Veterinary Science Terminology Chapter 2 Cattle (Beef and Dairy)

Bovine

Cattle

Beef

The meat from cattle

Bull

an intact, sexually mature male bovine

Calf

young bovine of either sex

Calve/Calving

The act of giving birth

Cow

A female that has produced a calf

Cow-calf operation

A management unit that maintains breeding herd of cows and produces weaned calves

Crossbred

An animal that is the product of the crossing of 2 or more breeds

Fat cattle

Cattle that have been on feed and are ready for slaughter

Feeder cattle

Cattle that are placed in a feedlot for finishing

Feedlot

A management unit where cattle are fed in confinement and grown to slaughter weight

Freshen

Dairy term for calving

Heifer

A female that has not produced a calf

Heiferette

A female that has calved once, dried up, and is then fed for slaughter

Herd

A group of cattle

Purebred

An animal that is eligible for registry with a recognized breed association

Steer

A castrated male

Stocker

Weaned cattle that are fed high-roughage diets (including grazing) prior to feedlot entry

Yearling

A bovine of either sex that is around 1 year if age