Animal Science and Technology Vocabulary

Abiotic factor

A nonliving component of the environment, such as temperature, air, or water.

Example: "Air temperature is an          that affects an animal's comfort and health."

Abomasum

The 'true stomach' of a ruminant that secretes digestive enzymes and acid.

Similar definitions: true stomach

Example: "The          functions much like the stomach of a monogastric animal."

Absorption

The movement of digested nutrients from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.

Example: "Nutrient          takes place mainly in the small intestine."

Ad libitum

Providing feed so that animals may eat freely, as much as they want.

Similar definitions: free choice

Example: "The calves were given hay          so they could eat whenever they were hungry."

Adaptation

A trait or behavior that helps an animal survive in its environment.

Example: "A thick winter coat is an          that helps cattle survive cold weather."

All-in, all-out

A system where a group of animals enters and leaves a facility together, allowing full cleaning between groups.

Example: "Using an          system lets the barn be cleaned and disinfected between groups of pigs."

Allele

One of the alternative forms of a gene for a particular trait.

Example: "An animal inherits one          for coat color from each parent."

Amino acid

A building block of protein; some are essential and must be supplied in the diet.

Example: "Lysine is an essential          that must be present in a pig's ration."

Animal behavior

The ways an animal acts and responds to its environment and other animals.

Similar definitions: ethology

Example: "Understanding normal          helps a handler recognize when an animal is sick or stressed."

Animal husbandry

The controlled management, care, and breeding of domestic animals to improve traits considered desirable to humans.

Similar definitions: animal management

Example: "Good          includes providing clean water, proper nutrition, and shelter for livestock."

Animal science

The study of the biology, care, breeding, nutrition, and management of domestic animals used for food, fiber, and companionship.

Similar definitions: animal husbandry

Example: "A student studying          learns about livestock nutrition, genetics, and reproduction."

Animal welfare

How well an animal is coping with its living conditions, including its health and comfort.

Example: "Good          means the animal is healthy, well fed, comfortable, and free from distress."

Antibiotic

A drug that kills or stops the growth of bacteria.

Example: "The vet prescribed an          to treat the calf's bacterial pneumonia."

Antibody

A protein made by the immune system that recognizes and helps destroy a specific pathogen.

Example: "The vaccine caused the animal to make          that protect it against the disease."

Appendicular skeleton

The bones of the limbs and the girdles that attach them to the axial skeleton.

Example: "The leg bones make up the          of the animal."

Artery

A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

Example: "The          carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body tissues."

Artificial insemination

Placing semen into a female's reproductive tract by hand rather than by natural mating, abbreviated AI.

Similar definitions: AI

Example: "Using         , one bull's semen can breed thousands of cows."

Artificial selection

Human-directed breeding of animals to promote desired traits.

Similar definitions: selective breeding

Example: "Through         , breeders developed dairy cattle that produce far more milk than their ancestors."

Average daily gain

The average amount of weight an animal gains per day over a period, abbreviated ADG.

Similar definitions: ADG

Example: "A steer that gains 60 pounds in 30 days has an          of two pounds."

Axial skeleton

The central part of the skeleton, including the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage.

Example: "The skull and backbone are part of the         ."

Backfat

The layer of fat over the outside of the carcass, measured to help set yield grade.

Similar definitions: fat thickness

Example: "Excess          over the ribeye lowers the carcass yield grade."

Bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms, some of which cause disease and some of which are beneficial.

Example: "Helpful          in the rumen digest fiber, while harmful ones can cause infection."

Balanced ration

A ration that provides all the nutrients an animal needs in the correct amounts and proportions.

Example: "A          supplies enough energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins for the animal's stage of life."

Barrow

A male pig castrated before reaching sexual maturity, raised for meat.

Example: "The          was raised for market rather than kept for breeding."

Biodigester

A system that breaks down manure without oxygen to produce methane gas and fertilizer.

Similar definitions: anaerobic digester

Example: "The farm's          captures methane from manure to generate electricity."

Biosecurity

Management practices used to prevent the introduction and spread of disease on a farm.

Example: "Strong          includes limiting visitors and disinfecting equipment between farms."

Biosolids

Treated solid waste that can be used as a fertilizer or soil amendment.

Example: "The treated          were applied to cropland as a nutrient source."

Biotic factor

A living component of an animal's environment, such as other animals, plants, or pathogens.

Example: "A predator is a          that affects the survival of prey animals."

Bloat

A noninfectious digestive disorder in which gas builds up in the rumen and cannot escape.

Example: "The cow's left side swelled with gas as she developed          on lush pasture."

Boar

An intact, sexually mature male pig.

Example: "The          was used to breed the sows in the herd."

Body condition score

A number that rates an animal's fatness to judge its nutritional status.

Similar definitions: BCS

Example: "A thin cow with a low          may need more energy in her ration."

Bolus

A rounded mass of chewed feed mixed with saliva that is swallowed.

Example: "The cow formed a          of grass and swallowed it into the rumen."

