Animal Science (terminology & breeds)

Barrow

A male swine that was castrated before reaching puberty

Boar

A male swine of breeding age; denotes a male pig which is called a boar pig

Buck

A male sheep or goat; denotes animals of breeding age

Bull

A bovine male; denotes animals of breeding age

Capon

Castrated male chicken. Castration usually occurs between 3-4 weeks of age

Colt

A young male of the horse or donkey species

Cow

A sexually mature female bovine; usually one that has had a calf

Chick

A young chicken that has recently been hatched

Doe

A female goat or rabbit

Drove

A large group of animals

Ewe

Sexually mature female sheep. A ewe lamb is a female sheep before attaining sexual maturity

Filly

A young female horse

Flock

A group of sheep or poultry

Foal

A young male or female horse or the act of giving birth

Gelding

A male horse that has been castrated

Gilt

A young female swine before the time she produced her first litter

Herd

A group of animals; used with beef, dairy, or swine

Heifer

A young female bovine cow before the time that she has produced her first calf

Kid

A young goat

Mare

A sexually developed female horse

Pullet

Young female chicken from day of hatch through onset egg production, the term is used through the first laying year

Ram

A male sheep that is sexually mature

Stag

Castrated male sheep, cattle, goats, or swine that have reached sexual maturity prior to castration

Stallion

A sexually mature male horse

Steer

A castrated bovine male that was castrated before puberty/early life

Sow

A female swine that has farrowed one litter or has reached 12

Wether

A male sheep castrated before reaching puberty

Rooster

A male avian

Lamb:

a young male or female sheep, usually less than a year of age; to deliver or give birth to a lamb

Hen:

Adult female domestic fowl; chicken or turkey

Mare:

A sexually developed female horse

Farrow:

a group of young swine

British beef breeds:

tend to be smaller, easier maturing, have better mothering abilities

Continental beef breeds:

Higher growth, higher carcass, larger frames, later maturing; “terminal

Angus

\

British Breed

Origin: Scotland

Color: black or generally

polled

Meat use (quality > quantity)

most registered breed; have good carcass quality and mothering

Hereford

British breed

Polled or horned are from England; polled from the US

Color: red body with white points

hardiness and is a maternal breed

Common problem: pink eye or cancer eye

Shorthorn

British breed

Color: red white or roan

maternal; medium-sized

Charolais

British Breed

Origin: France

Color: white

known for good growth (quantity > quality)

Problems: pink eye or cancer eye heavily boned

Limousin

Continental Breed

origin: France

color: originally red/gold now black too

highest cutability meat yield

moderate → large frame size

Simmental

Continental Breed

origin: Switzerland

color: red, white, and black

used for draft, milk, and meat

crossbred with others

most famous in Europe

Gelbvieh

Continental Breed

origin: Austria/Germany

Color: red or black

comparable growth/carcass

Both milk and meat

Chianina

Continental Breed

origin: Italy

color: grey/white (dark undertones)

largest late maturing

American Brahman

Origin: US

Color: Grey/red

Horned

heat tolerant and disease resistance

Extra skin is common

Issues: fertility and carcass quality

Santa Gertrudis

Composite breed

Origin: US (King Ranch)

Color: dark red

5/8 Shorthorn and 3/8 Brahman

hardiness and heat tolerance

marbling and earlier maturing

Braford

Composite breed

Origin: US (Adams Ranch) \n Color: “tiger striped” white face and red

5/8 Hereford 3/8 brahman

“most productive females”

Less susceptible to cancer eye

Beefmaster

Composite Breed

Origin: US (Lasater Ranch)

Color: red/white (no set pattern)

horned

1/2 brahman; 1/4 Hereford; 1/4 shoehorn

bred for the 6 essentials

Brangus

Composite Breed

Origin: US (Louisiana)

Color: solid black

Polled

5/8 Angus and 3/8 brahman

quick growth and mothering

medium calves and heavy wearing weight

Holstein

Origin: Holland

Color: black and white (can be red)

The most popular modern breed

highest fluid milk content breed

large framed

Downside: Lower milk fat

Jersey

Origin: Isle of Jersey

Color: brown “fawn” with black points

The smallest of the dairy breeds

good udders, increased milk fat

Gurnsey

Origin: Isle of Gurnsey

Color: brown and white

Grazers (efficiently utilize grass for milk)

higher milk fat

smaller but not the smallest

Sometimes milk can be golden-ish (golden goodness)

Ayrshire

Origin: Scotland

Color: deep red and white

hardiness, economical, good udder quality

Brown swiss

Origin: Switzerland

color: brownish grey

oldest dairy breed

known for longevity and disposition.

larger

first bred to crossbreed with beef

Maternal swine

all white, big litters, good milk production

Terminal Swine

red/spotted/colored, good for meat production

Chester White

Maternal

Origin: US

Color: solid white

Ears: small and floppy

Prolific; conformation; grazing ability; durable

Yorkshire

Maternal

Origin: England

Color: solid white

Ears: erect ears (shire=erect)

long deep sides; prolific; good rate of gain

leaner but has a large litters

Landrace

Maternal

Origin: Denmark

Color: solid white

ears: large and floppy

Good for bacon; prolific; efficient feed converters

good milk production

Duroc

Terminal

Origin: US

Color: solid redEars: floppy

Meat breed; efficient feed conversion

healthy breed; usually easy to handle

Hampshire

Terminal

Origin: US

Color: black with white band/belt over the shoulder

Ears: erect

highly muscled, good mothers compared to other terminal breeds

Berkshire

Terminal

Origin: England

color: black with 6 white points (nose, feet)

Ears: erect

length and overall meat characteristics

Poland China

Terminal

Origin: US

color: black with 6 white points

ears: floppy (the only difference from Berkshire visually)

Good rate of gain; heavier muscling in ham and loin; smoother conformation

Spotted Swine

Terminal

Origin: US

Color: spotted black and white

ears: floppy

hardy and aggressive breeders

Belgian

Draft

Origin: Belgium

Color: chestnut with flaxen mane and tail

Heaviest of the draft horses

used most often for work

Arabian

Light

Origin: Arabia/Middle East

oldest horse breed

used to “improve” the modern horse

short back with long hindquarters and high endurance

American Quarter horse

Light

Origin: US

Oldest native to the US

two types: quarter racing and stock type

now mainly used for working cattle

“cowy”, agility, fast sprints/starts

Thoroughbred

Light

Origin: England

tall; lean; lots of speed; long legs

selected for “flat racing”

also used for fox hunting, jumping, etc

Shetland pony

Origin: Shetland islands

typically a children’s pony

originally used in coal mines