ANIMAL SCIENCE TERMINOLOGIES
General Terms
 Ruminant – a cud chewing animal, having compound stomach with four compartments namely
rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum.
 Estrous cycle – the interval from the beginning of one heat to the beginning of the next heat.
 Estrus – the period of one heat or a period of sexual receptivity in the female.
 Copulation – the act of mating (general term).
 Dam – the female parent (general term).
 Sire – the male parent (general term).
 Fertilization – the union of sperm cells and egg cells.
 Conception – the act of fertilization.
 Gestation – pregnancy or the time from conception to birth.
 Parturition – the act of giving birth (general term).
o Calving – the act of giving birth in cows.
o Caracalving - the act of giving birth in carabaos.
o Farrowing – the act of giving birth in sow.
o Foaling – the act of giving birth in mare.
o Kidding – the act of giving birth in doe/nanny (female goats).
o Lambing – the act of giving birth in ewe.
o Kindling – the act of giving birth on does (female rabbits).
 Suckling – the young animals from birth to weaning.
 Weaning – the process of separating the young animal from its dam.
 Weanling – the young animals after separation from its dam.
 Puberty – the period during which the reproductive organ first becomes functional.
 Fertility – in females a. is the ability to produce fertilizable ova, b. to provide proper
environment for sperm and c. to initiate cell division and embryonic development; in males is
simply the ability to produce large number of sperm cells capable of fertilization.
 Fecundity – the ability to give birth to offspring of numerous young at frequent intervals.
 Prolificacy – the ability to produce a large number of offspring per parturition.
 Sterility – inability to produce normal offspring.
 Impotency – inability to copulate.
 Castration – the process of removing the primary sex organ of the male animal.
 Spaying – the process of removing the primary sex organ of the female animal.
 Proven sire – a sire that has sufficient unselected information to indicate its transmitting ability.
 Cryptorchid – a male animal whose testes, one or both, fail to descend into the scrotal sac.
 Lactation – the period during which the animal produces milk from time of delivery of her young
until normal milk production.
 Selection – the process of selecting desirable animals from herd.
 Transmitting ability – the ability of an animal to pass on either good or bad traits to its progeny.
 Culling – the process of eliminating undesirable animals from the herd.
CATTLE
(Humpless – Bos taurus, Humped – Bos indicus)
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Ox – ruminant member of the bovine family, or sometimes the male used for draft purposes.
Cattle – domesticated bovine animals.
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Bull – a mature male breeding cattle.
Cow – a mature female breeding cattle, one that has given birth.
Calf – a young offspring of a cattle of either sex, less than a year old.
Bull calf – a male calf.
Heifer calf – a female calf.
Heifer – a female cattle that has not yet produced any offspring, more than a year old.
Heiferette – a large heavy heifer that has already delivered an offspring once.
Bulling heifer – a heifer which is not bred and aged 15 months or more.
Spayed heifer – a heifer whose ovaries has been removed.
Steer – a male cattle whose testes has been removed/castrated before sexual maturity.
Stag – a male cattle whose testes has been removed/castrated after sexual maturity.
Stag bullock – used for doing work as draft animal.
Yearling – a cattle of either sex that is between 1-2 years old.
Short yearling – a yearling between 1-1.5 years old.
Long yearling – a yearling between 1.5 -2 years old.
Freemartin – an infertile female mammal with masculinized behavior.
Stockers – young cattle that are being fed and cared for to grow (for meat).
Polled cattle – a naturally hornless cattle (e.g. Aberdeen, Galloway and Red Poll).
Dehorned cattle – naturally horned cattle whose horns are removed by destroying the cells that
develop them (chemical or physical).
Lactating cows – cows that are currently producing milk.
Dry cows – cows that are not producing milk or has not produced a calf during the current
breeding season.
Serving – the act of mating a cow.
Vealer – a calf suitable for veal production, usually less than 3 months old and wholly milk fed.
Veal – the meat of a vealer.
Booveal – the meat of very young calf, newly born calf.
Beef – the meat of a mature cattle.
Hide – the skin of mature cattle.
Calfskin – the skin of young cattle which produce softer leather.
Herd – a group of cattle, grouping of cattle
Breeder stock – animal intended for breeding purposes.
Physiological Phenomena
Age of puberty of females (months)
Estrous Cycle (days)
Estrus length
8-10
21 days
12-18 hours
Time of Ovulation
10-15 hrs after end of heat
Gestation (days)
283
Offspring per parturition
1
Age of puberty of males (months)
Female to male ratio at normal breeding
Normal temperature
10-12
25-40
37-41 0C
Mammary glands
4
Volume ejaculate (cc)
5-7
Sperm/ cc
Normal respiration rate/min
1.2 billion
18-28
2
Normal heart rate/min
60-70
Expected productive life (year)
10
CARABAO
(River type – Bubalus bubalis, Swamp type – Bubalis kerebau)
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Carabull – a mature male breeding carabao.
Caracow – a mature female breeding carabao.