Branding

Marking an animal with a permanent identifying symbol, often for traceability.

Example: "         the cattle with the ranch's mark helped prove ownership."

Breed

A group of animals within a species with a distinctive, uniform appearance and traits developed through selective breeding.

Similar definitions: variety

Example: "The Angus          of cattle is known for its black coat and high-quality marbled beef."

Breeding value

An estimate of an animal's genetic worth as a parent for a particular trait.

Example: "A bull's          predicts how his calves will perform for growth."

Buck

An intact, sexually mature male goat.

Similar definitions: billy

Example: "The          produced a strong odor during the fall breeding season."

Bull

An intact (uncastrated), sexually mature male bovine.

Example: "The          was kept separate from the heifers until the planned breeding season."

Calf

A young bovine of either sex under about one year of age.

Example: "The newborn          stood and nursed within an hour of birth."

Calving

The act of a cow giving birth.

Example: "The cow was moved to a clean pen before         ."

Capillary

A tiny blood vessel where oxygen, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged with tissues.

Example: "Oxygen passes from the blood into the tissue across the thin wall of a         ."

Carbohydrate

A nutrient made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that serves as the main energy source.

Example: "Starch in corn is a          that supplies energy to the animal."

Carcass

The body of a slaughtered animal after removal of the hide, head, and internal organs.

Example: "The          was chilled overnight before being graded."

Cardiac muscle

Striated, involuntary muscle found only in the heart.

Example: "         contracts rhythmically to pump blood throughout the body."

Carrying capacity

The maximum number of animals a given area of land can support without damage.

Similar definitions: stocking rate

Example: "Exceeding the pasture's          leads to overgrazing and poor animal health."

Cartilage

A tough, flexible connective tissue that cushions joints and forms part of the skeleton.

Example: "The smooth          at the ends of bones reduces friction in the joints."

Castration

The removal or destruction of the testes to prevent breeding and reduce aggression.

Example: "         of male calves produces steers that are calmer and gain weight evenly."

Cecum

A pouch at the junction of the small and large intestine where fermentation occurs in some monogastrics.

Example: "In the horse, the          ferments fiber much as the rumen does in cattle."

Central dogma

The flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

Example: "The          of molecular biology describes replication, transcription, and translation."

Cervix

The muscular opening between the vagina and the uterus.

Example: "During artificial insemination, semen is deposited just beyond the         ."

Chick

A newly hatched young chicken.

Example: "The          was kept under a heat lamp for warmth during its first weeks."

Choice

A high USDA beef quality grade with moderate marbling, common in restaurants and stores.

Example: "Most beef sold in supermarkets grades USDA         ."

Chromosome

A threadlike structure of DNA that carries genes.

Example: "Genes are arranged along each          in the cell's nucleus."

Cloning

Producing a genetically identical copy of an animal.

Example: "         creates an offspring with exactly the same DNA as the donor animal."

Codominance

A pattern of inheritance in which both alleles are fully and separately expressed in the heterozygote.

Example: "In         , a roan coat shows distinct red and white hairs rather than a blended color."

Colostrum

The first milk produced after birth, rich in antibodies that protect the newborn.

Example: "The newborn calf must drink          within hours of birth to gain immunity."

Composting

Breaking down organic waste with microbes to produce a soil-improving material.

Example: "         manure and bedding produces a rich material that improves soil."

Concentrate

A feed that is high in energy or protein and low in fiber, such as corn or soybean meal.

Example: "The finishing ration was high in          to promote rapid weight gain."

Containment

Keeping a disease or pest confined to a limited area to stop its spread.

Example: "Quick          of the outbreak kept the disease from reaching other farms."

Cow

A mature female bovine that has given birth to at least one calf.

Example: "The          nursed her newborn calf shortly after calving."

Creep feed

Feed offered to nursing young in an area their mothers cannot access.

Example: "The piglets ate          from a special feeder while still nursing."

Crop

An enlarged pouch of a bird's esophagus that stores and softens feed before digestion.

Example: "The chicken's          stored grain that was gradually released to the stomach."

Cross-contamination

The spread of disease agents from one site, animal, or product to another.

Example: "Cleaning boots between farms prevents          of pathogens."

Crossbreeding

Mating animals of different breeds to combine desirable traits and gain hybrid vigor.

Example: "         beef breeds can produce calves that grow faster than either purebred parent."

Crude protein

The estimated total protein in a feed, calculated from its nitrogen content.

Similar definitions: CP

Example: "The hay test reported a          of 12 percent."

Cud

A bolus of partially digested feed that a ruminant regurgitates and re-chews.

Example: "The resting cow chewed its          steadily while lying in the shade."

Culling

Removing animals from a herd because of poor performance, age, or health.

Example: "         the least productive cows improves the overall quality of the herd."

Cutability

The proportion of a carcass that becomes closely trimmed, boneless retail cuts.

Example: "High          means more saleable meat and less waste fat."

Dam

The female parent of an animal.

