ACADEMY

Karan Beef Glossary

Glossary of terms and definitions used in the SA livestock industry compiled by Dave Ford.

The livestock Industry in South Africa is one of the biggest but most diverse of all agricultural sectors. Competing in livestock production is becoming ever more complex from the domestic level to the international arena. This Glossary of Terms and Definitions used in the SA Livestock Industry has been compiled as a reference document to assist in providing the reader with a uniform understanding of the meaning of common terms used in daily communications between the different role players.

The Glossary aims to serve the entire spectrum of role players, from ground root producers, feedlot operators, abattoir operators, livestock product marketers, State Departments, bank advisors and anyone interested in this dynamic sector to establish common industry terminology.

It offers concise definitions and terms spanning the field of animal production and management, anatomy, breeds, nutrition, grazing and animal health concepts, medications, animal welfare, marketing and regulations. The terms and definitions in this Glossary come from a variety of trusted sources like manuals, guidelines, research publications and regulations and have been simplified for the ease of reading.

The livestock industry is constantly evolving, so while the Glossary has attempted to be as comprehensive as possible at this time, it can be considered a living document that should be updated as the need arises and when new innovations and practices emerge.

The contributions of the experts that have reviewed this Glossary are acknowledged with appreciation as they have added so much more value to the original document which has as objective to establish common terminology.

Sincere appreciation to Dr HO de Waal, Dr Heinz Meissner and Dr Machiel Scholtz for reviewing this Glossary and providing their inputs and comments that have helped improve its correctness and clarity.

October 2025

Download Karan Beef Glossary

Terms and Definitions

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Abattoir

(AB-a-twar) - is a slaughter facility where farm animals are killed humanely and their carcasses processed as meat-based food products. Some abattoirs are species dedicated others are not and have specific species slaughter lines

Abattoir categories

Abattoirs in SA are registered in one of 3 categories in terms of the Meat Safety Act 2000 (Act 40 of 2000).

High throughput- maximum daily throughput determined by the Provincial Executive Officer based on the infrastructure capacity to manage the daily number of slaughter units
Low throughput- not to exceed 20 units of either cattle or horses or sausage pigs, or 40 units of sheep or goats, or 30 units of pigs
Rural - throughput may not exceed two units per day

Abattoir slaughter unit

1 head of cattle, horse, mule, or donkey
or 15 sheep or goats
or 5 pigs
or 3 calves

Abomasum

(ab-oh-MAY-sum) - is the fourth and final stomach of a ruminant where food is digested by enzymes rather than mechanically or by fermentation

Abortion

Is when a female loses a foetus prematurely generally from an unknown cause but could include trauma, metabolic - nutritional - or hormonal disturbances, or an infectious disease

Abscess

Is an accumulation of pus concealed in a cavity in the tissues where bacteria entered, caused by insect bite infections, injury from wire or thorns or dirty needles

Absorption

Is when digested molecules of all food nutrients and water move through the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestine into the bloodstream and then transported for further processing or storage

Acid detergent fibre (ADF)

Is a renowned method of chemical analysis used to determine the amount of cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin that remain after boiling the mixed feed or ingredient sample in acid detergent; used to predict the energy content of roughages

Acts governing livestock industries in SA

Animal Protection Act (Act 71 of 1962)
Animal Disease Act (Act 35 of 1984)
Animal Identification Act (Act 6 of 2002)
Environmental impact assessment regulations of 2010
Environmental Management: Waste Act of 2008
Fertiliser, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act (Act 36 of 1947)
Feeds and Pet food Bill
Labour and basic conditions of employment Act 75 (Act 75 of 1997)
Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (updated Nov 2018)
Livestock identification and traceability system (LITS SA)
Medicine and related substances Act (Act 101 of 1965)
Meat safety Act (Act 40 of 2000)
Medicines and Related Substances Act (Act 101 of 1965)
Movement of Animals and Animal Products Act (pending)
National Environmental Management: Air quality Act of 2004
National Health Act (61 of 2003)
National veld and forest fire Act (Act 101 of 1998)
National Water Act (Act 36 of1998)
Occupational health and safety Act (act181 of 1993)
Road transport regulations
Soil conservation Act (amended to Act 15 of 1967)
Stock theft Act (amended to Act 28 of 1990)
Value Added Tax (Act of 1991)

Acclimatise

Is to become accustomed to a new environment or living conditions

Acidosis

Is a metabolic condition that can occur in ruminants when large quantities of consumed highly digestible carbohydrates are fermented by the rumen micro- organisms resulting in large volumes of D-lactic acid, causing the rumen pH to fall below 5.5 and even lower; the acid is absorbed through the rumen wall into the blood stream and can result in shock and death.

This condition is caused by poor animal or feed management controls

Acute

Is very severe requiring serious attention or action

Back cross

Is breeding a first cross offspring back to one of the initial parental breeds sometimes in line with establishing a new breed

Backgrounding

Is a livestock production system where young calves/lambs are grown out and cared for on quality pastures over a period of time preparing them for a feedlot or further growing phase.

Bagasse

(buh-GAS) - is the dry fibre residue remaining after crushing sugar cane to extract the sugar bearing juice often used in stock feeds

Balanced diet

Is a diet that provides that specific class of animal with sufficient of the scientifically determined energy and nutrients needed to produce at the required production level

Bale

Is organic material compressed and bound into standard sizes to facilitate transportation and storage

Bale press

Is mechanical equipment used to compress material into manageable sizes for storing, transporting and trading

Balk

Is when an animal hesitates in fright in front of an obstacle and stubbornly refuses to proceed further

Cafeteria system

Is a feeding system where die individual feed ingredients are fed separately allowing an animal to choose the ingredient it wants to eat

Cake(oil)

Is the protein rich edible compressed residue resulting from the pressing of seeds to extract the oil

Calcium: Phosphorus ratio

Is a recommended ratio of 2:1 in any final mixed diet

Calf

Is a male or female bovine offspring under 1 year of age

Beef calves suckle from the cow until weaned at between 7-9 months but before the birth of the next calf
Dairy calves are removed from the cow immediately after birth and raised in intensive calf rearing systems

Calf or lamb at foot

Refers to a young offspring still suckling and running with its mother

Calf crop

Is the number of calves that are born annually to a specific group of cows

Dags

Are clumped bundles of wool or hair that are contaminated with mud or faeces hanging on long haired cattle or sheep

Dagging

Is the procedure of removing the bundles of dirty hair or wool from animals

Dairy cattle

Are cattle bred for their genetic ability to produce large quantities of milk from which various nutritious dairy products are made

Dairy breeds

Dam

Is the mother of an animal

Damage causing animal

Is an individual or group of animals that inflict damage or death to domestically farmed livestock which includes but not limited to Feral dogs, Black backed jackal, Lynx (Caracal), Hyena, Leopard, African Wild dog and Chacma Baboon

Ear (of grain)

Is only the grain bearing tip of the stem of a cereal plant; also called a cob on the maize plant

Ear notch

Is an elementary identification mark or series of marks cut into an animal’s ear

Early weaning

Is removing the offspring from its dam at an early age due to various reasons

Condition of the dam due to health or drought conditions
Due to a system to increase the number of offspring in a dam’s lifetime
To raise in an intensive production system

E-coli (Escherichia coli)

Is a type of bacteria that is found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals, some strains are harmless others can cause serious diarrhoea when contaminated food or water is consumed

Ecology

Is the field of biology of the relationship of organisms to each other and to their environment

Ectoparasites

Is a parasite that feeds on the animal but lives outside of the animal, like ticks, mites, mosquitos and flies

FAMACHA

An acronym for a chart developed by Dr Faffa Malan that uses the colour of the inner eye lid to determine the level of parasite infection of mainly of Haemonchus contortus sheep and goats

Faeces

The manure or excrement from an animal

Faecal egg count

Is the number or parasite eggs per gram of faeces

Farm animals

Are animals farmed for their production of meat, milk, eggs, fibre, wool, feathers, skins, hides or draft abilities

F1 cross (Hybrid)

Is the first generation of offspring of two distinctly different breeds

F2 cross (Hybrid)

Is the offspring from interbreeding of two F1 animals from the same generation

Fat

Is natural oily substance composed of triglycerides of fatty acids occurring in all animals in tissue to store energy

Fat deposits

Are localised in animals can be generalised and is either subcutaneous or viseral

internal body fat – is Pelvic, Heart and Kidney fat
Intramuscular- is the fat distributed within the muscles more commonly referred to as marbling
inter muscular- is the fat located between muscles.
subcutaneous- is the fat stored just below the skin

Gag

Is a triangular shaped metal device inserted along the top of the teeth on one side of the lower jaw into the back of the animal’s mouth to keep the mouth open while doing an oral procedure

Gambrel restrainer

A retraining device for small stock that is placed over the animal’s neck with openings on either side to hold both the front legs of the animal

Gastroenteritis (PGE)

Caused by Roundworms that infect the digestive tract

Gelatinised

(jel-AT-in-ized) - is when starch molecules in a grain kernel are ruptured by a process of heat, moisture and mechanical shearing which improves digestion

Gender

Cattle:

Bull
Cow
Bull / heifer calf
Tollie / Steer

Sheep:

Ram
Ewe
Ram / ewe lamb
Wether (hamel)

Goats:

Male intact (buck)
Female (Doe)
Kid
Kapater

Gene

Is the unit of inheritance transferred in reproductive cells

Gene locus

Is the physical location on a chromosome

Genetic correlation

Is the correlation of breeding value traits between animals or different traits of the same animal

Genetics

Is the study of how different qualities (traits) are passed from parents to offspring.

Genotype- is the set of genes in the composition of the animal
Phenotype- is the physical expression of the genetic composition of the animal

Habitat

Is the natural environment of a plant or animal

HACCP system (Hazzard Analysis Critical Control Points)

Is a system of sequential steps to identify potential food hazards in a process, assess their risk and institute controls and procedures to prevent problems

Haemonchus contortis

Is a common parasite one of the most pathogenic nematodes in livestock

Haemophilus somnus

Is a bacterial respiratory disease forming part of the Histophilus somni complex which can spread to other organs

Halaal

Is meat that adheres to processes permissible under Islamic law which includes strict health and slaughter requirements only done at Islamic authorised facilities

Halter

Is a leather, canvas or rope strap placed around the head and neck of an animal to lead or tether it

Hand mating

Is placing an individual oestrus female in a small pen with the selected individual male to mate under supervision

IBR (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis)

Is a highly contagious infectious respiratory disease affecting all ages of cattle but very prevalent amongst younger stressed animals after mingling with other strange animals under intensive conditions

Identification document

Is a document that must accompany all livestock when traded that specifies all the owner and animal details together with their description and brandmark

Identification system

Is a compulsory National Identification System for all livestock owners whereby the owners are registered and issued with a unique non- transferable permanent mark which has to be applied to the livestock within a prescribed period after taking ownership of the animal and is entered on all trade and movement documents

Inbreeding

Is the mating of closely related ancestry over consecutive generations

Industry organisations

Umbrella representative organisations that have been established to address the specific affairs of that specific industry.