Caracalf – young offspring of a carabao of either sex which is less than a year old.
Caraheifer – a female carabao that has not yet produced any young.
Caraheiferette – a female carabao that has delivered a young once.
Carasteer – a male carabao castrated while young or before reaching sexual maturity.
Carastag – a male carabao castrated after reaching sexual maturity.
Caracalving – the act of mating in carabaos.
Carabeef – the meat of a mature carabaos.
Caraveal – the meat of a very young carabao.
Lactating caracows – caracows that are currently producing milk.
Herd – a group of carabaos; grouping of carabao.
Physiological phenomena
Age of puberty of female (months)
24-36
Estrous cycle (days)
Estrus length
21
18-24 hours
Time of ovulation
3rd to 4th days of estrus
Gestation (days)
Offspring per parturition
Age of puberty (male)
330 days
1
Female to male ratio at normal breeding
Normal temperature
Mammary glands
Volume ejaculate (cc)
Sperm/ cc
Normal respiration rate/min
Normal heart rate/min
38-39 oC
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Expected productive life (year)
20
24-29
56-60
SWINE
(Sus scrofa)
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Boar – a mature male breeding swine.
Sow – a mature female breeding swine.
Piglet – a young pig of either sex.
Brood sow – a sow with a litter.
Barrow – a male swine castrated before reaching sexual maturity.
Stag – a male swine castrated after sexual maturity.
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Gilt – a female swine that has not yet produced any young.
Litter – a group of piglets in one farrowing.
Litter size – a number of piglets in a litter born in one farrowing.
Farrowing – the act of giving birth in swine.
Coupling – the act of mating in swine.
Pork – the meat of swine.
Drove – grouping in swine.
Shote – a pig of either sex weighing approximately 45-70 kg or 60 kg.
Market hog – a pig that is ready to market or butchering usually weighting from 80-120 kg or
between 7-9 months.
Physiological Phenomena
Age of puberty of female (months)
Estrous cycle (days)
Estrus length
Time of ovulation
Gestation (days)
Offspring per parturition
4-7 months
20
48-72 hours
Mid estrus or 30 hrs after start of estrus
114 days
8-10
Age of puberty of male (months)
4-8 months
Female to male at normal breeding
25-50
38.9-39.5 oC
4-9 pairs
200-300
100-200 billion
Normal temperature
Mammary glands
Volume ejaculate (cc)
Sperm/ cc
Normal respiration rate/ min
15-24
Normal heart rate/ min
60-80
Expected productive life (year)
6-8
CHICKEN
(Gallus gallus)
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Cock/Rooster – a male breeding chicken.
Hen – a female breeding chicken.
Chick – a young chicken of either sex.
Baby chick – a very young newly hatched chick usually from 1-3 days old.
Straight-run baby chick – are very young and unsexed chick.
Sexed baby chick – are very young chick classified to be male or female.
Pullet – a young female chicken at least 10 weeks of age until first day of egg laying.
Cockerel – a male chicken at least 10 weeks of age until sexual maturity.
Capon – a male chicken rendered sterile by the removal of the testes.
Caponette – a male chicken rendered sterile through the administration of certain drugs or
hormones like diethylstilbestrol.
Spayed chicken – a female chicken rendered sterile by the removal of the ovaries.
Broiler – a fast growing chicken raised principally for meat production for only 30-45 days.
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Layer – a chicken raised for egg production.
Molting – the biological process of shedding of the feathers.
Oviposition – the act of laying an egg.
Ovulation – the releasing of the yolk from the ovary into the funnel of the oviduct.
Caponization – the process of removing the primary sex organs of the male animal specifically
for poultry.
Incubation – the pre-hatching process fertile eggs go through where favorable environmental
conditions like relative humidity, temperature, proper position and sanitation are all provided;
may be natural or artificial.
Poultry – a collective term for all domestic birds rendering economic service to man; Poultry can
also refer to the dressed carcass of fowl.
Fowl – term applied to all poultry species specially, applied to designated mature domestic
cocks and hens.
Chicken – the most popular among all poultry species; In the Philippines, this popularity is
followed by ducks and quails.
Plumage – the feather of the fowl.
Physiological Phenomena
Age of puberty of female (months)
Time of ovulation
4–6
30 min. after Laying
Female to male at normal breeding
10 – 15
Normal temperature
40 – 42oC
Normal respiration rate/ min
14 – 26
Normal heart rate/ min
130 – 160
Expected productive life (weeks)
4 – 45
DUCK
(Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos, Muscovy – Cairina moschata)
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Balikbayan – refers to ducks which have done first to second laying year and being sold as ready
to lay.
Brooding – a period when duckling is provided with heat naturally or artificially.
Broody – trait of birds characterized by desire to sit on the eggs.
Candling – process of placing the egg before a strong light to get an outline of the egg content
and distinguish fertile eggs from infertile eggs.
Infertile eggs – egg that do not develop an embryo.
Sexual maturity – time when primary and secondary sexual organs of the birds are fully
matured. The sign of the sexual maturity of the bird is laying an egg.