Similar definitions: mother

Example: "The calf inherited its strong maternal traits from its         ."

Digestion

The process of breaking down feed into nutrients the body can absorb and use.

Example: "         begins in the mouth as the animal chews and mixes feed with saliva."

Disease

Any condition that impairs the normal function of an animal's body.

Example: "A contagious          can spread quickly through a crowded herd."

Disinfection

The use of chemicals to destroy disease-causing organisms on surfaces and equipment.

Example: "         of the pens between groups helps prevent the spread of infection."

DNA

The molecule that carries the genetic instructions for an organism.

Similar definitions: deoxyribonucleic acid

Example: "The sequence of bases in          determines an animal's inherited traits."

Doe

A mature female goat.

Similar definitions: nanny

Example: "The          kidded twins early in the spring."

Domestication

The process of taming and breeding wild animals over generations for human use.

Example: "The          of cattle allowed early humans to rely on a steady source of meat and milk."

Dominant

An allele that is expressed even when only one copy is present.

Example: "The          allele for polled (hornless) cattle masks the recessive horned allele."

Dosage

The specific amount of a medication to give, often based on body weight.

Similar definitions: dose

Example: "The correct          of dewormer is calculated from the animal's weight."

Dressing percentage

The percentage of an animal's live weight that becomes carcass, found by dividing carcass weight by live weight.

Similar definitions: yield

Example: "A steer with a 63 percent          yields 630 pounds of carcass from a 1,000-pound animal."

Dry matter

The portion of a feed remaining after all water is removed.

Similar definitions: DM

Example: "Feeds are compared on a          basis to account for differences in moisture."

Dystocia

A difficult or abnormal birth that may require assistance.

Similar definitions: difficult birth

Example: "The large calf caused         , so the producer had to assist the delivery."

Ear tag

A plastic or metal tag placed in an animal's ear for identification and record keeping.

Example: "Each calf received an          with a unique number for record keeping."

Embryo transfer

Removing embryos from a donor female and placing them into recipient females.

Similar definitions: ET

Example: "Through         , a valuable cow can produce many more offspring than by natural birth."

Endocrine system

The system of glands that secrete hormones to regulate body functions such as growth and reproduction.

Example: "The          uses hormones to coordinate growth, metabolism, and reproduction."

Epididymis

The coiled tube where sperm mature and are stored after leaving the testis.

Example: "Sperm mature and gain the ability to swim while stored in the         ."

Estrogen

A female hormone that regulates the estrous cycle and secondary sex characteristics.

Example: "Rising          levels cause a female to show signs of heat."

Estrous cycle

The recurring reproductive cycle in female mammals from one heat to the next.

Example: "The dairy cow's          lasts about 21 days."

Estrus

The period when a female is sexually receptive and can be bred; also called heat.

Similar definitions: heat

Example: "A cow in          will stand to be mounted by other animals."

Euthanasia

Ending an animal's life humanely to relieve incurable suffering.

Example: "The vet recommended          for the animal with an untreatable injury."

Ewe

A mature female sheep.

Example: "The          gave birth to twin lambs in the spring."

Expected progeny difference

A prediction of how an animal's offspring will perform compared with a breed average, abbreviated EPD.

Similar definitions: EPD

Example: "A bull with a high weaning-weight          tends to sire heavier calves."

Fabrication

The process of cutting a carcass into wholesale and retail cuts.

Example: "During         , the carcass is broken down into primals and then into steaks and roasts."

Farrowing

The act of a sow giving birth to a litter of piglets.

Example: "The sow was placed in a farrowing crate before         ."

Fat

A concentrated energy nutrient that provides more than twice the energy of carbohydrates.

Similar definitions: lipid

Example: "Adding          to a ration increases its energy density."

Fat deposition

The process of storing fat in the body, which increases as an animal matures and finishes.

Example: "Excess          lowers the yield grade of a finished carcass."

FDA

The Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency that regulates the safety of food and drugs.

Example: "The          regulates the animal drugs and feed additives producers may use."

Feed additive

A substance added to feed in small amounts to improve health, growth, or feed efficiency.

Example: "An ionophore          was included to improve feed efficiency in the steers."

Feed conversion ratio

The pounds of feed required to produce one pound of body weight gain.

Similar definitions: FCR

Example: "A          of 3:1 means three pounds of feed produced one pound of gain."

Feed efficiency

A measure of how well an animal converts feed into body weight, often as feed per unit of gain.

Similar definitions: feed conversion ratio

Example: "A lower feed-to-gain ratio means better         ."

Feedstuff

Any material, such as grain or hay, that is used as feed for animals.

Similar definitions: feed ingredient

Example: "Corn is a common energy          used in cattle rations."

Fermentation

Using microbes to change food, such as turning milk into cheese or yogurt.

Example: "The          of milk by bacteria produces yogurt."

Fertilization

The union of a sperm and an egg to form a new individual.

Similar definitions: conception

Example: "         normally occurs in the oviduct soon after ovulation."