Transcript Animal Terminology

Animal Terminology
Cattle (Bovine)
* Cow – female over 2 years of age
* Heifer – female under 2 years of age
* Bull – Mature (intact) male
* Steer– castrated or neutered male
* Calf – under 12 months of age/offspring
*Yearling – between 12 and 24 months of age
*Calving – giving birth
*Freemartin - female twin born with a bull calf,
approximately 99.9% of time, sterile
Sheep (Ovine)
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Ram – intact male
Wether – neutered or castrated male
Ewe – mature female sheep
Lamb – under one year of age/offspring
Lambing – giving birth
Swine - Hogs or Pigs (Porcine)
 Pig – refers to swine of either sex weighing less
than 125 lbs.
 Hog – refers to swine weighing over 125 pounds
 Boar – intact male
 Barrow – neutered or castrated male
 Sow – female
 Gilt – female under one year of age
 Piglet – nursing pig/offspring
 Farrowing – giving birth
Horses
 Stallion – intact male
 Gelding – neutered or castrated male
 Mare – female
 Foal – newborn, either sex/offspring
 Filly – young female
 Colt – young male
 Foaling – giving birth
Goats (Caprine)
 Buck – intact male (never a billy)
 Wether – neutered or castrated male
 Doe – female (never a nanny)
 Doeling – young female
 Kid – newborn goat/offspring
 Kidding – giving birth
Chickens
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Cock – male over 1 year of age
Cockeral – male under 1 year of age
Capon – neutered or castrated male
Hen – female over 1 year of age
Pullet – female under 1 year of age
Chick – up to 5 weeks of age/offspring
Rooster – all chickens (slang farm term for all male
chickens)
Rabbits (Fancy)
 Buck – intact male
 Doe – female
 Kit – young /offspring
 Kindling – giving birth
Gestation
 The period of pregnancy.
 Begins at conception and lasts until parturition or
birth.
 Cow-283 days/9 months
 Ewe-148 days/5 months
 Sow-114 days/3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days
 Mare-336 days/11 months
 Doe (Goat)-151 days/ 5 months
 Doe (Rabbit)- 28-32 days