Livestock Insurance – Protection against losses from disease or disaster.

95. Organic Farming – Raising animals without synthetic chemicals.

96. Sustainable Agriculture – Farming that maintains environmental balance.

97. Livestock Market – A place for buying and selling animals.

98. Export – Selling animals or animal products internationally.

99. Commodity – Livestock as a tradable good.

LIVESTOCK SPECIES-SPECIFIC TERMINOLOGIES CATEGORIZED BY CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, PIGS,

1-20: Cattle (Bovine) Terminology

1. Bull – Intact male used for breeding.

2. Steer – Castrated male raised for meat.

3. Cow – Mature female that has given birth.

4. Heifer – Young female that has not calved.

5. Calf – A young bovine animal.

6. Springer – A heifer or cow close to giving birth.

7. Ox – A castrated adult male used for work.

8. Veal – Meat from young cattle (under 6 months).

9. Beef – Meat from mature cattle.

10. Dairy Cattle – Breeds raised for milk production.

11. Beef Cattle – Breeds raised for meat.

12. Feedlot – A place where cattle are fattened before slaughter.

13. Silage – Fermented feed for cattle.

14. Marbling – Intramuscular fat that improves meat quality.

15. Colostrum – First milk produced after birth.

16. Udder – The milk-producing organ in cows.

17. Milking Parlor – A facility for milking cows.

18. Dehorning – The removal of horns in young cattle.

19. Horns vs. Polled – Polled means naturally hornless.

20. Replacement Heifer – A young female selected for future breeding.

21-40: Sheep (Ovine) Terminology

22. Wether – Castrated male sheep.

23. Ewe – Mature female sheep.

24. Lamb – Young sheep.

25. Yearling – A sheep between 1-2 years old.

26. Flock – A group of sheep.

27. Docking – The removal of a portion of the tail.

28. Wool – The fiber produced by sheep.

29. Shearing – The process of removing wool.

30. Lambing – The process of a ewe giving birth.

31. Colostrum – The first milk from a ewe.

32. Hoof Trimming – Prevents overgrowth and infections.

33. Lanolin – The natural oil in sheep’s wool.

34. Open-Faced vs. Closed-Faced – Describes wool covering on a sheep’s face.

35. Scrapie – A fatal neurological disease in sheep.

36. Tupping – The mating process in sheep.

37. Bellwether – A leading sheep in the flock.

38. Tagging – Removing wool around the tail and udder.

39. Mutton – Meat from a mature sheep.

40. Pasture-Lambing – Letting ewes give birth outdoors.

41-60: Goats (Caprine) Terminology

41. Buck/Billy – Intact male goat.

42. Doe/Nanny – Mature female goat.

43. Kid – Young goat.

45. Chevon – Meat from an adult goat.

46. Cabrito – Meat from a young goat.

47. Kidding – The process of a goat giving birth.

48. Disbudding – The removal of horn buds in young goats.

49. Goat Milk – Highly digestible milk from goats.

50. Goat Fiber – Includes cashmere and mohair.

51. Mohair – Fiber from the Angora goat.

52. Cashmere – Soft fiber from certain goats.

53. Hoof Rot – A bacterial hoof disease.

54. Udder – Milk-producing organ in female goats.

55. Browsing – The natural feeding habit of goats.

56. Culling – Removing goats that are unproductive.

57. Linear Appraisal – A system for evaluating dairy goats.

58. Drenching – Administering liquid medicine orally.

59. Goat Yoga – A popular activity using goats in relaxation exercises.

60. Meat Goat vs. Dairy Goat – Goats bred for meat vs. milk production.

61-80: Pigs (Swine/Porcine) Terminology

61. Boar – Intact male pig.

62. Barrow – Castrated male pig.

63. Sow – Mature female pig that has given birth.

64. Gilt – Young female pig that has not farrowed.

65. Piglet – A baby pig.

66. Farrowing – The process of a sow giving birth.

67. Litter – A group of piglets born to a sow.

69. Creep Feeding – Feeding piglets before weaning.

70. Feeder Pig – A young pig raised for finishing.

71. Market Hog – A pig ready for slaughter.

72. Pork – Meat from pigs.

73. Bacon – Cured meat from the pig’s belly.

74. Ham – Meat from the pig’s hind leg.

75. Snout – The pig’s nose.

76. Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) – A condition in pigs caused by stress.

77. Tail Docking – Removing part of the tail to prevent biting.

78. Teeth Clipping – Trimming sharp teeth of piglets.

79. Gestation Crate – A pen used to house pregnant sows.

80. Grower Pig – A pig between weaning and finishing.

81-100: Horses (Equine) & Poultry Terminology

Horses (Equine) (81-90)

81. Stallion – Intact male horse.

82. Mare – Mature female horse.

83. Filly – Young female horse under 4 years old.

84. Colt – Young male horse under 4 years old.

85. Foal – A newborn horse.

86. Gelding – Castrated male horse.

87. Hand – The unit of measurement for a horse’s height (1 hand = 4 inches).

88. Gait – The way a horse moves (walk, trot, canter, gallop).

89. Farrier – A person who trims and shoes horses’ hooves.

90. Lungeing – Training a horse using a long rope.

91. Rooster – Mature male chicken.

92. Hen – Mature female chicken.

93. Pullet – Young female chicken.

94. Cockerel – Young male chicken.

95. Chick – Baby chicken.

96. Broiler – Chicken raised for meat.

97. Layer – Chicken raised for egg production.

98. Molting – Shedding and regrowing feathers.

99. Incubation – The process of hatching eggs.

100. Candling – Checking egg development with a light.

RABBIT TERMINOLOGIES:

1. Bunny: A colloquial or affectionate term for a rabbit.

2. Kit: A baby rabbit, typically under 6-8 weeks old.

3. Doe: An adult female rabbit.

4. Buck: An adult male rabbit.

5. Warren: A group of rabbits living together, or a structure to house rabbits.

6. Burrow: A rabbit's underground hiding place or shelter.

7. Nest box: A designated area for a doe to give birth and care for her kits.

8. Spay/Neuter: Surgical procedures to prevent rabbits from reproducing.

9. Litter: A group of kits born to the same doe at the same time.