Industries with own organisations are extensive cattle and sheep, dairy, pigs, feedlots, abattoirs, retailers, importers and exporters, hides and skins and auctioneers

Infection

Is the invasion and growth of bacteria or other microorganisms in the body that can cause fever or other health problems

Ingest

The process of eating or drinking and then swallowing into the body

Jacobson’s organ

Also is a specialised chemosensory nasal organ used by some species to detect pheromones in the environment

Johne’s disease

Is a wasting disease of cattle, sheep and goats caused by a mycobacterium, there is a onetime vaccine available to prevent the disease but there is no known cure

Joule

(Jool) - is the unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI) equal to the work done by the force of 1 Newton to move 1 kg 1 meter forward, which is universally used as a unit of energy in feedstuffs

Jugular

Is the main vein that drains the brain which is severed when the dead animal is exsanguinated

Juvenile

Refers to humans and animals that are physiologically immature or underdeveloped

Kapater

Is a castrated male goat

Kernel

Is a whole grain seed

Ketone

An acidic product when the body breaks down fat instead of sugar for energy

Ketosis

Is a metabolic state caused by increased levels of ketones due to a diet extremely low in carbohydrates or due to insufficient energy intake resulting in utilization of fat reserves

Kid

A young goat of either gender below 12 months of age

Kidding

The act of a doe giving birth to a kid

Kilogram

A unit of mass recognised as meaning one thousand grams

Kilolitre

A unit of capacity equal to one thousand litres

Kosher

Is the name given to meat from animals specifically slaughtered according to specific religious requirements under Rabbinical supervision

Lactation

The production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands

Lactation period

Is the milk producing period after birth lasting until the dry period before the next birth

Lactic acid

Is an organic acid and a by-product of anaerobic fermentation, which is formed in the rumen from the fermentation of ingested feed by the rumen micro-organisms and is also produced during anaerobic metabolism in muscle tissue

Lactose

Is the main carbohydrate composed of glucose and galactose found in milk

Lairages

Are small holding pens at abattoirs where livestock are held for a short period to rest and have their behaviour observed and be ante mortem inspected before slaughter

Lamb

Is a young sheep under 1 year of age

Lambing

Is the process of an ewe giving birth to the newborn lamb

Macroclimate

Is the climate of a large geographic area

Macro minerals

Refers to the minerals required daily in large amounts by farm animals, which include Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Chlorine Sulphur and Sodium

Macronutrients

Are nutrients needed in large amounts such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats

Maggot

Is a legless larva of a fly or other insect found in decaying organic matter

Maimed

Is the state of an animal that is permanently wounded, injured, or has lost a limb

Maintenance

Is the quantity of feed required to support an animal’s body function while doing no work or production

Mange

(MAYNJ) - is a highly contagious skin disease caused by parasitic mites which results in itching and hair loss normally on animals in poor condition

Nanny goat

Is a mother goat

Natural

Is a term for an ingredient produced solely from plant or animal subjected to processing without being exposed to any form of synthetic chemical additive or process

NDF

Is neutral detergent fibre

Navel ill

Is an infection of the remnant of the umbilical cord shortly after birth

Neat

Is an archaic term for a single beef animal (there is no recognised singular for cattle other than bull, cow, steer, heifer, or calf)

Oestrus/estrus

Is the period of sexual heat in a female animal when she is receptive to mating with a male

Oestrus cycle

Occurs after sexual maturity in a female when a set of recurring physiological changes are induced by reproductive hormones, interrupted only with a pregnancy, and will continue to the end of the female life

Anoestrus - is an interval of sexual inactivity during the oestrus cycle normally due to pregnancy

Oestrus duration (approx.) of farm animals (Days):

Cow: 21
Ewe: 17
Mare: 21
Nanny Goat: 19
Sow: 21

Offal

Is the combined name of the entrails and internal organs of a slaughtered animal used for food:

Red offal comprises the organs, heart, liver, kidneys, tongue, spleen, lungs, skirts and tail which are generally all sold separately in the higher end market
Dirty offal includes the large tripe, small tripe, intestines, hooves and uncleaned head sold in the informal market

Off label

Is a product not labelled but prescribed solely by a veterinarian for a specific condition

Palatability

Is the term to describe the combination of the attributes of smell, taste and texture that contribute to the acceptability of feed to an animal

Parcel of livestock

Small and large livestock are very seldom sold singularly but a group known as a parcel where uniformity of breed type, size, gender and condition of the animals in the parcel attract better prices

Paddock

Is an enclosed area for grazing livestock.

Parasite treatment mechanisms

Can be by dipping vat, spray race, injection and pour-on

Parasite

Is an organism that lives on an animal benefiting by deriving nutrients from that animal

Parafilariasis

(par-uh-fil-uh-RY-uh-sis)- is a nematode infection of cattle transmitted by biting flies in certain of the Northern parts of South Africa characterised by bleeding on the skin with damage to the subcutaneous tissue that resembles carcass bruising and is trimmed from the carcass during Meat Inspection with economic implications to the owner.

Parainfluenza (P13)

Is a highly infectious viral disease more common in stressed young calves leading to fever, nasal discharge and a dry cough

Particle size/ length

Is the size of a processed ingredient that can or cannot pass through a certain size sieve and relates fineness or coarseness affecting the mixing ability of that ingredient

Parturition

Is the process of giving birth

Pasture rotation

Is when animals are routinely moved between grazing pastures

Pasteurellosis

is a highly infectious bacterial disease, also known as Shipping Fever, usually because of confining and intermingling of stressed young calves caused by Pasturella haemolytica and - multicida which can result in catastrophic losses if not timeously vaccinated against

Pasteurization

Is the heating process of raw milk to at least a specific temperature for a specified time to destroy pathogens before refrigeration

Pasture

Is a land covered by either cultivated or natural vegetation and grasses suitable for livestock grazing

Pasture raised

Refers to animals that roam free and receive the major portion of their feed from natural pastures

Pathologist

Is a scientist that examines body tissues or does postmortems for diagnostic purposes

Paunch

Refers to the first compartment or rumen of a ruminant

Paunch content

Is the contents of the stomach of livestock that is removed during the slaughter process

Pedigree

Is the breeding ancestry of an animal proving that it is purebred

Pellet

Is the product of a finely mixed feed forced under pressure and steam through various sized openings during a mechanical process

Pelt

The skin of a very young lamb, seal, skunk, jackal, leopard and lynx with hair or wool
on it

Pelvis

Is the flat bone in the hind quarter of livestock and with females plays a cardinal role in the ease of giving birth.

Pen

Is a term for an enclosure used to hold varying sizes of groups of livestock

Pen deaths

Is a term used for animals that died in the livestock pens

Penis

Is the male genital organ used for urination and the transfer of sperm to the female during mating

Pen rider

Is a term generally used for a person on foot or mounted on a horse that is specialised in working livestock in pens

Pencil shrink

Is a calculation used by buyers of livestock in determining the trade mass making providing for gut fill

Pen space

Is the amount of pen area allocated to each animal confined in a pen according to their size pH- is the measure of acidity and alkalinity of a substance which can range between 1 most acidic to 14 most alkaline, and can be critical for an animal’s nutrition and general well being

Per capita

Means per individual

Perennial

(per-EN-ee-ul) - is a plant that lives for three or more seasons

Per os

Means administered per mouth (orally)

Performance data

Is the record of an individual animal’s reproduction, production and even carcass data

Performance testing

Is a State managed recording system that can assist breeders to evaluate differences between animals in their herds and increase the accuracy of selecting genetically superior breeding stock

Phenotype

(Phenotype – FEE-no-type) is the external appearance of an animal influenced by its genetic makeup and the environment in which it lives

Pneumonia

Is a complicated disease leading to the inflammation of the lungs and which is the common cause of death of livestock of all ages

Phosphates

Phosphorous is an essential mineral in animal nutrition playing an important role in the development of the skeleton, growth, fertility, calving rates and general wellbeing, added supplementary to diets in the inorganic form

Pin bones

Are the ends of the pelvic bones that appear on either side of the root of the tail

Pink eye

Is a highly infectious bacterial disease of the eye that results in inflammation of the eye and can if untreated result in blindness

Pizzle rot

Is bacterial infection of the prepuce of a ram leading to inflammation and blockages in the penis causing difficult urination

Placenta

Is a circular organ in the uterus of a pregnant female that nourishes the foetus through the umbilical cord up until birth

Polled

Is the term used for animals either naturally without horns or mechanically dehorned

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

Is a vegetable oil characterised by being a liquid at room temperature or fatty acids with multiple double bonds

Pomace

Is the pulpy fibrous residue left after juice extraction from fruit or vegetables

Poor doer

Is a term used for animals that struggle to gain condition and adapt to intensive conditions but can also relate to a shy disposition

Postmortem inspection

Is the inspection by a suitably qualified person of all the internal organs, tissues, digestive tract, stomach contents and brain to determine the cause of death or of a slaughtered animal to determine wholesomeness for human consumption

Post natal

Refers to issues after birth pertaining to the offspring

Post partum

Refers to issues pertaining to the mother during the period after birth when the body is returning to its state before giving birth

Ppm (parts per million)

Refers to the measurement of milligrams per kilogram or millilitre per litre; used for the addition of very small quantities of micronutrients

Preconditioning

Is the process whereby calves are vaccinated and introduced to full feed before entering the final production phase

Predation

Refers to the act of animals preying on and killing other animals

Predator

An animal that lives by killing and eating other animals

Pregnancy diagnosis

Refers to various mechanical, laboratory or ultrasound methods used by a qualified person to determine stage of pregnancy

Premix

A concentrated mixture of micronutrients and medication and / or growth promoters in a carrier to facilitate more uniformity in a final larger mix

Prenatal

Relates to the period of pregnancy before birth

Prepartum

Means before the birth process

Preservative

Is a substance that is added to prevent decay or discolouration of the product during display or storage. Organic products are added to harvested ingredients with a higher level than normal moisture content to maintain nutrient value and/ or protect it against spoiling during storage.

Price differential

Is the difference in price per kg paid based on desirability of the animal for breeding or feeding

Primal cuts

Are retail cuts that have been trimmed to specification and vacuum packed for boxing and distribution.

Prion

Is a misfolded protein that causes untreatable fatal brain damage

Probe

Is a blunt instrument used for exploring a part of the body

Probiotic

Is a supplement for ruminants compiled of live microbes such as Lactobacillus and Streptococcus that are known to improve animal health, adaptation to new diets, reduce digestive disturbances and improve growth performance.

Processed animal waste

Is animal waste that has been dried, milled, ensiled, chemically treated, digested, or treated in any way to render the product safe or suitable for further use.

Processor

Is an organisation that alters a product mechanically, composition, chemically or by addition to add value

Processing (animal)

Is the preparing of an animal moving from a primary production- to a secondary production system

Identification is the allocating of individual identification of an animal by either tag, permanent mark, or electronically to be able to track the animal’s production performance, health and final slaughter data.
Weighing individual mass is determined and recorded against the animal’s number to be able to track the animals’ growth performance during the feeding process
Classing (type, mass, gender) animals are classed according to certain breed / maturity type, mass categories, gender groups and number of animals in the group for ease of management, socialising and feed allocation
Dosing(drenching) all animals are susceptible to various internal parasite infestations at some stage and must be treated either orally or by injection to assure that they are clean before entering the next production phase
Immunisation/ vaccination all animals that are brought together need to be vaccinated against the various contagious and devastating diseases that are transmitted by numerous vectors and by physical contact between animals, which are recommended by the local Veterinarian.
Implanting it is a standard practice in most secondary production systems to apply a non- hormonal growth promoter to castrated males- and non-cycling female animals that are not to be used for breeding purposes.
Parasite treatment animals from differing sources can have different external parasite infestations and need to go through a parasite cleansing treatment, i.e. plunge/ spray dip, injection, or systemic treatment.
Castrating depending on the management requirements young males are castrated for ease of management and to ensure less secondary masculine development on the final carcass
Horn tipping (dehorning) some breeds are more likely to have horn development at the same age as others without the development, which can contribute to more aggression and injury as well as hide damage and are either removed or if past a certain length just the tip removed
Applicators are accessories used to tag, drench, brand, dehorn, hoof trim and ear notch livestock
Vaccinators is an instrument with adjustable volume settings to apply vaccinations to livestock

Prodder

Is a battery or electric operated instrument used to encourage stubborn animals to move forward in a handling facility

Production systems

Grass fed animals have been raised on grass for their entire life
Natural refers to animals raised on natural products that excludes any synthetic additive
Organic is a system focused on a sustainable ecosystem and soil health using only biological products while complying to strict specifications audited by a third party
Subsistence is the producing of livestock or crops sufficient only for own family use or for the informal market
Any of the above four production systems are used to produce:
- Cow / Calf or Ewe/ Lamb
- Steer / wether(hamel)
Intensive production are animals initially raised on grass with the dam, weaned and the finished on a grain-based diet until marketing
or animals produced by controlled intensive grazing systems on irrigated pastures
Zero grazing is a system used in some dairy systems whereby all producing cows are managed and fed according to stage of production in enclosed pens

Progeny

(PROJ-uh-nee)- are descendants or offspring

Progeny data

Is information related to offspring

Progeny testing

Is the evaluation of males based on their daughter’s breeding performance

Progesterone

(proh-JES-ter-own) - is a female hormone secreted by the ovary and by the placenta during pregnancy

Prolapse

Is the outward protruding of a body part

Prophylaxis

(pro-fih-LACK-sis)- refers to treatment to prevent a disease

Propionic acid

Is a short chain fatty acid often used in the preservation of silage, grains or hay and a major end product from rumen fermentation

Prostrate

Means lying stretched out

Protected fat

Is a fat that has been chemically treated to protect it against degradation by the rumen bacteria

Protein

Crude (CP) is an estimation of protein content of an ingredient or feed by laboratory analysing the nitrogen content and multiplying the figure by 6.25
Digestible protein (DP) is the actual portion of the crude protein that is absorbed by the animal.
Metabolizable protein (MP) is the total portion of rumen and undegraded protein that reaches the small intestine
Rumen degradable (RDP) is the fraction of dietary protein that is converted into microbial protein during the ruminant digestion process.
Undegradable dietary protein (UDP) is the part of protein in the diet that is not degraded by the ruminal micro-organisms and passes into the intestines to be digested and absorbed
Non-protein nitrogen (NPN) is a manufactured nitrogenous product that releases nitrogen in the rumen when ingested which is converted by the rumen bacteria into microbial protein, i.e. Urea and Ammonium sulphate

