Principles of Animal Production – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential animal production terms from cattle to breeding concepts.

Bull

Sexually mature male cattle used for breeding.

Cow

Sexually mature female cattle used for breeding.

Heifer

Young female cattle under 3 years, usually not yet calved.

Steer

Male cattle castrated before puberty; raised for fattening.

Stag (cattle)

Male cattle castrated after reaching sexual maturity.

Bullock

Stag employed for draft work.

Calf

Cattle of either sex under 1 year of age.

Calving

Act of giving birth in cows.

Beef

Meat from mature cattle.

Veal

Meat from young cattle.

Freemartin

Sterile female calf born twin to a male.

Carabeef

Meat of the carabao (water buffalo).

Carabull

Mature male carabao used for breeding.

Caracow

Mature female carabao used for breeding.

Buck (goat)

Mature male goat used for breeding.

Doe (goat)

Mature female goat that has kidded.

Doeling

Young female goat that has not yet kidded.

Wether (goat)

Castrated male goat before puberty.

Kidding (goat)

Act of giving birth in does.

Kid (goat)

Young goat of either sex under 1 year.

Chevon

Goat meat.

Pelt (goat)

Combined hair and skin of a goat.

Mohair

Long, silky hair of the Angora goat.

Ram

Mature male sheep used for breeding.

Ewe

Mature female sheep used for breeding.

Lamb (young)

Sheep of either sex under 1 year.

Wether (sheep)

Castrated male sheep before puberty.

Fleece

Wool covering of a sheep.

Lambing

Act of giving birth in ewes.

Mutton

Meat of a mature sheep.

Lamb (meat)

Meat of sheep less than 1 year old.

Shearling

Tanned skin of a recently sheared sheep with wool left on.

Shearing

Act of cutting a sheep’s wool.

Wool

Sheared hair of sheep.

Pelt (sheep)

Wool and skin of a sheep together.

Boar

Sexually mature male pig used for breeding.

Sow

Mature female pig used for breeding.

Gilt

Young female pig under 1 year.

Shote

Young pig of either sex weighing about 60 kg.

Barrow

Male pig castrated before puberty.

Stag (pig)

Male pig castrated after puberty.

Suckling pig

Young pig from birth until weaning.

Weaning

Separating piglets from their dam (about 2 months).

Litter

Group of piglets born in one farrowing.

Farrowing

Act of giving birth in sows.

Litter size

Number of piglets in one farrowing.

Litter number

Total times a sow has farrowed.

Colostrum (pig)

First milk produced after farrowing.

Meconium

First fecal matter of a newborn animal.

Weanling (pig)

Newly weaned pig.

Grower

Swine 2–4 months old.

Fattener / Finisher

Swine 4–5 months old being fattened.

Stallion

Sexually mature male horse.

Stud horse

Stallion kept specifically for breeding.

Mare

Sexually mature female horse.

Colt

Young male horse up to about 3 years.

Filly

Young female horse up to about 3 years.

Foal

Horse of either sex under 1 year.

Gelding

Male horse castrated before puberty.

Stag (horse)

Male horse castrated after puberty.

Ridgling

Stallion with one or no descended testicles.

Cryptorchid

Animal with a retained, undescended testicle.

Foaling

Act of giving birth in mares.

Tack

Equipment used for riding or harnessing horses.

Blaze

Wide white stripe down the center of a horse’s face.

Strip / Stripe / Race

Narrow white stripe down the center of a horse’s face.

Bald face

Very wide blaze extending to or past the eyes.

Star

White marking between or above a horse’s eyes.

Snip

White marking on a horse’s muzzle between the nostrils.

Rooster / Cock

Mature male chicken.

Hen (chicken)

Mature female chicken.

Threading

Mating of chickens.

Oviposition

Act of laying eggs.

Incubation

Process of hatching eggs.

Brooding

Providing heat to newly hatched chicks.

Straight-run chicks

Mixed group of male and female chicks.

Pullet

Young female chicken.

Layer

Chicken kept for egg production.

Broiler

Young, tender chicken 28–35 days old.

Fryer

Chicken weighing at least 1 kg.

Caponization

Surgical removal of testes in fowls.

Capon

Male chicken after caponization.

Slip

Chicken with incomplete removal of testes.

Poulardization

Surgical removal of ovaries in fowls.

Ad libitum feeding

Feeding without limit.

Molting

Shedding of feathers in birds.

Debeaking

Removal of part of a bird’s beak.

Dewattling

Removal of the wattle.

Dubbing

Removal of the comb.

Tom / Gobbler

Mature male turkey.

Turkey hen

Mature female turkey.

Poult

Young turkey of either sex.

Gander

Mature male goose.

Goose hen

Mature female goose.

Gosling

Young goose of either sex.

Drake

Mature male duck.

Duck hen

Mature female duck.

Duckling

Young duck of either sex.

Cock (pigeon)

Mature male pigeon.

Hen (pigeon)

Mature female pigeon.