General Terminologies in Animal Production | Jamb(UTME) Agriculture

General Terminologies in Animal Production

1. Animal Production refers to the process of breeding, raising, and managing animals for products like meat, milk, eggs, wool, and leather.
2. Animal Husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with the care, breeding, and management of farm animals.
3. Livestock refers to domesticated animals raised for food, fiber, or labor, such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry.
4. Breeding is the process of mating selected animals with the intention of producing desired qualities or characteristics in offspring.
5. Farrowing refers to the process of pigs giving birth.
6. Lambing is the term used for when sheep give birth.
7. Calving is the term used for when cows give birth.
8. Kidding is the term for when goats give birth.
9. Whelping refers to the birth of puppies in dogs.
10. Hatching refers to the process of chicks or other poultry emerging from eggs.
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Common Terms Used in Animal Husbandry

11. Culling is the process of removing animals from the herd or flock due to poor health, genetic issues, or old age.
12. Gestation is the period of development of an embryo or fetus inside the mother’s womb.
13. Weaning is the process of gradually introducing a young animal to solid food and removing it from its mother’s milk.
14. Docking refers to the practice of cutting off a part of an animal’s tail, typically done with sheep and pigs.
15. Roughage is fiber-rich feed, such as hay or silage, typically given to ruminants for digestion.
16. Fodder refers to any feed that is provided to livestock, including hay, straw, and silage.
17. Stocking rate is the number of animals a specific area of land can support sustainably.
18. Pasture is land covered with grass or other plants that animals graze for feed.
19. Husbandry practices are techniques and methods used for the care, breeding, and raising of animals.
20. Milk yield is the amount of milk produced by a dairy animal, usually measured daily or annually.
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Calving

21. Calving refers to the act of a cow giving birth to a calf.
22. The calving season is the specific time of year when cows are bred and expected to give birth.
23. Assisted calving occurs when a human helps a cow during the calving process due to complications.
24. Post-calving care involves monitoring and ensuring the health of both the cow and the calf after birth.
25. Colostrum is the first milk produced by a cow after calving, which is rich in antibodies to protect the newborn calf.
26. Dystocia refers to difficulties or complications during calving that may require veterinary intervention.
27. Calfing interval is the period between one calving event and the next for a cow.
28. The first calf heifer refers to a cow giving birth to her first calf.
29. Calf weaning occurs when a calf is gradually transitioned from milk to solid food, typically around 8-10 weeks old.
30. Calving ease is a measure of how easily a cow gives birth, often used when selecting breeding animals.
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Kidding

31. Kidding refers to the birth of young goats.
32. Goats typically have a gestation period of about 150 days before kidding.
33. Assisted kidding may be necessary when a goat experiences difficulty during the birth process.
34. Kid is the term used for a baby goat.
35. The kidding season is the period during which goats are expected to give birth.
36. Kidding interval is the time between one kidding event and the next for a goat.
37. Post-kidding care includes monitoring the health of the mother and her kids and providing nutritional support.
38. Twin kidding refers to a goat giving birth to two kids at the same time.
39. Weaning kids involves transitioning young goats from their mother's milk to solid food, typically around 8-12 weeks.
40. Kidding pen is the specific area set up for goats to give birth and care for their young.
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Castrate

41. Castration is the removal of the testes from male animals to prevent reproduction and reduce aggressive behavior.
42. Castrating male animals, such as cattle, pigs, and sheep, is a common practice in animal husbandry for meat production.
43. Banding is a method of castration where a tight band is placed around the scrotum to cut off blood supply, causing the testes to fall off.
44. Cutting is a method of castration where the testes are surgically removed.
45. Chemical castration involves the use of hormones or chemicals to inhibit testicular function.
46. Castrated animals are often referred to as steers (cattle), wethers (sheep), and barrows (pigs).
47. Castration of pigs is often done to prevent the strong odor associated with intact male pigs (boars).
48. Castration of goats is performed to prevent unwanted breeding and to improve meat quality.
49. Castration is important for managing herd dynamics and controlling breeding in livestock production systems.
50. Castrating at an early age can prevent behavioral issues and improve the quality of meat in certain species.
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Tipping

51. Tipping refers to the practice of removing part of the tail of a sheep, usually to avoid disease transmission or injury.
52. Tail tipping is commonly practiced in wool production to prevent flystrike (infestation by blowflies).
53. Tipping of sheep tails is also done to facilitate cleanliness and improve wool quality.
54. Legislation on tipping varies by region, with some countries restricting the practice due to animal welfare concerns.
55. Animal welfare groups often oppose unnecessary tipping, advocating for alternatives like fly repellent treatments.
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Veal