Protein supplement

Is one with at least a 20% protein concentrate mix comprised of natural and NPN protein also containing trace minerals and vitamins

Protozoa

(proh-toh-ZOH-uh)- are first single cell organisms that live in the rumen of ruminants and help in the digestion process to break down plant material into digestible molecules

Prussic acid (blousuur)

Is a rapidly acting poison produced by some crops wilted by heat and when consumed by livestock enters the bloodstream inhibiting oxygen utilisation causing asphyxiation and death

Pseudo ruminant (camelids)

(SOO-doh ROO-min-ent)- are animals with three stomachs

Camels
Alpacas
Llamas

Puberty

Is when the reproductive tract and secondary sex organs start to acquire their mature form which varies between animals and species

Pulling cattle/sheep

Is the process of removing animals from a facility or group that are showing signs of disease or injury for treatment

Pulp

Is the fibrous residue left after vegetable material or fruit have been pressed for juice extraction

Purge

Is the tissue juices that drain from fresh- or processed meat into their packaging or from cooked meat removed from the oven or grill

Purebred

Are animals that are fully pedigreed and registered and have been bred up to this purebred status compliant to breed requirements

Quality

means a measure of excellence when compared to another product of a similar kind
-quality means the ability to conform to requirements

Quarantine

Is a place of isolation in which an animal that may be disease affected has been placed

Qualitative traits

Are measurable phenotypic characteristics caused by genetic – enviro interaction

Race

Is a narrow corridor, built species specific, to be able to work a group of constrained animals individually and humanely

Radio frequency identification (RFID)

Is a wireless system comprised of a device that emits radio waves which receives signals back from ear tags

Ram

An adult male sheep or goat that has not been castrated and normally used in a breeding programme

Random

Means happening without method or conscious decision or organising

Rangeland

Open natural grazing land for animals or game

Ration

Is the amount of total feed provided to an animal over a 24hr period

Raw

Is a product or ingredient that is in its natural state not having been subjected to any form of heating in the preparation process

Recessive gene

Are genes with no obvious effect and will only come to the fore when present in both parents

Rectal prolapse

Is when a part of the large intestine protrudes from the anus

Rectum

Is the last few centimetres of the large intestine before the anus

Red line

Is a physical barrier maintained by the National Animal Health Department to prevent the free movement of animals from a ‘contaminated area’ into a ‘uncontaminated area’

Rehydrate

Means replenishing body fluids that have been lost due to heat, illness, or fever

Red permit

Is the permit that can be issued by the National Veterinary Department to allow animals to be moved from a ‘contaminated area” in sealed transport for direct slaughter only

Registered

Is an official record kept by an authority of a unique product, breeder, animal, brand mark, firearm, motor vehicle or other

Regurgitate

Is part of the digestion process of a ruminant where they bring up previously swallowed partly chewed food to the mouth again for further chewing

Reimplanting

Is the practice of implanting animals a second time with either the same or a different implant

Rendering

Is the removing of a liquid from a cooked solid material by pressing and draining from the solid material

Rennet

Is a group of enzymes extracted from the fourth stomach of a young calf which is used to coagulate milk in the cheesemaking process

Repeatability

Is the expression of the tendency of an animal to repeat its genetic performance

Replacement heifer/ewe

Is a heifer/ewe selected according to certain specific characteristics to be absorbed into the breeding herd

Repartitioning agent

Is an agent that directs tissue deposition away from fat tissue to muscle tissue more economically

Reproduction

Is the biological process of the mating of sexually active animals through conception, pregnancy and birth of the new offspring

Residue

Is the part of a product that remains after the original components of the product have been removed or metabolised by the body

Residue monitoring

Is a compliance programme that monitors the level of specified chemical residues in meat or feed samples

Respiratory

Is the process of breathing that encompasses the combined actions of the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs

Restraining chute

Is the handling equipment at an abattoir that restrains the animal for stunning before slaughter

Restricted growth

Is the process of restricting the optimum growth of livestock by manipulating the nutrition availability

Retailer

Is a person or business that sells products rather for consumer consumption than resale

Retained placenta

Is when a part or the whole placenta remains in the uterus after birth

Reticulum

Is the second stomach of a ruminant with a netlike structure

Rhinitis

(rye-NY-tis) - is when the mucous membranes of the nose become inflamed due to a viral infection

Rib eye

A beef cut taken from a carcase between the 6th and 12th ribs

Rigor mortis

Is the stiffening of body muscles and joints after slaughter resulting in chemical changes to the muscle structure which can impact negatively on meat tenderness. The process goes through three stages and takes different times to begin in the different species

Cattle 6-12hrs
Sheep 6-12hrs
Pigs 15mins-3hrs

Roller mark

Is the edible colour coded mark rolled down the length of classified carcases at registered abattoirs by the independent classifier showing the abattoir ID code, age, and fat cover over the 9th,10th and 11th ribs

Rolling

Is the process of changing of the surface area or particle size of an ingredient by compressing between moving hot or cold rollers

Rotational grazing

Is a grazing management practice of routinely moving the animals from one paddock to another

Roughage

Is the term used for a forage type feed ingredient high in fibre and low in energy content

Round worm

Are unsegmented worms pointed at both ends and negatively affects the health and production of livestock

Rumen

Is the first and largest of the four stomachs of ruminant animals from which food is regurgitated for rumination and in which fermentation of cellulose and other feed components by bacteria takes place

Rumen contents

Comprises the partly digested feed particles of ingested feed, rumen flora, and a large amount of rumen fluids extracted from the freshly slaughtered animal

Rumen degradable

Refers to the portion of crude protein that can be degraded by the microorganisms to be used in the manufacture of quality microbial protein

Ruminant

Is a mammal with four stomach compartments that consumes plant material which is regurgitated a couple of times and then fermented by microbes in the rumen before passing through to the reticulum then to the omasum and abomasum for further digestion, these include.

Cattle
Sheep
Goats
Buffaloes
Antelopes

Ruminant stomach compartments

Rumen is the major stomach and is a large fermentation chamber where rumen bacteria breakdown coarse ingested feed into smaller particles that can be further digested in the following three compartments
Reticulum is the second stomach compartment which serves as a screen for foreign objects as well as passing smaller digested particles through to the other stomach compartments while the coarser particles remain in the rumen for further digestion
Omasum is the third stomach compartment with the main function to absorb short chain volatile fatty acids, electrolytes and water
Abomasum is the fourth stomach compartment, and the true stomach where the animal’s stomach acids and enzyme breakdown the ingested feed particles they pass into the small intestine

Ruminate

Is when an animal regurgitates previously consumed food back to the mouth and completes the chewing process before digestion

Saleable meat

Is the proportion of the carcass that can be processed and sold to the consumer

Salinity

Is the measure of the amount of salt in a liquid

Salmonella

Is a dangerous foodborne pathogen that can occur in contaminated food and milk that results in severe nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and fever

Savanah

Tropical or subtropical grassland with scattered trees and drought resistant plants

Saturated fatty acids

Are straight chain organic acids with an even number of carbon atoms such as butter fat, meat fat, palm oil, coconut oil and palm oil

Scours

Is a bad smelling diarrhoea that can develop in newly born suckling animals which if untreated can lead to dehydration and death

Scratch

Is the mechanical scraping of the hard outer surface of a grain kernel to facilitate moisture absorption for further processing

Scrapie

Is a fatal brain disease caused by TSE in sheep and goats

Screen

Is the separating of feed into various size particles by passing it over different size mechanical screens

Scrotum

Is the external skin bag between the hind legs of male animals that contains the
two testicles

Scrotum circumference

Is a measurement used as a good indicator of sperm production when selecting young bulls

Secondary male developments

These include bigger bone structure, coarse hair, muscle development, more aggressive

Sear

Is to briefly brown the surface of meat on a grill or pan on high heat

Selection

Is the process of choosing certain animals between peers for breeding stock for future generations

Selection Index

A linear combination of phenotypic information with weighting factors used in genetic predicting

Selection differential

Is the term for the difference between the average of the entire group and the average of the animals selected for the next generation

Semen

It is the fluid containing sperm cells which is ejaculated by the male penis
during mating

Service

Is the process in where a male mates with a female in heat

Shear

The process of annually cutting the wool off sheep

Shearing shed

A farm building in which sheep are shorn and wool is classed and baled

Sheep breeds:

Mutton breeds

Dorper
Blackhead Persian
Meatmaster
Van Rooy
Ille de France
Damara
Namaqua Afrikaner
Pedi
Afrikaner
Merino Landskaap
Afrino (also dual-purpose)

Dual Purpose
SA Mutton Merino
Dohne Merino
Dormer
Letelle
Suffolk

Wool Sheep
Merino
Karakul (carpet wool)

Sheep diseases

Bacterial

Brucellosis
Blackleg
Foot rot
Pulpy kidney
Black disease
Haemophilus somni
Joint ill
Lumpy wool
Pasteurella
Caseous lymphadenitis
Navel ill
Tetanus
Johne's disease

Mites

Sheep scab

Parasitic

Lung worms
Stomach worms
Liver fluke
Hydatid
Tape worm
Coenunis cerabalis
Stilesia hepatica

Protozoal

Babesiosis (redwater)
Coccidiosis
Toxoplasmosis
Theileriosis (mot)
Sarcocystis

Viral

Bluetongue
Rift valley fever
Scrapie
Jaagsiekte
Maedi visna
Pink eye
Contagious ecthyma
Scabby mouth

Sheep flock classes

Rams
Ewes
Wether (hamel)
Lambs at foot - Weaned ewe/ram lambs
Replacement ewes
Culls

Sheep production systems:

Extensive is a system only makes use of extensive natural grazing for ewe/ lamb production or growing out of stores
Semi extensive is a system that relies on not only extensive grazing but utilizing grain stover during harsh winter periods
Semi intensive a system utilizing cultivated pastures on smaller sized farms
Intensive is a system with high stocking rates on controlled irrigated pasture requiring intensive management
Feedlot is a system whereby weaned lambs are fed grain-based diets to accelerate growth in preparation for specific marketing requirements

Sheep tilt

Is a mechanical adjustable tilt restraint used for treating or trimming sheep hooves or for performing oestrus synchronisation of breeding ewes

Sheep scab

(brandsiek)- a highly contagious Psoroptic mange occurring in all provinces

Sheep wool classes

Locks
Bellies and skirtings
Broken fleece
Backs - Fleece wool

Sheep wool length

AA 90+
A 80-90
BB 70-80
B 60-70
C 50-60
DD 40-50
D 30-40
EE 20-30
E shorter than 20

Sheep wool fineness

Super fine FF less than 19 micro
Fine F 19.1- 20
Medium M 20.1-22
Strong S 22.1- 24
Super strong SS 24.I and higher

Sheep wool types

Merino type wool
Mutton Merino type wool
Crossbreeds wool

Shipment

Means consignment of any product

Shipping fever

Is Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex which is the most common disease affecting cattle causing major economic losses to livestock producers by reducing production and causing great stock losses.

Shrink

Is the weight loss in livestock, meat products and feed ingredients due to Aa measure moisture loss

Shroud

Is a chlorinated cloth used to wrap around a hanging carcass to reduce cooler shrink

Show string

Is the list of male and female stud animals selected by the breeder to exhibit at a breed show to advertise his genetic material

Sib

Full sib- full brothers and full sisters
Half sib- half brothers and half sisters

Silage

(SY-lij)- is a nutritious feed product resulting from mechanically chopping green crops into small pieces, compacting in a bunker, sealing, and allowing to go through a fermentation for at least 21 days before use in ruminant diets:

crops used include maize, sorghum, cereals and various grasses
the process is to mechanically chop the entire plant at the right stage of moisture into small pieces and compacted in a silo or bunker and covered until used
the fermentation process follows when the well compacted finely chopped plant goes through a process of natural anaerobic fermentation for a period of at least 21 days after which it is ready to use.
once opened and disturbed secondary fermentation, or aerobic fermentation, starts which is detrimental to the silage quality resulting in a reduced shelf life
the bunker is normally a trench like structure constructed either below or above ground with a cement floor and walls
preservatives / additives are chemical additives to stimulate fermentation or to inhibit the growth of undesirable micro-organisms including Propionic- and Lactic acids which are sometimes mixed with the freshly chopped ensiled plant
spoilage can occur if the bunker is not properly sealed and a measure of spoilage or aerobic fermentation, takes place between the cover and the top layer of the silo

Sigmoid curve

Is an S shaped growth curve

Silo bags

Are specially constructed storage bags of various capacities that are mechanically filled for either grain storage or with chopped forage crops for silage

Silo

A tower or pit used to store grain or silage for use at a later date

Sire

Refers to the father of an animal

Site of digestion

Ruminants’ site of digestion is the rumen where the ingested feed is fermented by rumen microbes into Volatile Fatty Acids which are absorbed by the body through the rumen wall

Skeleton

Is the internal body framework that supports muscles and protects internal organs

Skin

Is the outer body covering of smaller animals like goats, sheep, pigs, and small antelope

Skirting

Removing undesirable pieces of a sheep fleece

Slaughter

Is to kill an animal with the intention of using that animal’s products for human or animal consumption, or for humane reasons

Slaughterhouse

Place of slaughter, normally referred to as an abattoir

Slaughter stock

Are animals purchased/ sold or raised for immediate slaughter

Slaughter mass

Is the mass of the cold carcase after the hide, head, tail, hooves, kidneys, kidney fat, external genitalia, and udder have all been removed

Sludge

Is the suspended or dissolved animal waste solids resulting from the processing of stored waste matter

Soil erosion

Is the continuous removal of soil through the action of water or wind

Somatic cell count

Is the number of white blood cells present in a sample of milk

Sonar scan (ultrasound)

Is used mainly in the sheep industry to assist in pregnancy diagnosis and twins and in the beef industry for determining body composition

Sorting gates

A system of gates and pens either manually or automatically operated used to separate animals into specific groups based on their size, type, gender, body condition scoring or any other grouping.

