Cattle terminology

Question 1

sire

Answer 1

father

Question 2

dam

Answer 2

mother

Question 3

pre-weaning calf

Answer 3

the period from birth to weaning at around 8-10 weeks old. GIT goes from mono gastric to ruminant

Question 4

heifer

Answer 4

female bovine that will/has calved for the first time

Question 5

steer/bullock

Answer 5

castrated male bovine

Question 6

bull

Answer 6

entire sexually mature male

Question 7

springer

Answer 7

a cow of heifer close to calving

Question 8

transition cow

Answer 8

cow within the period of 3 weeks pre and 3 weeks post-calving

Question 9

fresh cow

Answer 9

a cow that has recently given birth and beginning to produce milk

Question 10

dry cow

Answer 10

a dairy cow that is no longer producing milk. usually pregnant around 60 days before calving they are dry

Question 11

freemartin

Answer 11

female that is the twin of a bull usually becomes infertile partial intersex

Question 12

cow-calf operation/suckler herd

Answer 12

management unit that maintains a breeding herd of cows and produces weaned calves for sale

Question 13

feeder cattle

Answer 13

those requiring more growth and/or fattening before slaughter

Question 14

feedlot

Answer 14

beef cattle enterprise where cattle are placed in confinement, fed harvested feeds and fattened for slaughter