Livestock Terminology
Cattle
- Cow-Female, over two, who has had a calf
- Bull-Intact (fertile) male
- Heifer-Young female (<2 years old) that hasn't had a calf
- Steer- Casterated male, under 18 months, that serves as the building block of the beef industry
- Ox or Oxen-A casterated male over two years old, used as a draught animal
Horses
- Mare-Mature female horse
- Stallion or Stud-Intact male horse. When used for breeding on a regular basis, Stallions are called Studs
- Gelding- A gelded (Casterated) male horse. People typically ride Geldings and Mares
- Foal- A young horse of indescriminate sex
- Colt-A young male horse
- Filly- A young female horse
Sheep
- Ewe-Mature female of any age
- Ram- Mature breeding male
- Lamb- Young sheep of indescrimate sex. Occasionally Ewe or Wether Lamb
- Wether-A casterated male sheep, again the building block of the lamb industry
Goats
- Doe-Mature female of any age
- Buck- Mature breeding male
- Kid-young goat of indiscriminate sex
Swine
- Sow-Mature female of any age
- Boar-Mature breeding male
- Baby Pig-Young animal between 14 and 21 days old
- Barrow- casterated male, the building block of the pork industry
- Feeder-A young pig between 40 and 70 pounds
- Gilt- A female that hasn't farrowed yet
- Hog-Swine over 120 pounds in weight
- Market Hog- Swine that weigh between 220 to 260 pounds and are ready for market
- Pig a very young swine (<14 days old)
- Shoat-Describes an animal from weaning until it reaches 120 pounds
People
- Rancher- A rancher typically has large (>1000 acres) amounts of land and large numbers of livestock.
- Farmer-Farmers typically have smaller (<2000 acres) amounts of land, may have several kinds of livestock, and also participate in fieldcrop cultivation
- Auctioneer-Sells animals at public auction by calling out bids
- Brand Inspector-Ensures that animals have the appropriate brands or tags before they are sold
- Order Buyer- Takes orders for animals from feedlots and fills the orders at the sale
- Confirmation Judge- Evaluates and places animals in a livestock show
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