Sourveld

A region of higher rainfall and cold winters with a type of grazing characterised by long coarse grasses which are less palatable in the winter

Spay

To surgically remove female ovaries

Species

Is a group of organisms or animals that can reproduce naturally with one another and produce similar looking fertile offspring

farm species
bovine, -ovine, -equine, -chevon, -porcine and-galine

Specific risk material (SRM)

Is from those specified parts of cattle, sheep and goats that are most likely to be a risk of infectivity if that material originated from animals that were infected with BSE related diseases

Speculator

A person that trades in agricultural products by buying at a lower price and selling at a higher price

Sperm

Is the body fluid excreted from the male animal’s reproduction organs during mating that carries the male reproductive cells

Spermatogenesis

Is the production of sperm

Spin

Processing natural fibre into useable thread

Spoilage

A costly result of poor harvesting or storage of agricultural products

Spray race

A method of spraying cattle with a paracide where they move down a race equipped with spraying nozzles ensuring a complete wetting

Squeeze chute

Is sturdy handling equipment used for restraining livestock singularly to be able to apply various animal management processes

Standard deviation

Is the measure of how dispersed or concentrated research data is in relation to the mean

Staple

Is the length of a lock of shorn wool

Starch

Is a carbohydrate that, together with cellulose, is the major form of stored energy in plants

Starvation

Is the state of suffering that is caused by food deprivation which can result in death

Statutory levy

Is a compulsory charge or tax imposed and collected by a state institution on a product or service

Steam flaking

Is the process of passing grain kernels through a steam cabinet for a fixed period before being rolled through adjustable steel rollers

Steer

Is a bull that has been castrated at an earlier age before secondary male characteristics are visible

Steeped

Means stored in a liquid.

Sterile

Is the inability to produce offspring

Sterilization

Is the process of killing all bacteria on surfaces, handling- and cutting equipment, or in a product for it to be shelf stable

Stick

The practice used during exsanguination to accelerate the bleeding out of the carcass

Stillborn

Is a calf or lamb born dead before full term

Stock density

Is the relationship between the number of animals and are of grazing at
any time

Stockpile

Ingredients that are accumulated over time for later use

Stocking rate

Is the specific kind and classes of animals that graze a measured area of pasture over a specified time period

Stock remedy

Is a substance registered for use to treat- or for disease prevention for
animals only

Stock removal certificate

No livestock may be moved along a public road or by transport by a third party if not accompanied by this certificate issued by the owner of the livestock

Stock sale

Is when livestock are offered on the open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer through a bidding process

commercial mixed stock
breeding stock
fat stock
stud stock
weaner calf/lamb sale

Stock theft

Means removing or being in possession of livestock without the permission of the owner is an act of stock theft

Stomach tube

Is a narrow tube placed down through the oesophagus of an animal into the rumen or stomach

to administer food or liquid
release gas from the rumen of a bloated ruminant

Store animals

Refers to livestock carried over or purchased on grazing or stover to grow out for finishing before marketing

Stover

Are the dry stalks and leaves left on the lands after the harvesting of the cobs and ears of maize or sorghum

Straw

Is the plant residue remaining after the separation of the grain during threshing

Stress

Is experienced by animals when subjected to a prolonged period of discomfort, injury, hunger, or fatigue that upsets their normal feeling of content

Strike (flystrike)

Is a serious health and production problems for sheep farmers caused by blowfly larva feeding into the sheep’s skin during hot and moist conditions

Strip cup

A plastic cup with a black screen used to squirt milk from a teat to check for abnormalities in the milk before milking commences

Stud

Is an establishment that produces selected registered superior livestock for breeding purposes

Stud stock/seedstock

Are livestock registered with a specific Breed Association according to specific standards set by the Association, whose genetic performance improvement records have been maintained over several generations

Stun

Is to render senseless, part of the slaughter process

Subcutaneous

(sub-kew-TAY-nee-us) - means beneath or under all the layers of the skin

Suckling

Is the raising of offspring by their drinking of milk from the mother’s teat

Suckling pig

Is a piglet separated from the sow at about 2 months of age

Superovulation

A technique used by administering a FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) to induce many follicles to facilitate fertilization

Supplement

Is a feed mixture containing additional protein, energy, minerals, vitamins, or medication used to improve the nutritional value of grazing, pastures, or other basic feed to provide a more balanced diet

Surfactant

Is a chemical compound used to reduce the surface tension between two different compounds

Surrogate

Is a replacement and could relate to;

natural milk with commercially prepared milk
or a replacement mother

Sustainable

Is something that is bearable and capable of being continued at a certain level for an indefinite period of time

Sweetveld

Is a region referred to of low rainfall and mild winters that is characterised by more palatable grasses throughout the year

Symbiosis

Is the relationship between two different organisms living interdependently with each gaining benefit from the other

Synchronisation

The process of getting all the females in that herd to come into heat at the same time

Synthesis

Is the combining of different separate elements to form a whole

Systemic

Relates to the whole body instead of a specific part

Tag

Is one method to identify livestock by applying a unique private or national alpha/numeric code to the ear on a metal or plastic tag , tail tags are popular in Australia

Tail docking

Extremely popular in the sheep industry where at young age tails are removed to facilitate herd health management

Tallow

Is the fat rendered from the cooking of slaughtered animal parts or carcasses and often used in livestock diets

Tannery

Is the facility where fresh perishable hides and skins are cleaned and converted through various chemical and mechanical processes into different leather products

Tapeworm

Is a ribbonlike flatworm parasite occurring in the intestines of most mammals

Tattoo

Is a unique permanent state registered identification mark applied to a specified part of that species of live animal by a needle and ink method

TDN

Total Digestible Nutrients is a concept from a former complex system of measuring energy in feeds and energy requirements of ruminant animals

Teaser (koggelram /bul)

Is commonly the name given to a vasectomised animal used to identify a female in heat or help females to come into heat

Tender stretch

Is the process of stretching a beef carcass by suspending it from the aitch bone so that the loin and rib muscles are physically prevented from contracting

Temperament

Refers to the animal’s attitude regarding aggression or fear when being handled which is hereditary and can lead to animal handling complications

Terminal cross

Is the practice of cross breeding two recognised breeds to produce male and female offspring not to be used for further breeding

Terminal sire

Is used to produce offspring with growth or carcass characteristics for a specific final market

Testes

Primary sex organ of the male animal where sperm and male hormones are produced

Testicle

One of two egg shaped glands inside the male scrotum that produce sperm cells and male hormones

Testosterone

Is a male hormone produced in the testes whose levels are related to fluctuations in male aggression

Tetanus

Is a bacterial disease caused by an infection through a deep open wound resulting in rigidity of the voluntary muscles

Tethering

The practise of physically restraining an animal only allowing minimum movement, ridiculed in swine production

Thermoregulatory

Is the process of maintaining a particular temperature whatever the environmental temperature

Thiamine

Is the water-soluble Vit B1 that functions in the body carbohydrate metabolism which in its absence can cause a Vit B1 deficiency

Three in one

Commonly refers to a pregnant female with an offspring at foot

Tickborne diseases

Diseases transmitted from the bite of an infected tick such as:
African and Asian Red water, Anaplasmosis, Lumpy Skin, Heartwater, Corridor disease

Tissue types

Adipose, blood, bone, cartilage, connective, epithelia and nerve tissue

Tollie

Is a young castrated male calf

Top dress

Means to apply supplements on the top of a mixed feed

Total mixed ration

Is a mechanically mixed nutrient balanced ration fed to animals in intensive production systems

Toxicity

Is the degree that a substance is poisonous to an animal

Traceability system

Is a nationally coordinated individual animal identification system that tracks its origin, location health and movement from birth to slaughter and to final processed consumer product

Trace minerals

Are minerals required by the body in small amounts

Trade agreements

Any contractual arrangements agreed between States concerning their trade relationships which may differ vastly from State to State

Transgenic animals

Is an animal whose genetic composition has been altered to carry a gene for a specific trait from a different specie

Transport

Flat deck – fixed or semi, side or rear loaded from a standard height loading ramp
Double deck- semi with various height access ramps
Interlink- semi with two trailers with various height access ramps from special loading facilities

Trenbolone acetate (TBA)

(TREN-boh-lone ASS-eh-tate)- is a controlled veterinary product applied intra muscularly to promote muscle growth in beef cattle

Trimmings

Are small pieces of meat remaining after steaks, roasts and other more economical cuts have been removed

Tripe

Is the first or second stomachs of a ruminant used for food

Trocar

Is a sharp three-sided veterinary instrument in a loose tube or cannula used for releasing gas from the rumen through the skin while the cannula remains behind

Triglycerides

(try-GLISS-er-ides)- is an ester of glycerol between one and three fatty acids

TSE

Refers to Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, a prion disease that can occur in humans, sheep, goats and cattle in different forms and is normally fatal

Tuberculosis

Is a chronic highly infectious bacterial lung disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; is zoonotic and the major source of infection for humans

Two tooth

Is a term used for a young animal when the first two permanent teeth have erupted the gum

Udder

A mammary gland of female animals with two or more teats for suckling the young

UIP

Is the portion of crude protein that is rumen undegradable

Ultrasonic

Is a scientific method whereby soundwaves are used to measure subcutaneous fat thickness of loin-eye depth on both live animals and carcasses

Ultrasound

Is a procedure that uses high energy sound waves to examine tissues and organs inside the body

Umbilical cord

Is a cord that arises from the navel that connects the foetus to the placenta of its mother through which respiratory gases, nutrients and waste passes

Undershot

Refers to an animals’ upper jaw being shorter than the upper jaw which would be discriminated against during the selection process

Undegradable protein

Refers to protein not digested by the rumen microbes

Urinary calculi

Are solid particles that form due to nutritional calcium imbalances that results in difficulty in urinating, pain, nausea and even death due to abdominal infection
This is a condition which is prevalent in male sheep which has been found to be diet Ca: P ratio related

Unsaturated fat

Is a fat that has not been completely hydrogenated and referred to as oils

Unsaturated fatty acid

Is one which carbon chains have one or more double bonds; with a single bond is a monosaturated fatty acid while one with more double bonds is a polyunsaturated fatty acid

Urea

Is a chemically formulated non-protein nitrogen fertiliser product also utilised sparingly in ruminant nutrition as an economical building block to produce protein by the rumen microbes
Injudicious use can result in the death of livestock by asphyxiation

Uterus

Is a female reproductive organ composed of a main body with two horns which provides an environment for the young foetus to develop until the completion of pregnancy

Vaccinate

Is to administer a vaccine or preparation by injection to stimulate an animal’s immune system

Vaccine

Is a commercially manufactured medication against specific dangerous diseases administered by injection to stimulate an animal’s immune response against that specific disease

Vagina

Is located between the opening to the bladder and the cervix and is the site of semen deposition during natural service

Vaginal prolapse

Is a condition that occurs in some species around the time of giving birth when the female vagina protrudes outside and must be assisted in putting it back in the body

Value added tax (VAT)

Is a State imposed consumption tax on all goods purchased and services rendered and is borne by the final consumer except on those specifically exempted by the Vat Act

Value chain

Is the full chain of the processes to produce a product including material, sourcing, production, consumption and disposal

Yardage

Is the fee charged which includes all daily non- feed costs that an animal to house and care for an animal in confinement

Variance

Is the statistical measurement of the spread between readings from the mean

Vas deferens

Is the sperm duct that transports mature male sperm to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation

Vasectomy

Is a procedure to remove a section of the male animal’s vas deferens to create a
“teaser “to help identify herd females coming on heat

Veal

Is the meat of a calf slaughtered under six months of age

Pink veal if raised under anaemic conditions
Red veal if raised under normal conditions

Veld burning (controlled)

Is a practice applied normally following the first good rain to either remove old organic matter to stimulate growth or to combat bush encroachment

Veterinarian

Is a qualified person trained to treat and care for sick and injured animals as well as prepares general management programmes to prevent the contracting of diseases through vaccinations, drenching and humane animal handling and general animal health

VFA

Means volatile fatty acid

Vibriosis

A serious infectious disease affecting cattle caused by Cambacter foetus spread by infected bulls during mating

Viscera

Are all the soft internal organs in the abdomen, including intestinal tract, heart, lungs, excretory and reproductive systems

Vitamin

Is a compound that functions together with enzymes and can be either essential or non- essential for many metabolic functions. Some vitamins are water soluble others are fat soluble

Vitamin precursors

Or provitamin is a substance that may be converted in the body to a vitamin

Volatile fatty acids (VFA)

Are the short chain fatty acids, Acetic, Propionic and Butyric acids that are the primary end products of rumen fermentation which are the main sources of energy to the ruminant animal

Voluntary feed intake

Refers to the amount of feed an animal will eat when feed is available on an ad lib basis

Vulva

Is the female external genitalia

Walk over individual hoof scale

Is designed to weigh large numbers of livestock individually without causing unnecessary stress by restraining them and sorting them into specific groups based on weight parameters.

