Livestock Terminology Basics Livestock: domestic farm animals that are kept and raised for productive purposes

Mature Complete in natural growth or development Producers need to know when animals will reach maturity and the signs of maturity so they can manage the processing and reproduction of their livestock.

Castrate To remove the male testes, i.e. ability to reproduce Beneficial because it increases overall health and wellness of the animals  makes them safer for people to work with

Offspring Children or young of a particular animal Each species of livestock has a special term to refer to their young Dam – a female parent | Sire – a male parent Parturition - giving birth to young; childbirth Litter (aka brood) – multiple offspring produced at one birth by a multi-parous (having more than 1 child at a time) mammal

Other important livestock terms Breed – a stock of animals within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection Breeding animal – an animal caused to produce offspring typically in a controlled and organized way Gestation – amount of time it takes for an animal to develop before birth

Flock – a grouping of a species of livestock (i.e. sheep or poultry) Herd – a group of a single species of animal (i.e. cattle, horses, swine, or goats) Market animal – livestock bred and raised for food consumption Polled – a naturally hornless animal

Livestock Terminology Chart Giving Birth Gestation Offspring Young Male Young Female Mature Male Mature Female Castrated Male Cattle Goats Sheep Swine Equine Poultry Rabbits

Livestock Terminology Chart Giving Birth (Partruition) Average Gestation Offspring Young Male Young Female Mature Male Mature Female Castrated Male Cattle Calving 282 days ~ 9 months Calf Bull Heifer Cow Steer Goats Kidding 150 days Kid Buckling Doeling Buck/ Billy Doe/ Nanny Wether Sheep Lambing Lamb Ram Ewe lamb Ewe Swine Farrowing 114 days Piglet Boar Gilt Sow Barrow Equine Foaling 335 days ~ 11 months Foal Colt Filly Stallion Mare Gelding Poultry Laying 21 days Chicks Rooster Pullet Hen Capon Rabbits Kindling 30-35 days Kit Buck/ Bunny Doe/ Bunny Buck Doe Neutered /Altered Male