Livestock Terms and Breeds

Agriculture I

General Livestock Terms Barren – not capable of producing offspring Cull – to eliminate one or more animals

from the breeding herd or flock Composite breed – a breed that has been

formed by crossing 2 or more breeds (synthetic breed)

Crossbreeding – mating animals from genetically diverse groups within a species

Dam – female parent Sire – male parent Dry – non-lactating female

Estrus – the period of mating activity in the female mammal.

Finish – the degree of fatness of an animal Gestation – the time from breeding or

conception of a female until she gives birth to her young

Herd – a group of animals Heterosis – (hybrid vigor) Performance of

offspring that is greater than the average of the parents

General Livestock Terms

Inheritance – the transmission of genes from parents to offspring

Non-ruminant – mono-gastric animal Open – non-pregnant females Polled – naturally or genetically hornless Purebred – an animal eligible for registry

with a recognized breed association. Puberty – the age at which the reproductive

organs become functionally operative

General Livestock Terms

Ruminant – a mammal whose stomach has 4 parts (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum)

Seedstock – breeding animals (purebred) Wet – milking female Weanling – an animal of weaning age Weaning – separating young animals from

their dams so offspring can no longer suckle

General Livestock Terms

Beef Terms Bovine – a general family grouping of cattle Bull - mature male Cow - mature female with one calf Heifer - female that has not calved yet Steer - castrated male prior to puberty Stag - castrated male after puberty Calf - young beef animal Calve – to give birth to a calf British breeds – breeds of beef cattle originating

in England Continental breeds – breed cattle originating in

countries other than England

Sheep Terms

Ram/Buck - mature male Ewe - female, prior to and after lambing Wether - castrated male prior to puberty Stag - castrated male after puberty Lamb - young sheep or the process of giving

birth to a lamb Mutton – meat from a sheep that is over 1 year

old Wool – the fibers that grow from the skin of

sheep

Swine Terms

Boar - mature male Sow - mature female after farrowing Barrow - castrated male prior to puberty Stag - castrated male after puberty Gilt - female prior to farrowing Pig(let) -young pig Farrow – to give birth to pigs Litter – giving birth to multiple young

Horse Terms

Stallion - mature male Mare - mature female after foaling Gelding - castrated male Filly - female prior to foaling Colt - male, uncastrated, up to 3 yrs. old Foal - young male or female horse or

the act of giving birth

Chicken Terms Poultry – term that includes chickens, turkeys,

geese, pigeons, peafowls, guineas, and game birds Cock/rooster - mature male Hen - mature female Cockerel - young male prior to puberty Capon - castrated male prior to puberty Pullet - young female prior to laying Chick - young chicken Boiler – a young meat-type chicken of either sex Clutch – eggs laid by a hen on consecutive days

External Anatomy

Beef Main Terms:Loin, Rump, Tail head, Stifle, Brisket, Rib, Quarter, Rear flank, Forearm, Hook, Pin, Round, Loin, Rib, Flank, Plate, Chuck, Brisket, Shank

Sheep Main Terms:Rump, Loin, Back (Rack), Shoulder, Leg, Rear flank, Fore flank, Breast, Leg, Breast, Loin, Rack, Shoulder, Shank

Swine Main Terms: Shoulder, Loin, Rump, Ham, Rear flank, Fore flank, Jowl, Boston Butt, Loin, Ham, Jowl, Picnic Shoulder, Spare Ribs, Belly

Beef Cattle Parts

Sheep Parts

Identify Common Beef Breeds:• British (English) Breeds:

– Angus (Black and Red)– Horned and Polled Hereford– Shorthorn

• U.S. Breeds: – Brahman– Brangus– Braford– Beefmaster– Longhorn

• Continental Breeds:– Charolais– Simmental– Limousin– Gelbveih– Salers– Chianina

Angus

Angus Traits Originated in Scotland Most popular breed in VA Black in color (Also Red Angus - different

breed) and polled (means NO horns) Early maturing Low birth weights Marbles well (marbling is putting fat into

muscle - that’s what makes you steak taste GOOD = choice cuts means more $$$)

