Livestock TerminologyGeneral TermsBreed – a stock of animals within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selectionBreeding animal- an animal caused to produce offspring typically in a controlled and organized wayDam – a female parentFlock – a grouping of a species of livestock (sheep, poultry)Herd – a group of a single species of animal (cattle, horses, swine, goats)Livestock – domestic farm animals kept for productive purposes (meat, milk, work, wool)Market animal – livestock bred and raised for food consumptionPolled – a naturally hornless animalSire – a male parentLitter – multiple offspring produced at one birth by a multi-parous mammal. Also called brood.

ChickensChick – a newly hatched or a very young chickenBroilers – a chicken that is six to 13 weeks of age used for meat productionPullet – a young domestic hen, usually one that is less than one year oldHen – an adult female chickenCockerel – an adult male chickenRooster – all domestic chickensPopular Products – eggs and chicken

CattleBovine – the scientific name for cattleCalf – a sexually immature young bovineHeifer – a young female bovine which has not yet had a calfCow – a mature female bovineSteer – a castrated male bovineBull – a sexually mature male bovinePopular Products – milk, beef and leather

GoatsCaprine – refers to animals in the goat familyKid – a young goatWether – a castrated male goatDoe – (aka. nanny) a female goatBuck – (aka. billy) a sexually mature male goatPopular Products – milk,* cabrito,** mohair and cashmere.*Goats are the number one producer of milk in the world.** Goat meat has many different names that depend on the goat’s geographic location and age of animal.

PigsSwine – a refers to animals in the pig familyBarrow – a young, castrated male swineBoar – a sexually mature male swineGilt – a young female pigHog – a mature swine (usually weighing more than 120 pounds)Pig – (aka. piglet) a young swine (usually weighing less than 120 lbs.)Sow – a mature female swine

Sheep

Ovine – the scientific name for sheepEwe – a female sheepLamb – a sheep less than one year in ageRam – a male sheepWether – a castrated male sheepPopular Products – lamb,* mutton,* hogget,* and wool

TurkeysPoult – is a young domestic turkeyHen – an adult female turkeyTom – is a male turkey

HorseEquine – name of the family that includes horses, donkeys and zebrasFoal – an animal in the equine family, of either sex, that is one year old or youngerColt – a male horse under the age of fourFilly – a female horse under the age of fourGelding – a castrated animal of the equine familyPony – a mature horse that measures less than 14.2handsMare – an adult female horseStallion – an adult male horseDraft Horse – a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm laborHand – a non-SI unit of measurement that equals four inches

Donkey & MuleFoal – an animal in the equine family, of either sex, that is one year old or youngerJenny – a female donkeyJack – a male donkeyMule – is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horseDonkey – a domesticated animal of the equine family primarily used as a working animal

RabbitKit – a young rabbitDoe – a female rabbitBuck – a male rabbitPopular Products – fur and meat

LlamasCria – a young llamaDam – a female llamaGelding – a castrated male llamaStud – a male llamaPopular Products – wool