Water requirements

Daily water requirement depends on size, age, energy expenditure, moisture content of fodder, fineness of feed, temperature, humidity and stage of lactation

Water consumption

Depends on above conditions but by rule of thumb for the following
species:

Cattle

Dry cows 40-80lt
Lactating cow 50-100lt
Weaner calf 20-50lt

Sheep

Dry ewes 2-6lt
Lactating ewe 4-10lt

Pigs

Dry breeding sow 6-8lt
Lactating sow 20-26lt
Weaned piglet 2-4lt

Horses of average size

20-40l

Water trough

Is a receptacle of various lengths and depths that provides drinking water to livestock or game animals. Most modern water troughs are designed to supply a certain number of animals with water and are fitted with automatic self-filling mechanisms

Wattle

A fleshy appendage that hangs from the throat skin of goats

Wean

Is the process of removing the young animal from being suckled by its mother and a milk diet

Weaner

Is a young calf, lamb or piglet recently removed from suckling on its mother

Weaning ages

Depend on various factors other than just age. Condition score of the mother, plane of nutrition, management system, condition and availability of grazing, and season

Calves Beef 7-8 months
Goat (kids) 12-16 weeks
Calves Dairy - After birth
Piglet 3-4 weeks
Foals 4-6 months
Lambs 2-3 months

Weaning mass

Is the mass of the weaner determined immediately after it is removed from its mother, which can be adjusted to a standard base to be able to compare mothering abilities for selection purposes of breeding stock

Weeds

Descriptive term for unwanted plants

Weigh bridge

Is an instrument for weighing a load carried by a vehicle where the load and the vehicle are supported on a platform linked to a system of levers or electronic load cells connected to a visual indicator

Weight loss (shrink)

Refers to loss of weight during stressful events such as transport and handling activities. After gut fill loss further loss is from extra- and intra cellular fluid from the muscle and fat tissue which is difficult to replace and can have serious health implications to the animal

Weight per day of age

Is the mass of an animal divided by its age in days

Wet carcass syndrome

Is a condition that manifests itself as a slimy surface on the carcass on mainly Dorper sheep and their crosses after slaughter with considerable financial losses to mainly Northern Cape and Southern Namibian farmers

Wether (hamel)

Is a castrated male sheep or goat (kapater)

White muscle disease

Is a degenerative disease that occurs in cattle, sheep and goats caused by a selenium deficiency affecting skeletal and cardiac muscles with animals unable to rise, stiffness of limbs

Withdrawal date

Is the time that must lapse between the last day of administration of a medicine and the slaughter of the animal for food purposes

Wind chill

Is the temperature felt on the exposed hide or skin due to the combination of low temperature and speed during transporting

Wool classing

Is when the characteristics of the raw wool is examined and compared to required standards by a qualified wool classer

Wool clip

Total amount of wool shorn from a specific group, region, or country in that year

Yearling

Refers to a young calf, lamb, or goat of approximately 12 months of age

Yeast

Single cell fungus that can stimulate microbial activity during digestion

Zero grazing

Is a production system of raising livestock in confined areas fed with all fodder brought to them, used in many dairy systems

Zoonotic disease

is a disease that normally occurs in animals but can also infect humans; some examples are:

Anthrax, Ascariasis, Bovine tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Campylobacter infection, Cysticercosis, Ebola, Enzootic abortion, Hepatitis E, Leptospirosis, Malaria, Pasteurellosis, Plague, Rabies, Rift Valley Fever and Ringworm

Additive

Is an ingredient or combination of ingredients added in micro quantities to a feed mix to address specific deficiencies or needs

Adipose

(AD-ih-pohs) tissue- is an anatomical term for loose tissue which stores energy in the form of fat, cushion internal organs and insulate the body

Adjusted weaning mass

Is used to evaluate different weaning masses of same sex calves of more or less the same of age by adjusting to 205 days of age. While young lambs of more or less the same age are adjusted to 100 days of age

Ad lib (ad libitum)

Is a Latin term meaning unlimited availability of feed to be able to be consumed as much as is required.

Areobic

(air-OH-bik)- is the breaking down of living matter by metabolic means or organisms that require oxygen for the process

Afterbirth

Is the placenta and foetal membranes that transferred nutrients from the mother to the foetus before birth that come out of the uterus following a birth

Ageing of meat (beef)

Follows generally one of two processes during both the connective tissue in the muscle begins to break down resulting in a more tender meat with an enhanced flavour

Dry ageing is when the meat cuts are aged for a number of days in a low temperature controlled dry environment which does result in a measure of fluid loss.
Wet ageing consists of storing vacuum packed meat cuts in their own juices in a low temperature-controlled environment for a number of days allowing the natural enzymes to break down the connective tissue resulting in limited meat fluid loss.

Air dry

Is feed that has had the moisture removed by natural evaporation with a maximum of
10% left in the feed or 90% dry accepted as the norm in feed

Allele

(ah-LEEL) can have one of three different meanings

when one of two or more DNA sequences occur at a particular gene locus
when each of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise from a mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome
when one of two or more versions of DNA sequence (a single base or segment of bases) at a given genomic location]

Ambient temperature

The temperature surrounding the animal at that time

Amino acids

22 of these specific organic compounds known as building blocks of protein have been identified which all have the key elements of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen

Amino acid essential
Amino acid limiting

Ammoniated

Is to be infused with ammonia or ammonia containing products

Amnion

(AM-nee-on)- is related to the membrane and moisture that surrounds and protects the embryo / foetus until birth while still inside the mother

Ampule

Is a small, sealed glass capsule that contains and preserves an exact quantity of liquid mainly for veterinary and medical use

Anabolic growth promoters

Contain active ingredients of male or female sex hormones which are used to stimulate a more economical growth rate and muscle synthesis with a reduced fat deposit. Some are only registered for bovine use

Androgenic (male) hormone administered to steers to grow at the same rate as intact bulls with a delayed fat deposition and heavier carcass by acting directly on certain muscles in the body
Estrogenic (female) hormone administered to heifers to stimulate growth rate and muscle synthesis in the final carcass by increased secretion of the growth hormone
Beta agonists are repartitioning agents that change the process of tissue growth by reducing fat deposition and increasing muscle formation in the carcass.
Recommended to be used only under strict control in intensive production systems to ensure the quality of the final product.

Anabolism

Is a biochemical metabolic process where simple molecules combine requiring energy to grow and build more complex molecules

Anaerobic

(an-air-OH-bik)- is a metabolic process whereby microorganisms break down organic matter into products like alcohol, acids or gasses not requiring gaseous oxygen for the process

Anaplasmosis

Is a disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which is carried by various ticks in specific regions causing fever, headaches, muscle pains and can lead to organ failure and death if not treated timeously

Anaemia

A condition resulting from when the red blood cells count is lower than normal for that class of animal

Anestrus

(an-ESS-trus)- is a period of inactivity of sexual behaviour between two periods of estrus when the female is not receptive to mating

Androgens

Are a group of sex hormones in males and females that play a role in sexual development from puberty and in the development of secondary sexual characteristics in males.

Animal byproducts

Are derived from a regulated heat sterilised process of animal carcasses, body parts or other animal material not meant for human consumption of which there are two categories of material:

High Risk material from animals suspected of being infected with specific risk diseases or zoonotic diseases that could be a danger to human health.
Low Risk material from animal carcasses, body - or digestive tract parts from animals not showing signs of infectious diseases at death

Animal byproduct plant

Is a facility registered according to specific statutory requirements for the sterilizing of infected or discarded animal carcases, body parts and digestive systems not suitable for human consumption

Animal waste

A material composed of animal excreta from cattle, sheep, goats, or poultry with or without bedding material

Antemortem

Means the inspection of animals or actions before being slaughtered

Anthelmintic

(an-thel-MIN-tik)- is a veterinary drug or compound used to treat or prevent parasitic infections of worms, flukes and tapeworms in animals.

Antibiotic

Is a medicine or compound used to inhibit bacterial growth and infections or to prevent their proliferation

Anti-toxin

Is an antibody that neutralises a specific toxin

Anthrax

A very serious notifiable zoonotic disease infecting most animal species caused by a spore forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis which can also infect humans inhaling spores from an infected animal

Antibody

Is a protein produced by the body immune system to protect it against bacteria, viruses, fungi and various toxins known as a group as antigens

Antiseptic

A substance or preparation used to clean and sterilise to prevent the growth or action of disease-causing microorganisms

Anti toxin

Is an antibody that is produced to neutralise a specific toxin

Animal welfare

Is a collective contribution of all aspects of wellbeing which include, humane management practices, humane transporting, proper housing, balanced nutrition, disease prevention and treatment, prevention from harassment and if necessary, humane euthanasia.

Animal Welfare encompasses the Five Freedoms of Animals:

Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury, disease and suffering
Freedom to express normal behaviour
Freedom from fear and distress

Annual

Is a plant that lives only for one year

Antimicrobial

It is an agent that kills or stops the growth of micro-organisms and are grouped according to the micro-organisms they primarily act against, antibiotics against bacteria and antifungals against fungi

Antioxidant

A substance known to protect cells from damage caused by products from the oxidation process which results in reducing rancidity and increasing the shelf life of biological products

Artificial Insemination (AI)

Is the process followed by a qualified person of collecting sperm cells from a male animal and manually depositing them in the reproductive tract of a female animal during her heat period, other than by natural mating

Artificial rearing

Is rearing young livestock separated from the dam

Artery

Is the muscular walled blood vessels transporting cleaned blood from the heart back to the various body parts

ARC tables

Are tables compiled by the Agricultural Research Council to establish nutrient requirements for different farm animal species in different stages of production

As fed/As is

Is the term used to convey that moisture component of the feed has not been deducted

Asphyxiation

(as-FIX-ee-AY-shun)- a severe condition caused by a lack of oxygen that can lead to unconsciousness and death

Assize weighing devices

It is a mandatory requirement prescribed by the weights and measures authority to routinely standardise all weighing devices used for trading

Atrophy

Follows from a gradual degeneration of muscle cells due to underuse, malnutrition, ageing, lack of activity or neglect

Attenuated vaccine

Are vaccines that have been weakened that create the required protective immune response without causing the disease in healthy animals

Auction sale

Is a public platform that brings willing buyers and willing sellers together regularly to trade livestock at current market prices through a bidding process conducted by an independent auction master either at special auction facilities or online

Auger

(AW-ger)- is a steel corkscrew shaped shaft, which can be of various sizes which is used for moving grain or chopped material

Average Daily Gain (ADG)

Is an expression of the rate of weight gain calculated between two weighing intervals of a growing animal divided by the number of days between them and is expressed in kgs/ grams per day.

