AGRI 22 Cattle Beef

Acaricide

a substance or preparation used in killing ticks and mites

Anthelmintic

drug administered as drench, bolus, injectible or mixed in feet to get rid of gastrointestinal parasite

Breed

group of animals possessing certain well-defined distinguished characteristics and having the ability to reproduce these characteristics in their offspring with reasonable degree of surety

Breeder Stock

animal intended for breeding purposes

Breeding Herd

these are dry cows and heifers ready for breeding

Buck (or billy)

male goat of breeding age

Bull

a male breeding cattle of any age

Bull herd

the breeding males used for breeding the cows and heifers

Bulling

when a cow tries to ride other cows or when she stands if others try to tide her

Calf

young cattle of either sex under one year of age

Calf crop

the number of calves born in a given herd

Calving

act of giving birth to cows

Calving interval

the average length of time in days between two successive calving

Castration

removal of the testis from the scrotum or any method that would render the testes functionless

Cattle (oxen)

general term for any class of animals of bovine family, genus Bos

Cercaria

infective larval stage of fluke in the snail host

Colostrum

milk produced during the first 3-5 days after parturition which contains high protein, vitamins and minerals, and antibodies that supply essential immune bodies to the newly born animals 

Concentrate

feed which contains less than 18% crude fiber and has high digestible nutrients

Cow

a mature female cattle that has given birth

Crossbreeding

mating of two different breeds

Doe (or nanny)

female goat of breeding age

Dressing percentage

the proportion of the weight of the carcass to the liveweight times 100

Estrous cycle (heat cycle)

interval from one estrus tot he nest estrus

Estrus (heat period)

the sexual period in females when they are receptive to mating

Extraction rate

relative proportion of the number of cattle slaughtered to the total cattle population

Ewe

female sheep of breeding age

Fattener

feeder or steer herd. These consist of growing cattle and those that ready for market disposal

Feeders

animals of sufficient age, weight, and condition that they are immediately placed in the fattening lot

Feeder stock

cattle which is fattened prior to slaughter

Feedlot

area with its physical facilities used for cattle fattening

Fertilization

union of egg and sperm cells

Finishing/Fattening

deposition of unused energy as fat within the body tissues

Flukecide

drug used as drench, bolus, injectible or mixed in feed to get rid of flukes

Flushing

feed livestock with plenty of feeds to make them gain weight just before or during breeding season

Grassland

a land or an area which the natural dominant plant species is grass

Gestation

pregnancy; period from fertilization to birth

Grade

an animal produced by mating a purebred sire with a female of less than purebred

Hand feeding

system of feeding wherein feeds are brought to the animals

Hay

cut and dried forage for livestock feed

Heifer

young female cattle usually under three ears old and has not yet given birth

Heifer herd

composed of heifers not yet ready for breeding

Herbage

grass and other herbaceous vegetation for animals feeding

herd

group of cattle under one management maintained in one premise and are allowed to associate or come in contact with one another

Heterosis or hybrid vigor

The increase vigor of F1 crosses over the average of the parent

Inbreeding

the mating of closely related animals

Marbling

deposition of intra-muscular fat

Parturition

a general term for giving birth

Post-partum

the period after birth

Pregnant herd

these are pregnant females that are normally grouped with the breeding herd during the breeding season

Proven sire

bull which has sufficient data to show its good genetic potential and excellent breeding performance

Purebred

an animal of pure breeding eligible for registration in its receptive breed association

Ram

male sheep of breeding age

Ration

feed allowance for one animal for 24 hours (1 day)

Replacement stock

yearling heifer or bull raised primarily for breeding purposes

Hearth girth

used as a reference in getting an estimated body weight of the animal

Hunger hollow (left paralumbar fossa)

external body part where the trocar is administered in order to relive “bloat”

Muzzle

the frontal part of the animal’s nose which is usually wet. Drying-off of the muzzle could indicate a rise in the animal’s body temperature which could be caused by an infection. Unique in pattern for every animal

Pastern 

should be strong and properly angled (45degress). It carries the weight of the animal and is essential during natural mating and pregnancy

Sheath and underlines

should be close to the body and not loose in order to avoid contact to the ground which could lead in contamination or trampling when the bull is lying down

Testicles

should be big and equal in size for a good breeder bull