ANIMAL SCIENCE NOTES - VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key Animal Science concepts, digestive anatomy, reproductive terms, and common/scientific names of animals.

Animal Science

The study of animals that focuses on their biology.

Selective Breeding

Breeding animals for a specific trait.

Mutualism

A mutualistic relationship between humans and animals where both are beneficiaries.

Influence on Human Society

The crucial role of animals in the development of agriculture.

Ruminant

A mammal that eats plant-based food and has a four-chamber stomach; cud is regurgitated and re-chewed.

Rumen

The largest first stomach compartment; a fermentation chamber that stores swallowed food before moving to the Reticulum.

Reticulum

The second stomach compartment; large particles are sent back to the mouth for re-chewing; small particles move to the Omasum.

Omasum

The third stomach compartment; absorbs excess water and reduces particle size before passing to the Abomasum.

Abomasum

The fourth, true stomach; digestion occurs and nutrients are absorbed in the intestines.

Rumination

The process of regurgitating cud from the Rumen and re-chewing it to aid digestion.

Bolus

A chewed ball or partly digested mass that is swallowed.

Grazing

Act of animals feeding on growing plants.

Linghod

Young grass that ferments quickly in the rumen after rain, producing methane and foam that can cause bloat.

Flow of Food (Ruminant Digestive Pathway)

Path: Mouth → Rumen → Reticulum → (rumination) → Omasum → Abomasum → Intestine.

Estrous Cycle

The interval from the beginning of a heat period to the beginning of the next.

Estrous

Estrous phase in which female mammals are sexually receptive.

Copulation

The act of mating.

Dam

Female parent.

Sire

Male parent.

Conception

Fertilization of the ovum.

Gestation

Pregnancy period from conception to birth.

Lactation

Period of producing milk.

Parturition

Act of giving birth.

Calving

Parturition in cows.

Carabao Calving

Parturition in carabao.

Farrowing

Parturition in pigs (sows).

Foaling

Parturition in mares (horses).

Kidding

Parturition in goats.

Lambing

Parturition in sheep.

Kindling

Parturition in rabbits.

Oviparous

Animals lay eggs that hatch outside the mother’s body.

Viviparous

Animals give birth to live young that develop inside the mother.

Ovoviviparous

Young develop inside eggs that remain within the mother’s body until hatching.

Suckling

Young animals from birth to weaning.

Weaning

Process of separating the young from its dam.

Weanling

The young animal after separation from its dam.

Fertility

Natural ability to conceive and produce offspring.

Fecundity

Ability to give birth to many offspring at frequent intervals.

Prolificacy

Ability to produce a large number of offspring per lactation.

Castration

Removing the testicles.

Spaying

Removing the ovaries.

Cryptorchid

A male animal whose testes have not descended into the scrotal sac.

Culling

The process of eliminating undesirable animals.

Common Name

Commonly used name for an animal species.

Scientific Name

Binomial nomenclature: genus and species.

Horse

Equus caballus.

Ass / Donkey

Equus asinus.

Camel

Camelus dromedaries.

Cattle

Bos taurus (humpless) or Bos indicus (with hump).

Buffalo

Bubalus bubalis.

Sheep

Ovis aries.

Goat

Capra hircus.

Pig

Sus scrofa.

Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus.

Chicken

Gallus gallus.

Mallard Duck

Anas platyrhynchos.

Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschata.

Goose

Anser domesticus.

Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo.

Pigeon

Columba livia.

Quail

Coturnix coturnix.

Guinea Fowl

Numida meleagris.