Barrow

A young castrated male pig

Barren

Is the term used for a female that has been mated but is not pregnant

Barter

Is an informal system of trading in less developed communities whereby goods or services are exchanged without a hand over of money

Beef breeds

The major beef breeds farmed in SA include:

Afrikaner
Afrisim
Angus (black)
Angus (Red)
Ankole
Beefmaster
Bonsmara
Boran
Bovelder
Brahman (Red)
Brahman (White)
Braford
Brangus (Black
Brangus (Red)
Braunvieh
Charolais
Charbray
Dexter
Drakensberger
Droughtmaster
Gelbvieh
Hereford
Huguenot
Limousin
Nguni
Pinzgaue
Pinzyl
Red Poll
Santa Gertrudes
Senepol
Shorthorn
Simbra
Simmental
South Devon
Sussex
Tuli
Wagyu

Beef cattle

Are cattle developed and bred primarily to produce meat products for human consumption

Beef cattle farming type systems:

Cow – calf (weaner system)
Long yearling (growing out on pastures)
Stud stock (breeding of registered stock)
Feedlot (intensive finishing)

Beef carcass cuts cooking methods:

1. Braise, stew, pot roast and casserole

Neck
Hump
Bolo
Brisket
Thick flank
Aitchbone
Silverside
Shin
Chuck

2. Oven roast and stir fry

Flat rib
Topside

3. Oven grill/grill/braai

Fillet
Prime rib
Bone
Ribeye
Rump
Sirloin
Wing rib

Beef to grain ratio

Is the ratio used by feedlots to determine how many kilograms of grain can be purchased per kilogram of meat products sold

Beta agonists

Are non-hormonal compounds developed for human medicine but only registered to be fed to cattle to reduce and repartition the metabolism and deposition of fat

Bezoar (hairball)

(BEH-zor)- is a hard ball of hair which can be of varying sizes found in the stomachs of some cattle when slaughtered which is formed by ingested hair clumping together from them licking themselves. Similarly, also found in some sheep fed very fine grain diets

Blending

Is to combine two or more ingredients in a feed but not implying any form of uniformity

Bicarbonate of soda

Is a compound that plays a crucial role in buffering ruminant diets

Bioassay

The determination of the biological activity of a substance by comparing the effects against a standard preparation on a test organism

Biological value

Is the proportion of protein retained from food in the animal used for maintenance and growth expressed as % of nitrogen absorbed

Biome

Is a naturally occurring community of animals on vegetation living in harmony with one another in the same habitat

Biomass

Is the amount of living matter in a given habitat expressed as weight per unit of area

Biometeorology

Is the science that studies the interactions between the living organisms and the weather.

Biosecurity

Combined preventative practices and measures designed specifically to reduce the risk of the transmission of infectious diseases or harmful biological agents to livestock or humans in a protected environment

Birth mass

Is the mass of the newly born animal at birth and is used to differentiate between animals when selecting breeding animals

Blackleg (Quarter evil)

An infectious fatal bacterial disease caused by Clostridium chauvoei that affects young cattle, sheep and goats characterised by gaseous swellings usually in the muscles in the upper legs

Blemish

Is a small mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of a product

Blind teat

Is when one of the female teats does not deliver milk

Bloat

Is the distended condition in ruminants that can result after a meal if digestive gases are not sufficiently eliminated by belching or could be due to a blockage of the oesophagus

Oil

Is a liquid vegetable product resulting from the seed extraction process and comprised mainly of triglycerides of fatty acids

Oil cake

Is the highly nutritious residue left after seed products have gone through the pressing process to extract their oil

Oil seeds

Are seeds grown primarily to produce edible cooking oil

Omasum

Is the third ruminant stomach situated after the reticulum

Oocyte

(OH-oh-site)- is an immature female egg cell

Open

Refers to a female breeding animal that is not pregnant

Optimum production

Is the most favourable level of growth or production

Orf (vuilbek)

Is a highly contagious viral disease that effects sheep and goats with lesions around the mouth, lips and nose making eating difficult and can result in weight loss

Orifice

Is the opening at the end of a female teat that allows milk to pass through which is closed by a small circular muscle to prevent bacterial infection

Organic

Is the description given to a feed or an ingredient that has been produced in compliance with strict Organic Specifications that excludes all forms of medications or chemical additives

Organic matter

Is everything present in the feedstuff that can decompose minus the ash or mineral content and expressed as a % of the dry matter

Ossification

(os-ih-fih-KAY-shun)- is the calcification of cartilage to form bone which is used in some countries to determine animal age at slaughter

Out of hand sale

Is the sale of livestock or produce directly to a third party without going through a conventional industry structure that would require payment of a commission

Ova

Is a female egg cell

Ovary

Is a primary reproductive organ that produces the female egg cell as well as oestrogen and progesterone

Over-conditioned

Refers to animals that have been fed to a condition in excess of the ideal market requirement

Over the counter (OTC)

Means veterinary medicines that can be purchased over the counter not requiring a prescription

Over/under shot jaw

Is an abnormality when either the upper (overshot) or lower(undershot) jaw protrudes causing difficulty in suckling and grazing

Over grazing

Is the repeated over utilisation of grazing without rest until the grass nutrients are entirely depleted

Ovine

Pertains to sheep

Ovulation

Is the release of an egg or ovum from the ovary

Ovum

Is a female reproductive cell that can develop into an embryo after fertilization by a male cell

Oxytocin

(ok-see-TOH-sin) – is a naturally occurring hormone that plays a role in the milk let down and during the birth process

Neatsfoot oil

Is a protective leather dressing that is extracted from the bones of cattle

Neck clamp

Is at the front end of a handling crush used to restrain an animal for veterinary- or other management procedures

Necropsy

A postmortem examination

Nematode

Are microscopic unsegmented parasitic roundworms, one of the most numerous forms of life which negatively affects production in infected animals

Net energy (NE)

Is the amount of energy in the feed after the energy in the faeces, urine and heat production have been deducted

Net energy for maintenance (NEM)

Is the dietary energy required to sustain an animal at rest in a thermal neutral state that is neither losing nor gaining weight

Net energy for production (NEP)

Is the dietary energy required for gain, lactation or for products

Nitrate

Is used as NaNO3 in some meat curing processes

Nitrogen: sulphur ratio

Is important for rumen micro-organisms which are essential for the synthesis of some amino acids and vitamins

NITS

Is the National Identification and Traceability Systems of Namibia and Australia

Non-essential amino acids

These are amino acids that can be synthesised by the animal itself

Calf rearing crate

Is individual housing to raise calves for a period in a hygienic and controlled environment to prevent disease transmission

Nose ring

Is a sturdy metal ring applied permanently through the septum of a bull’s nose to help control them when handling

Notifiable disease

Is any disease that is required by law to be reported to the relevant government authorities for investigation to counter a possible widespread outbreak

Bovine malignant catarrhal fever (snotsiekte)
Bluetongue
Lumpy skin disease
Rift Valley Fever
Strangles
Swine erysipelas

Calorie

Is the unit of heat or energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius at sea level, and used as a measure of energy stored or expended by the body or by organic material, expressed in 1000 calories (kcal)

Non-Protein Nitrogen (NPN)

Is a chemical Nitrogen compound converted to protein by the rumen micro-organisms and used in limited low quantities only in ruminant feed supplements and feedlot diets together with sufficient amounts of carbohydrates

Calf: Beef Price ratio

The ratio of the present calf price divided by the present beef price as an indicator of whether the calf at that price can be fed economically for the beef market; should not exceed 55% of the beef price

NRC (National Research Council)

Is the scientific body in the US which regularly publishes updated tables of Nutrient Requirements of Farm Animals that assists nutritionists in compiling balanced diets for production farm animals

Calibrate

Is the set of actions undertaken to ensure that the readings or settings of an instrument or applicator are correlated with those of a set standard to ensure the instrument's accuracy

Nutraceutical

(new-truh-SOO-tih-kul)- is the name given to a food or part thereof that provides medical or health benefits

Nutritional stress

Is when nutrient intake is insufficient to meet the animal’s metabolic needs

Calving

Is the process of giving birth to a calf

Nutritional tables

Provide detailed information on the nutrient content of individual feed ingredients

Calving rate

Expresses the number of cows calving divided by the total number of cows mated in the herd

Nutrient

Is a component of feed that at a level will contribute to the sustainable life and production expectations of livestock

Calving season

Is a specific season of the year which is climatically the most suitable for calves to be born

Nutrient dense

Is feed that is high in nutrients but low in energy

Caprine

Relates to goats

Nutrients

Protein
Energy
Minerals
Vitamins
Water

Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis(CAE) (KAY-prine arth-RIT-ik en-sef-uh-LY-tis)

A highly contagious goat virus caused by the CAEV lentivirus, leading to lameness, incoordination and respiratory distress

Nutritionist

Is a scientist that advises animal producers and feed manufacturers on the cost- effective composition of diets and feed regimes to obtain the optimum production from feed ingredients available

Captive bolt

A firing device that drives a steel shaft into an animal’s brain, killing it immediately and is used during the slaughter process

Nutritional plane

Is the quantity and quality of per capita feed intake

Nutrient requirements

Are recognised scientifically determined minimum requirements of nutrients needed by animal’s production animals for maintenance, reproduction, lactation and growth

Nutritional standards

Are recognised international tables which indicate quantities of nutrients required by various classes of livestock to attain different required physiological functions like maintenance, growth and production

Captive market

Refers to a consumer group who are obliged, through a lack of supplier options, to use a product or service

Blood meal

Is a meal made from dried blood from the slaughtering process that can be used as a protein supplement for animals

BLNS Countries

The South African abbreviation for Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland

Carbon emissions

Is the release of carbon dioxide (CO2), a colourless, odourless gas formed by the combustion of carbon during the respiration of living organisms, into the atmosphere, which is also known as Greenhouse Gases

BLUP

Best Linear Unbiased Prediction is an accepted technique used to estimate genetic merits during livestock selection

Boar

Is a male pig of any age

Body condition score

A numeric score assigned to an animal based on degree of fat covering the animals body used to determine readiness for breeding or as indicator to increase feed supplementation or not

Carbohydrates

Sugars, starches and cellulose derived mainly from plants, together constituting one of the three principal nutrients used as energy sources for the body functions of animals and humans

Body conformation

Is the relative proportions of body tissue to each other determined by species, genetics, breed, age and gender of the animal which can to a limited extent be manipulated by nutrition

Carcass

Body of a slaughtered and eviscerated animal after the head, lower part of the limbs, hide, or skin have been removed

Carcass mass

Can be expressed as either hot or cold

Hot mass is the mass of the carcass immediately after slaughter
Cold mass is the mass of the carcass after 24 hours of cooling, weighing approximately 1.5% less than the warm carcass mass

Body organs

Fall into the following categories:

Muscular
Skeletal
Circulatory
Respiratory
Digestive
Circulatory
Reproductive
Nervous
Urinary
Lympho-reticular

Carcass composition

Used as a basis for evaluating the commercial value of a carcass relating to relative proportions of fat, muscle and bone

Body temperatures (normal)

Cattle 38.5C
Sheep 39C
Pigs 39C
Horses 38C

Bottle jaw

An accumulation of fluid under the jaw normally a sign of infection by Haemonchus contortis in sheep

Carcass fatness

Refers to the fat layer between the skin/hide and the muscle of the carcass

Bolus

(BOH-lus)- a device placed in the digestive tract of animals for a period of time for either identification, medicinal discharge or lately for temperature determination purposes

Carcass residue

Is the residue from animal tissues, including meat, hair, bones, hooves, horns and contents of the digestive tract

Bos indicus

Are typically breeds ideal for cross breeding programmes that are of Indian or South American decent with short hair that have a large hump on their shoulders, drooping ears and a large dewlap to get rid of excess body heat.