56. Veal is the meat from young calves, typically slaughtered between 6-8 months of age.
57. White veal comes from calves that are kept in restricted spaces and are fed a milk-based diet to produce pale meat.
58. Rose veal is produced from calves that are allowed to graze or have a more varied diet, resulting in slightly darker meat.
59. Veal production is a controversial issue, with concerns about animal welfare practices related to confinement and feeding methods.
60. Veal farming is most common in regions like Europe and North America, with the primary use being in high-end restaurants or specialty dishes.
61. The calves raised for veal are typically a byproduct of the dairy industry, as male calves are not used for milk production.
62. Ethical concerns over veal production focus on the treatment of animals, with some advocating for improved conditions and more humane practices.
63. Calf weaning for veal production is done at an early stage to ensure the meat remains tender.
64. Raising veal calves typically requires strict monitoring of diet, health, and living conditions to ensure quality meat production.
65. Veal cuts include steaks, chops, and ground veal, which are used in various cuisines worldwide.
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Mutton

66. Mutton refers to the meat from mature sheep, typically over one year old.
67. Lamb is the meat from younger sheep, usually under 12 months of age.
68. Mutton has a stronger flavor compared to lamb, making it less popular in certain regions, but highly valued in others.
69. Mutton production is more common in countries with large sheep populations like Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Middle East and Africa.
70. Mutton cuts include shoulder, leg, and loin, which are prepared in a variety of dishes like stews, curries, and roasts.
71. Mutton is considered tougher than lamb, which is why it is often slow-cooked or braised to tenderize the meat.
72. The age of the sheep is a critical factor in determining whether the meat is classified as lamb or mutton.
73. Mutton is high in protein and provides essential nutrients like iron and zinc, making it a staple in many diets.
74. Mutton farming involves managing flocks for both meat and wool production, with careful breeding to maintain desirable traits.
75. Mutton is popular in many parts of Asia and Africa, where it is used in traditional stews, roasts, and grilling.
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Distinguish Between the Various Terms in Animal Husbandry

76. Calf refers to a young cow, while veal is the meat from a young cow.
77. Kidding refers to the birth of a goat, while lambing refers to the birth of a sheep.
78. Weaning refers to the process of transitioning an animal from mother's milk to solid food, while fostering involves transferring a young animal to another mother.
79. Farrowing refers to the process of pigs giving birth, while whelping is used for dogs.
80. Castrating removes the testes of male animals, whereas neutering typically refers to the sterilization of animals in general.
81. Roughage is fiber-rich feed for ruminants, while concentrates refer to energy-dense feeds.
82. Tipping is the removal of part of a sheep's tail to prevent health issues, while docking is the same procedure for other animals like pigs.
83. Hatching refers to the process of chicks emerging from eggs, while gestation refers to the period of pregnancy in mammals.
84. Fostering involves adopting a young animal by a mother animal other than its own, while weaning transitions young animals off milk.
85. Ruminants are animals like cattle and goats that have specialized stomachs, while non-ruminants like pigs have simpler stomachs.
86. Stocking rate is the number of animals per unit of land area, while carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of animals that can be supported.
87. Silage is fermented feed made from grass or other crops, while hay is dried grass.
88. Artificial insemination involves the controlled breeding of animals through sperm handling, while natural breeding occurs without human intervention.
89. Culling refers to the removal of unfit animals from a herd, while selection is the process of choosing animals with desirable traits for breeding.
90. Fleece is the wool of a sheep, while fur is the coat of animals like rabbits or foxes.
91. Feedlot is a system for intensive beef cattle production, whereas free-range refers to a system where animals have access to the outdoors.
92. Dystocia refers to difficulties during the birth of an animal, while calving ease refers to how easily an animal can give birth.
93. Broiler chickens are raised for meat production, while layer chickens are raised for egg production.
94. Meat animals are raised primarily for their edible parts, while draft animals are used for work purposes, such as pulling carts or plows.
95. Alpacas are raised for their fleece, whereas llamas are used primarily as pack animals.
96. Angora goats are raised for their fiber, while Boer goats are raised for meat production.
97. Lactating animals produce milk, while dry animals are not producing milk or are in between lactation periods.
98. Piglets are young pigs, while suckling pigs are those still nursing from their mother.
99. Poultry farming generally refers to the farming of chickens, while aviculture includes the breeding and raising of all birds.
100. Tethering refers to tying an animal to a fixed object, while pasturing allows them to graze freely.

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