Red Angus

Hereford

Hereford

Horned Herefords originated in England - Polled Herefords were first bred in the USA

Red body with white face and usually other white marking on the legs and belly can be horned (with horns) or polled

Hardy, adaptable to harsh cold climate Early maturing (but not very good at marbling Work well for cross-breeding

Shorthorn

Shorthorn

Originated in England Can be red, white, or roan (mix of white and

another color) in color Can be horned or polled Dual purpose breed - can be used for milk

and meat Noted for maternal ability more docile than any other breed; excellent

disposition

Charolais

Charolais

Originated from France White in color Can be horned or polled Heavily muscled Considered a bull breed - because they add

weight through muscle Heavy birth weights Late maturing – larger carcass weight

Simmental

Simmental

Originated from Switzerland Can be either yellow/red with white or black

with white In the US we tend to breed more for black

and white (US likes black colored hides) Was originally dual purpose, now used mainly

as a beef breed Larger mature size – increased input =

increased output (good for VA because of forage)

Limousin

Limousin

Originated in France Can be either golden or black in color Can be horned or polled High weight gain = excellent cutability Late maturing

Gelbvieh

Gelbvieh

Originated in Austria and Germany Golden colored Can be horned or polled Developed as a dual-purpose breed Excellent maternal traits High birth weights Late maturing

Salers

Salers

Originated in France Dark red in color Typically have a longer, shaggy haircoat Horned

Chianina

Chianina

Originated in Italy (Chiana Valley-Tuscany) White to steel gray in color with black points

(nose, legs) One of the oldest breeds - used as models for

Roman sculpture Horned Extremely large frame Low milk production Terminal breed

Brahman

Brahman Originated in India Various colors, but greys and browns are

predominant Characteristic hump over shoulder, large

droopy ears, and lots of excess skin under neck

Bos Indicus breed of cattle (not Bos Taurus) Heat and parasite resistance (big advantage) Low birth weights Undesirable carcass traits (big disadvantage)

Brangus

Brangus

Developed in USA Cross of Brahman (3/8) and Angus (5/8) Almost always black and polled Breed to get the good meat

characteristics of the Angus with the heat tolerance of the Brahman

Braford

Braford

Developed in the USA Cross of Hereford and Brahman cattle Generally have coat pattern of Hereford

with Brahmans’ excess skin Can be horned or polled

Beefmaster

Beefmaster

Developed in the USA 3 way cross between Hereford (1/4),

Shorthorn (1/4), and Brahman (1/2) Selected for ability to grow well under

range conditions (out in LARGE areas of land, means they must be able to grow well without additional feed and little extra care)

Longhorn

Longhorn Originated in the USA Generally multicolored Characteristic long horns Bred historically for meat and trail drive to

market Now bred mainly as a hobby (roping cattle,

for their horns) Poor meat quality High fertility

Sheep Breeds

Rambouillet Dorset Suffolk Hampshire Lincoln

Rambouillet

Ewe breed (Maternal) Good herding instinct Large and hardy White, small

horizontal ears Rams horned Medium length wool Large wool cap

Dorset

Medium length wool Dual Breed (milking,

meat) White, Horizontal

ears Small wool cap Horned/Polled

Suffolk

Large, with short wool

Ram breed (tall, meaty, good carcass)

Droopy ears

Hampshire

Medium Length wool Ram Breed Black face, white

wool Large Droopy ears Prone to wool

blindness

Lincoln

Dual purpose breed Black nose Small wool cap Long wool Erect ears Fairly good carcass

Swine Breeds

Yorkshire Landrace Chester White Duroc Hampshire Spotted Swine or Spots

Yorkshire

Good Mothering White Erect Ears

Landrace

White Long Floppy ears Good Mothering

Chester White

White Medium Droopy

ears Good Mothering

Duroc

Red Good carcass Females - poor

milking ability Drooped ears

Hampshire

Black and white, belted

Good carcass Erect ears Poor libido

Spotted Swine or Spots

Black and white spots

Droopy ears Aggressive

ANY QUESTIONS???