animal science livestock terminology

Agriculture

production of food, fiber, or other plant or animal product

livestock

domestic farm animals kept for productive purposes (meat, milk, work, wool)

Market animal

livestock bred and raised for food consumption

Sustainable Agriculture

the production of food, fiber, or other plant or animal products using site-specific application that will last over a long term

organic farming

an integrated farming system that strives for sustainability, the enhancement of soil fertility and biological diversity whilst, with rare exceptions, prohibiting synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones

domestication

adapting the behavior of animals to fit the needs of humans

cull

removing an animal from a herd

sire

male parent

dam

female parent

bull

Mature intact male bovine

cow

mature female bovine that has given birth

heifer

female bovine that has not given birth

steer

male castrated when young

calf

A young male or female bovine

calving

giving birth

herd

group of bovine/cattle

boar

mature intact male pig

sow

mature female pig

barrow

male pig castrated when young

gilt

young female pig that has not farrowed

shoat or piglet

young pig

litter

group of piglets born to one sow

farrowing

giving birth to pigs

herd or dove

group of pigs

ram

mature intact male ovine

ewe

mature female ovine

wether

castrated male ovine

lamb

young ovine

lambing

giving birth to young ovine

flock

group of ovine

caprine

goat

buck

mature intact male caprine

doe

mature female caprine

wether

castrated male caprine

kid

young goat

kidding

giving birth to caprine

flock/mob

group of caprine

stallion

mature intact male equine

mare

mature female equine

filly

female equine

colt

intact male equine

gelding

castrated male horse

foal

young equine

foaling

giving birth to equine

herd

group of horses