Carrier

Is a neutral substance that various micro ingredients are mixed into for better distribution before mixing into the main mix

Bos taurus

Are typically breeds that are of European decent and have a body conformation to maintain body heat

Bos taurus africanus

Also known as Sanga cattle both the Afrikaner and Nguni breeds which presumably originated from East Africa

Carrying capacity

Refers to the number of livestock expressed in Livestock Units that can be sustained at any time on a pasture in that specific region

Casein

Is the major type of protein (80%) found in cow’s milk, giving it the white colour; with whey protein comprising the other 20%

Bots

Are fly larvae from Oestrus ovis found in nasal cavities of sheep and goats

Castrate

Process rendering male testicles either inactive or their removal by mechanical or chemical methods to prevent sexual activity

Catabolism

Is the destructive biochemical process whereby larger proteins, tissues and fat are broken down into cells or fatty acids

Bovine

Is the Latin name for cow and the biological bovine group includes cattle, buffalo, water buffalo and bison

Boxed beef

Is the boxing together of similar primal or sub primal carcass cuts that have been trimmed for excess fat possibly deboned and vacuum packaged for distribution directly to the customer

Cattle classes

Suckling calf from birth up to weaning
Weaner calf from weaning until 12 months
Yearling is a 12-month-old calf
Long weaner 12-15 months of age calf
Cow is a mature female that has had at least 1 calf
Bull is an adult male
Bullock is a juvenile male
Steer is a male castrated before developing secondary male characteristics
Heifer is an unbred female
First calf heifer is a heifer that is bred for the first time
Three in one is a pregnant cow with a calf at foot
Freemartin is an infertile heifer calf, generally a twin of an intact bull calf

Bran

Is the edible fibrous wheaten seed husks separated from flour through the sifting process after milling and sought after for livestock feed inclusion

Cattle cycle

Is the cyclical process where the size of the national cattle herd expands and contracts due to low rainfall, economic or grazing constraints. Historically expressed in a 7-year cycle in South Africa

Brand

Is a type of product manufactured by a particular company under a specific name that relates just to that company

Branded products

Are labelled products from a supplier that convey to the customer that these products consistently comply with certain quality specifications

Brandmark

The Animal Identification Act (Act 6 of 2002) requires every livestock owner to register a unique brandmark with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and adhere to the Regulations governing the Act and to mark all animals with a permanent mark and apply the mark to all movement and trade documentation

Cattle diseases

Bacterial
Anthrax
Botulism
Brucellosis
Bovine leukosis
Bovine respiratory disease
BSE
Foot and mouth disease
Foot rot
Haemophilus somni
Haemorrhagic septicaemia
Leptospirosis
Mastitis
Mycobacterium bovis
Vibriosis

Parasitic
Internal
Fluke are fasciola and conical
Tapeworm Taenia saginata

External
Ticks
Lice
Mange

Viral
Bovine malignant catarrh fever(snotsiekte)
Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD)
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD)
Enzootic bovine leukosis
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR)

Protozoa
Anaplasmosis
Coccidiosis
Theileriosis
Toxoplasmosis
Trichomoniasis
Trypanosomiasis

Insect transmitted
Lumpy skin disease
Tick toxicosis
Three-day stiff sickness
Bluetongue
Rift Valley fever
Wesselsbron disease

Metabolic
Acidosis
Ketosis
Milk fever

Branding

Is the practice of applying a unique permanent mark, registered to the owner under governing regulations, to his own live animals.

Hot iron is briefly pressing the heated metal mark against the skin of the animal for 3 sec with the intension of marking it permanently.
Freeze is a branding process that involves freezing the metal mark in liquid nitrogen before applying to the skin of the animal with the purpose of changing the colour of those hair follicles permanently
Cheek is the branding practice for ease of handling used by some feedlots that use restraining squeeze chutes to process animals on arrival.
Tattoo is to apply the registered brand mark with a tattoo needle applicator to an ear of a young calf, sheep, goat, pig, ostrich, or horse. A tattoo slapped on a pig’s body is also an industry practice.
Injudicious brand refers to any practice that is inhumane, which leads to rebranding, smudging or any unnecessary hardship or stress to the animal

Breakeven

Is the equation of Total Input Costs per kg sold = Total Income per kg sold

Breech birth

Normally occurring in sheep births when the lamb is presented for birth backwards

Cattle maturity types

Refers to the difference in physiological age at the same chronological age

These differences in maturity affect:

Rate of growth (gain/day)
Efficiency of growth (feed/kg gain)
Dressing percentage
Final carcass mass
Carcass composition affecting carcass class

Early maturing breeds

Afrikaner

Angus

Ankole

Beefmaster

Braford

Brahman

Brangus

Hereford

Nguni

Red poll

Shorthorn

Simbra

Sussex

Tuli

Medium-late maturing breeds

Bonsmara

Brown Swiss

Drakensberger

Droughtmaster

Gelbvieh

Santa Getrudes

Simmentaler

South Devon

Pinzgauer

Late-maturing breeds

Blonde d ‘Aquitaine

Charolais

Chiana

Friesan

Holstein

Limosin

Carcass classification system

Is a unique descriptive system used in the South African meat industry to describe carcasses based on age, fat cover and conformation to assist producers, abattoirs and retailers in determining a pricing structure without the final carcass being seen The Beef, Sheep and Goat colour-coded system is based on the following:

Age of the animal as determined by the number of permanent incisors and expressed as class A, AB, B or C
Fat coverage as measured across the 9th, 10th and 11th ribs on the back and is scored from 0-6
Conformation of the carcass is visually assessed and scored from 1-5

Carcass trimming

Is to remove unwanted fat, bone, bruising, or abscesses from a slaughtered carcass

Cattle marketing

Is the process of advertising and offering cattle or carcasses for sale according to the market demand for a specific product

Catwalk

Is a narrow, ope,n elevated walkway or path to facilitate movement in handling activities

Cellulose (SELL-yoo-lohs)

A carbohydrate known as the major fibre component of plant cell walls

Cervix (SIR-viks)

A lower section of the female uterus protruding into the vagina, which dilates to allow passage for the foetus during birth

Chaff

Husk and seed coverings, and other plant parts separated from seeds during the threshing process at harvesting

Chemical analysis

Recognised standard laboratory procedures that assist with determining the chemical composition of feedstuffs

Chevon

Is goat meat from adult animals

Claws

The two sides of a cloven hoof

Cleats

The two halves of a goat’s hoof

Chlamydia (kluh-MID-ee-uh)

Organisms associated with abortion, arthritis, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, encephalitis and pneumonia

Cholesterol

A waxy sterol type fatty compound found in all animal products, and is made in the liver and found in the blood and all cell walls and is essential to synthesise tissues, hormones and Vitamin D

Chronic

Means recurring over a long period of time

Is also the name given to an animal that fails to respond to prolonged health treatment programmes

Cloning

Is a technique used by scientists to generate exact genetic copies of living organisms

Close outs

Is the term used by some feedlots to describe summarised group animal performance, feed intake, mortalities, sickness incidence, carcass data and profit or loss for the group

Closed herd

Is a herd where all the animals are bred from within that herd

Clostridial disease

Is a disease caused by anaerobic bacteria in the environment, which is often fatal

Chromosome

Is a threadlike structure made of DNA coiled around protein found in the nucleus of cells

Coccidia (kok-SID-ee-uh)

Are a subclass of spore-forming parasitic protozoa which cause coccidiosis and toxoplasmosis

Coccidiosis (kok-sid-ee-OH-sis)

Is a disease of mammals that affects the intestinal tract caused by coccidia

Coccidiostat (kok-SID-ee-oh-stat)

Is the term given to a group of drugs that are administered to control diarrhoea-causing Coccidia that exist in the intestines of livestock and which are also used in ruminant diets for their growth-enhancing properties

Code of practice for the handling and transport of livestock by road

Is a code to be strictly adhered to when transporting livestock by road

Code of practice for handling and transport of livestock by sea

Is presently in a draft form

Cold shortening

Is the result of rapid chilling of the muscles of freshly slaughtered carcasses before the glycogen reserves have been converted to lactic acid, which causes an irreversible contraction of the muscle fibres resulting in tough meat

Colostrum

Is the first secretion of a thick creamy fluid secreted from the mother’s udder immediately after birth, which is rich in nutrients and the antibodies essential for the newly borne immunity during the first few days of its life

Commercial cattle

Can be mixed or crossbred animals that are bred to multiply offspring for production for various markets

Co-mingling

Is the mixing of animals from different sources, locations, gender, age, or management practices which can result in additional stress to the animals

Commission

Is a service fee asked by an agent for services rendered based on a percentage of a transaction

Commodity

Is raw material or a primary agricultural product that can be traded

Composite

Is a new breed compiled of at least two established breeds designed to partially retain heterosis in future generations without further cross-breeding

Complete feed

Is a compounded feed nutritionally balanced according to a scientific formula that adequately meets the maintenance and production requirements of that class of livestock and is fed as the sole feed without additional ingredients

Compounded feed

Is a complete feed that has been blended from various ingredients and concentrates according to a formula to meet the nutritional needs of a specific class of livestock

Compensatory growth

Is an increased growth rate following a period of restricted growth, which exceeds the growth rate that would have taken place before the restriction

Composting of animal waste

Is an alternative biological process to convert animal waste to valuable organic fertiliser waste and can include abattoir waste, dead animals and livestock manure

Concentrate

Is a blend of feed ingredients, either high in energy or protein content, intended to be further diluted by mixing with other ingredients to form a nutritionally balanced complete feed or supplement

Conception

Is the term for the fertilisation of the unfertilised female egg cell after mating

Conception rate

Is the number of pregnant females divided by the total number of females mated over a given time

Condemnation

Of carcasses or parts thereof is the result of the rejection of the products that do not meet the set quality or hygiene standards and are unfit for human consumption

Condition scoring

Is a visual assessment of the amount of fat and muscle covering the body of an animal regardless of body size or gut fill generally done before the mating season to assess nutritional plane and ranges between 1-5

Congenital defects

Is an inherited medical condition that occurs at or before birth

Connective tissue

Is tissue that connects, supports, binds and separates other tissues or organs

Conformation

Is a subjective visual assessment of the muscle distribution and development of either the live animal or the carcass, with higher prices generally paid for well-rounded ones

Consultant

Refers to professional Advisors Agronomists/ Engineers/ Environmentalists / Geneticists / Nutritionists /Meat Scientists /Veterinarians that are usually paid on a retainer basis or ad hoc to advise management routinely on their relevant fields of specialisation

Continental cattle breeds

Means breeds of cattle other than Indigenous, Zebu, or British breeds, also referred to as European or Exotic breeds

Continuous grazing

Is when livestock have access to grazing for the whole time the grazing is available

Control

Is something used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of an experiment, a treatment, or a survey

Controlled disease

Is a disease that by law must immediately be reported to the nearest State Veterinarian.

The following are all the controlled livestock diseases in SA:

African Horse Sickness
African Swine Fever
Anthrax
Aujeszky’s Disease
Avian Influenza
Bacterial Kidney disease in fish
Bluetongue
Bovine
Contagious Pleuropneumonia
Bovine Malignant Catarrhal Fever
BSE
Brucellosis in all species
Classical Swine Fever
Contagious Equine Metritis
Contagious Haemopoietic Necrosis in fish
Corridor Disease
Dourine
East Coast Fever
Equine Infectious Anaemia
Equine Influenza
Equine Viral Arteritis
Foot and Mouth Disease
Glanders
Haemorrhagic Disease
Johne’s Disease
Lumpy Skin Disease
Newcastle Disease
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
Psittacosis
Rabies
Rift Valley Fever
Rinderpest
Salmonella Enteriditis
Salmonella Gallinarium
Salmonella pullorum
Scrapie
Sheep Scab
Strangles
Swine Erysipelas
Swine Vesicular Disease
Tuberculosis in all species

Cooking temperatures of meat

Beef, Veal & Lamb

Rare: 49-52C

Medium Rare: 52-57C

Medium Well: 63-68C

Well Done: 68+C

Pork

Rare: 49-54C

Medium Rare: 54-57C

Medium Well: 57-63C

Well Done: 68+C

Ground Beef to be cooked to 71C

Corpus luteum

Is a hormone-secreting gland that develops in an ovary following the discharge of an ovum

Cost of gain

Is a production term whereby all production costs, feed, administrative, veterinary and mortality costs are divided by the total gain in mass over the feeding period

Cow

Is a mature reproductive female bovine that has borne a calf

Cow calf

A cow calf system is the raising of cattle where a permanent herd of cows is kept to produce calves for a market after the calves are weaned from the cows

Cracking

Is the process of reducing particle size by a breaking and crushing action normally following some form of moisture addition

Creep feeder

Is an enclosure which allows only the small livestock access to feed dispensers with specialised diets

Creep feeding

Is the system of feeding a supplementary balanced diet to young livestock while still suckling to prepare their digestive system for weaning onto solids

Creep grazing

Is allowing young animals to have access to grazing that the mothers do not have access to at the same time

Crimp

Is the natural waviness of sheep wool

Critical temperature

This is the minimum or maximum environmental temperature before an animal will require additional energy to maintain normal body temperature

Cross-breeds

Are animals bred by crossing a male and female from two different pure breeds

Crowding pen

Is a confinement area which funnels livestock into a loading chute or crush for further handling

Crude fibre (CF)

Is the fibre fraction that is left after the feed sample has undergone a laboratory process of boiling in acid and then in alkali with the residue burned in a furnace

Crude protein (CP)

Is an estimated value of protein in feed calculated by multiplying the chemically analysed nitrogen content of that feed by 6.25

Crumbles

Is a pelleted feed that has its particle size reduced to granular form by a milling process

Crush

Is a livestock handling passage narrowing at the front end where animals can be restrained and handled individually

Crutching

Is a management procedure whereby wool is sheared from around the tail and hind legs of sheep to prevent flystrike

