Livestock Terminology by Species - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms used in livestock terminology by species.

Breed

A group of animals within a species with a distinctive appearance, typically developed by deliberate selection.

Breeding animal

An animal used to produce offspring, typically in a controlled and organized way.

Dam

The female parent.

Flock

A group of sheep or poultry; a group of animals of one species.

Herd

A group of cattle, horses, swine, or goats—the same species living together.

Litter

Multiple offspring produced at one birth by a multiparous mammal; also called brood.

Livestock

Domestic farm animals kept for productive purposes (meat, milk, work, wool) or bred for food.

Market animal

An animal kept for sale for meat or other end products.

Parity

The number of times a female has given birth.

Polled

Naturally hornless.

Sire

The breeding male; the father of an animal.

Stag

An adult male that has been castrated after reaching sexual maturity.

Weanling

An animal that has recently been weaned.

Yearling

An animal about 1 year of age.

Bovine

Relating to or resembling cattle.

Cattle

A group of domesticated bovine animals; a species of hooved mammals raised for milk, meat, and work.

Bull

A sexually mature uncastrated male bovine.

Calf

A sexually immature young bovine.

Cow

An adult female bovine.

Calving

The process of giving birth in cattle.

Fed steer or heifer

A steer or heifer that has been finished and is ready for slaughter.

Feeder steer or heifer

A steer or heifer that is being fed to gain weight for finishing.

Heifer

A young female bovine that has not yet had a calf.

Ox

A castrated male bovine typically used for draft or work.

Steer

A castrated male bovine.

Ewe

A female sheep.

Ewe lamb

A female sheep under 1 year of age.

Lamb

A sheep less than one year of age.

Lambing

The process of giving birth in sheep.

Lambkin

A newly born lamb (lambling).

Ovine

Relating to or resembling sheep.

Ram

An uncastrated male sheep at least 1 year old.

Ram lamb

An uncastrated male sheep under 1 year old.