Livestock Terminology by Species - Page 1

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key livestock terms by species (cattle and sheep) including breed, management terms, and age/sex classifications.

Breed

Animals within a species with distinctive characteristics developed by deliberate selection.

Breeding

The organized process of producing offspring within a species, typically by deliberate selection.

Dam

Female parent of an animal.

Flock

A group of animals of a single species kept together; commonly used for sheep or poultry.

Herd

A large group of animals of the same species kept together.

Litter

A group of offspring born at one birth (mammals); twins/triplets are not called brood.

Livestock

Domestic farm animals kept for production, such as meat, milk, wool, or work.

Market animals

Livestock bred and raised for food consumption.

Polled

Naturally hornless animal.

Sire

Uncastrated male parent.

Stag

Male that is castrated after sexual maturity.

Weanling

An animal that has recently been weaned.

Yearling

An animal that is about 1 year of age.

Bovine

Relating to or resembling cattle.

Bull

Sexually mature uncastrated male bovine.

Calf

Sexually immature young bovine.

Calving

Process of giving birth in cattle.

Cow

Mature female bovine that has given birth.

Fed steer or heifer

Steer or heifer that is ready for slaughter.

Heifer

Young female bovine that has not yet calved; typically 22–24 months old.

Ox

Castrated male bovine; in this context, at least 4 years old.

Steer

Castrated male bovine.

Ewe

Female sheep.

Ewe lamb

Female sheep under 1 year of age.

Lamb

Sheep less than one year of age.

Lambing

Process of giving birth in sheep.

Lambkin (lambling)

Newly born lamb.

Ovine

Relating to or resembling sheep.

Ram

Uncastrated male sheep, at least 1 year old.

Ram lamb

Uncastrated male sheep that is under 1 year old.

Wether

Castrated male sheep

Buck

Aka. Billy - a sexually mature uncastrated male goat

Buckling

Young uncastrated male goat less than one years old

Caprine

Relating to or resembling goats

Doe

Aka. Nanny- a female goat over one year of age

Kid

Young goat of either sex

Kidding

Process of giving birth in goats

Wether

Castrated male goat

Barrow

Young, castrated male swine before sexual maturity

Boar

Sexually mature uncastrated male swine

Farrowing

Process of a sow giving birth

Feeder pig

Young pig (40-70) that is ready to be finished up to market weight (260+)

Gilt

Young female pig that has not yet given birth

Hog

Mature swine that usually weighs more than 120lbs

Pig

Aka piglet. A young swine usually weighing less than 120lbs

Porcine

Relating to or resembling pigs

Sow

Mature female swine

Swine

Refers to animals in the pig family

Galline

Relating to or resembling chickens

Hen

Female bird over one year of age

Pullet

Female chicken under one year of age

Laying

Act of giving birth in chickens

Rooster

Aka cock. Uncastrated male bird over one year of age

Broilers

Meat chicken that is 1.5 to 3.0 months of age at slaughter

Fryer

Meat chicken that is slaughtered at 3 to 5 months of age

Capon

Castrated male chicken slaughtered at 4 to 8 months

Chick

Newly hatched or very young chicken

Cockerel

Uncastrated male bird under one year of age

Drake

Uncastrated adult male duck

Duck

Adult female duck

Ducklings

Baby ducks

Gander

Adult uncastrated male goose

Goose

Adult female goose

Gosling

Young goose

Poult

Young domestic turkey

Tom

Uncastrated adult male turkey

Meleagrine

Relating to or resembling turkeys