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)  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  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) days