Drake – an adult male used for breeding.
Duck hen – a female duck used for breeding.
Duckling – a young duck of either sex.
Green duck – a duck raised until 10 weeks of age and sold as meat.
Balut – a partially incubated egg which is boiled and sold for human consumption.
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GOAT
(Capra hircus)
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Buck / Billy goat – a mature male breeding goat.
Doe / Nanny goat – a mature female breeding goat.
Kid – a young goat of either sex.
Billy kid – a male kid.
Nanny kid – a female kid.
Dry doe – a doe that is not producing milk or a doe that has not produced a kid during the
breeding season.
Milking doe – lactating doe or a doe that is currently producing milk.
Bucking – the act of mating in goat.
Kidding – the act of giving birth in goat.
Goatling – a weanling female goat between until 1 to 2 years of age.
Wether goat – a male goat castrated before reaching sexual maturity.
Stag goat – a male goat castrated after reaching sexual maturity.
Chevon- the meat of the goat.
Pelt – skin of the goat with its hairs intact.
Mohair – a fabric made from the hair of Angora goats.
Cashmere – the wool from the undercoat of cashmere goats.
Band – grouping in goats.
Physiological Phenomena
Age of puberty of female
Estrous cycle (days)
Estrous length
7-10 months
20
34-38 hours
Time of ovulation-late estrous
18-26 hours after start of heat
Gestation (days)
Offspring per parturition
148
2
Age of puberty of male(months)
4-6 months
Female to male ratio at normal breeding
30-50
Normal temperature
Mammary glands
Volume ejaculate (cc)
Sperm / cc
Normal respiration rate/ min
Normal heart rate/ min
38-40oC
2
1
2.0 billion
12-20
70-80
Expected productive life (year)
6-10
SHEEP
(Ovis aries)
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Ram – a mature male breeding sheep.
Ewe – a mature female breeding sheep.
Lamb – a young sheep of either sex.
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Ram lamb – a young male sheep; a male lamb.
Ewe lamb – a young female sheep; a female lamb.
Gimmer – a yearling sheep between second and third shearing.
Wether sheep – a male sheep castrated before reaching sexual maturity.
Stag – a male sheep castrated after reaching sexual maturity.
Tupping – the act of mating in sheep.
Lambing – the act of giving birth in sheep.
Shearing – the process of harvesting wool in mature sheep.
Shearling – a yearling sheep of either sex more than a year old.
Two-shear sheep - a two-year-old sheep.
Mutton – the meat of a mature sheep.
Lamb meat – the meat of the lamb or a young sheep.
Wool – the hairy covering of the sheep.
Shorn wool – the hair or wool which is removed through sheering.
Pulled wool – the hair or wool which is separated from the skin after the skin has been removed
from the sheep’s carcass or after slaughtering of the sheep.
Fleece – the skin and hair of the sheep.
Pelt – wool and fiber together.
Nolls – waste wool.
Flock – grouping in sheep.
Physiological Phenomena
Age of puberty in females(months)
5-7
Estrous cycle(days)
16
Estrous length
24-36 hours
Time of ovulation
Late estrous
Gestation (days)
Offspring per parturition
148
1-2
Age of puberty of males(months)
4-6
Female to male ratio at normal breeding
35-60
38-40 oC
2
0.75-1.5
2.0 billion
Normal temperature
Mammary glands
Volume ejaculate (cc)
Sperm/ cc
Normal respiration rate/ min
12-24
Normal heart rate/ min
70-80
Expected productive life (year)
6-8
HORSE
(Equus caballus)
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Stallion – a mature male horse.
Mare – a mature female horse.
Studhorse – a mature male horse intended for breeding purposes.
Broodmare – a mature female horse intended for breeding purposes.
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Foal – a young offspring or either sex less than a year old.
Colt – a young male horse between 1-3 years old.
Filly – a young female horse between 1-3 years old.
Covering – the act of mating in horses.
Foaling – the act of giving birth in horses.
Gelding – a male horse castrated before reaching sexual maturity.
Stag – a male horse castrated after reaching sexual maturity.
Yeld mare – a dry mare; mare that has not produced any offspring during the breeding season
or a mare that is not producing milk.
Ridgling – stallion with only one testis or none in its scrotum.
Equitation – horsemanship; the act of riding on horseback
Horsemeat – the meat of horse.
Herd - the grouping of horses.
Physiological Phenomena
Age of puberty of female(months)
15-24
Estrous cycle(days)
Estrous length
22
4-8 days
Time of ovulation
1-2 days before estrous
Gestation (days)
Offspring per parturition
Age of puberty of males
Female to male ratio at normal breeding
Normal temperature
Mammary glands
Volume ejaculate (cc)
Sperm/ cc
Normal respiration rate/ min
Normal heart rate/ min
Expected productive life (year)
346
1
13-18 months
20-30
37.5-38.5 oC
2
75-150
150 million
8-16
32-44
20-25
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