Cryptorchidism (kript OR kih dizm)

Is a condition where either one or both testes fail to drop from the abdomen into the scrotum sack

Cud

Is partly digested food regurgitated from the rumen stomach of a ruminant back to the mouth for further chewing before digesting

Cultivated pastures

Are planted from cultivated grasses and can produce up to 4 times more than natural pastures on the same land

Cull

Is to eliminate animals due to their undesirability for a specific purpose

Culled stock

Are animals that are removed from a group due to their non-conformance to the required norms

Curing

Is the process of adding of salt to meat for preservation purposes

Custom feeding (contract)

Is the practice whereby a commercial feedlot feeds cattle or sheep from the weaner stage to the slaughter stage on behalf of a third party for a management fee

Custom feed mix

Is a complete feed prescribed, formulated and mixed solely for the use of a specific client

Cutability

Is the proportion of lean saleable meat yielded by a carcass

Cuts

Specific standard retail sections cut from a carcass

Cycling

Is the period of physiological changes through which the female goes from one ovulation until the following ovulation

Cysticercosis (sis tih ser KOH sis)

Is the infection of livestock with the larval stage of a tapeworm relevant to their specific species

Damaged carcasses

Can be classed 1, 2 or 3 depending on the seriousness of the bruising damage on the carcass at slaughter

Dark cutting beef

Is dark, discoloured, unattractive, tough beef originating from male animals stressed from bad handling, transport, cold lairages, changing weather and comingling before slaughter

Dart gun

Is a type of gun that fires a drug dart used to sedate a fractious animal from a safe distance

Days on feed (DOF)

Is the term used for the number of days which animals are fed intensively before being sold or slaughtered

Dead vaccine

Is also known as an inactivated vaccine composed of dead viruses and bacteria, ideal for use in pregnant females

Deboned

Is the mechanical removal of the bone content from a cut of meat before further processing

Deficiency

Is a condition brought about by a prolonged shortage of a nutrient or substance necessary for good health, growth, or production

Dehorn

Is the process of removing the horns of livestock for economic or safety reasons

Disbudding

Has similar results to dehorning but is done at a very young age where the horn bud is removed and cauterised, destroying the buds before the horn can grow out

Dehydration

Is the process of removing water through natural processes from organic matter

Dentition

Is the number, type and arrangement of teeth also used to determine livestock age

Deposition of fat

Is fat that is deposited in the animal body in the following order:

Perirenal (around the kidneys)
Intermuscular (between the muscles)
Subcutaneous (under the skin)
Intramuscular (within the muscles)

Deregulation

Is the official removal of regulations and/or restrictions in an industry

Destock

Is to reduce thIs to reduce the number of animals from pastures due to poor climatic conditions or other limitationse number of animals from pastures due to poor climatic conditions or other limitations

Dew claws

Are two small non-weight-bearing claws just above the front and rear hooves of livestock

Dewlap

Is the loose flap of skin hanging from the neck of cattle, more pronounced in males and Zebu-type breeds

DFD

Is dark, firm and dry meat resulting from the meat pH being higher (5.9–6.5) than normal (5.4–5.7), which can result in tough, dry meat

Diagnose

Is to determine the cause of an illness or problem by identifying the symptoms

Diaphragm

Is the muscle structure in the body that separates the abdominal and thoracic cavities

Diarrhoea (scours)

Is loose, watery stools that occur more frequently and can be caused by a variety of nutritional or infectious causes

Diet

Refers to the feed ingredients or mixture thereof, including supplements and water, consumed by an animal

Digest

Is the breakdown of ingested feed in the intestinal tract into small substances that can be absorbed into the body

Digestibility

Is the percentage of a consumed mixed feed or ingredient that is digested

Docile

Is an animal that is easy to manage and handle

Dock

Is to remove or shorten the tails of long-tailed sheep

Manure

Is organic matter derived from animal excreta with a fertilizing value that has no harmful impact on the environment

Doe

Is an adult female goat

Manure buildup

Is the concentrated accumulation of manure in intensive production systems that can impact animal comfort and production

Manure pad

Is the layer of dried manure build up on the ground surface in feedlot or dairy pens

Manure pond

Is a manmade lagoon filled with animal waste collected from an intensive animal production unit and forms part of the manure management system

Market ready

Is the stage of production of an animal when it meets the required market requirements for mass, fat coverage, conformation or any other market requirement

Marbling

Is the intramuscular fat in meat that contributes to tenderness and flavour

Masculinity

Is the term for the secondary bold characteristics of breeding males exhibited in the head, shoulders, and general body muscling

Mastitis

(mas-TIE-tis) Is an inflammatory condition of an udder caused by microorganism infection or physical injury which can be painful and leads to reduced production

Mass medication (meta phylaxis)

Is the practice of treating a herd, group, or pen of animals with antibiotics that are not showing any signs but are at risk of a disease outbreak

Maturity type

Refers to the difference of animals of a breed in age in years or months in relation to the development of the body compared to animals of others breeds. These differences in maturity type in males can influence growth, efficiency of production, final mass and carcass composition of animals of the same age under the same environmental conditions

Maturity type can also influence reproductive age and rate of females

Early
Intermediate
Late

ME (metabolizable energy)

Is the amount of energy available to an animal from the digested food after the energy losses in faeces and urine

Meal

Is an ingredient or mixed feed that has been ground or reduced to the smallest uniform particle size

Measles

Is term given to the damage to a carcass that occurs when an immature tape worm encysts in the striated muscles of cattle, the Taenia saginata tapeworm and in pigs, the Taenia solium tapeworm which can infect humans when they eat contaminated raw or undercooked meat causing Taeniasis a parasitic infection. The cyst develops into an adult tapeworm over 2 months and attaches to the intestinal wall, the eggs are passed out in the human stool which can survive for several months on vegetation until ingested by cattle. The cystercerei (or larvae) migrate through the intestinal wall to the striated muscles in the animal’s body and forms a cyst where the cycle begins once again

Measle cyst

Is the small pea like cyst filled with fluid containing an immature tape worm, cysts are found in the hardworking muscles of the animal such as, heart, tongue, jaw, diaphragm and upper foreleg

Measley carcass

Is a beef carcass which has been condemned and marked with an M during Meat Inspection due to infestation of tapeworm cysts found in the muscles

Measle cysticercosis

(MEE-zul sis-tih-ser-KOH-sis)- is a tape worm infection of humans resulting from ingesting cysts from either beef infected with the Taenia saginata tape worm, or infected pork with the Taenia solium tape worm

Meat

Is the flesh of any animal that is used for human or animal food preparation purposes

Meat species:

Beef – cattle 1 year and older
Veal – beef less than 1 year
Chevron- goat meat
Lamb – sheep meat younger than 1 year
Mutton- sheep older than 1 year
Poultry- chicken, duck, goose and turkey
Lapan- rabbit meat

Meat and bone meal

Rendered product from animal tissues and bone

Meat grading

Is a system that is used to measure meat carcass quality based on age and fat content

Meat preparation (doneness)

Rare – below 50 C
Medium – 60 C
Well done- 70-75 C

Meat tenderness

Is the desirable soft eating quality of meat that is sought after by the consumer which can be laboratory tested by the Warner Bratzler Shear Force test

Medicated feed

Refers to any feed which contains any form of medication to prevent, treat or cure any disease or to improve feed efficiency utilization or to stimulate growth

Melengestrol acetate (MGA)

(mel-en-JES-trol ASS-eh-tate)- is a synthetic progesterone administered orally in feed and used to suppress the oestrus cycle in feedlot heifers to improve their growth and the feed efficiency. Due to the young age of heifers in SA feedlots the feeding of MGA has not been found to be cost effective

Metabolism

Are the chemical processes in the body of an organism required to maintain the life of that organism

Metabolic body mass

Is Body Mass to the power of 0.75, used to calculate the basal and other energy expenditure per day or per animal in comparison to others

Metabolites

Is a substance made or used when the body breaks down own tissue, food, chemicals, or medication

Methionine

An essential sulphur based amino acid required for protein synthesis in the body

Metritis

Is the inflammation in the uterus cavity created by bacterial infection associated with strains of E. coli

Microclimate

Is the climate of an exceedingly small area which differs from the climate of a larger surrounding area

Micro ingredients

Are all ingredients that are added in small quantities usually by way of a carrier before adding to the main feed mix, amongst other vitamins, micro minerals, antibiotics, growth enhancers or other medicinal additives

Micro minerals

Refers to the other minerals needed daily in exceedingly small quantities by farm animals, such as Cobalt, Copper, Fluoride, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Selenium and Zinc

Micro- organisms

Are microscopic organisms typically bacteria, protozoa, viruses and fungi

Micron

A millionth of a meter used to measure wool fibre diameter

Mid mass

Is the initial mass of an animal going into a system plus the final mass, divided
by two

Milk fever

Is a condition of hypocalcaemia primarily occurring in high producing dairy cows after calving when the cow struggles to mobilise sufficient calcium and show signs of difficulty in standing and cold to the touch

Milk teeth

Are the set of early temporary teeth of young animals that fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth as the animal reaches puberty

Milk replacer

Is an artificial replacer of whole milk nutritionally balanced with trace minerals and vitamins used to rear young animals when insufficient natural whole milk is available or when removed from the mother at an early age

Milking doe

Lactating female goat

Milking machines

Are automatic machines designed for milking one or many cows at the same time by sucking the milk out of the teats through a rubber cup into pipes that convey the milk to cooler tanks for distribution

Milking parlour

Is an essential construction in a dairy where cows are brought in to be milked before returning to their grazing camp

Milking parlour types

Common types are Tandem, Herringbone, Rotary and Parallel

Mill by-products

A secondary product resulting from the milling of the principal grain product for human consumption

Millilitre(ml)

A unit of liquid volume equivalent to one thousandth of a litre

Milk protein

Around 3.3 % of total protein and contains all the essential amino acids and used for determining the selling value of fresh milk for processing

Mineral supplement

Is a concentrated supplementary mix of minerals for livestock compiled from one or more minerals

Mixing

Is to combine by agitation two or more ingredients to a specific dispersion requirement

Mixed veld

Is an intermediate between sweet – and sour veld with characteristics of both

Modified live vaccine

Is derived from a naturally occurring pathogen in a controlled process not to cause a clinical disease but producing an immune response

Moist heat cooking

Is cooking with additional moisture added i.e. potjie cooking, pressure cooking, braising, casseroling and stewing

Molasses

Is a viscous concentrated nutritious by-product resulting from the sugar refining process

Molds

Are slow growing organisms with long tentacle type growths or mycelium that grow on a damp medium

Mold inhibitor

Is a substance added to a feed or ingredient that inhibits the growth of moulds

Monogastric

Are all animals with a single stomach compartment for digestion.

All poultry including Ostriches
Pigs
Horses
Donkeys
Rabbits

Monounsaturated fatty acids

Fatty acids with only one double bond in the carbon chain

Monozygous

See homozygous

Morbidity rate

Is the number of animals showing signs of a certain disease within a group of animals expressed as a percentage

Mortality rate

Is the number of animals that have died within a group, expressed as a percentage over a specific timespan

Mothering ability

Is the ability of a female to give birth easily and care, nourish and protect her offspring

Motility

The measure of the ability of sperm to move by themselves

Mouth

(verb)- Is the process of opening the mouth of an animal to count the milk or permanent teeth to determine the animal’s age

Mulesing

Is a practice frowned on and in most instances banned where folds of skin around the tail area of sheep are removed to prevent blowfly infestation

Muscle: bone

Is used as a measure of carcass quality by determining the ratio of the total muscle component of a carcass in relation to the total bone content

Mutton/ lamb carcass cuts and cooking methods

Neck

Sliced in potjiekos
Braised whole

Thick Rib

Mostly grilled
Braised
Cubed for stews or kebabs

Shoulder

Deboned and rolled
Oven roasted
Sliced for grilling on the coals

Breast and Flank

Deboned and rolled
Pot roasted
Cubed for casseroles and stews

Rib

Whole rib frenched
Oven roasted as rack or crown
Cut as chops for grilling
Whole for grilling on the coals

Loin

Cut into chops for grilling
Deboned

Leg

Whole for pot roasting
Deboned for a leg roll
Cubed for braising or kebabs

Chump

Cut as chops for grilling or roasting

Shank

Cooking whole
Thinly sliced for braising

Muzzle

Is the mouth and nose area of an animal

Mycoplasma

The group of small parasitic bacteria that do not have cell walls and can cause diseases

Mycotoxin

Is a toxic substance produced by fungi on plant material during adverse damp climate conditions during harvesting or on products stored with a high moisture content

Lamb marking

The management activity when the new seasons lambs are marked, tails docked and vaccinated

Lambing season

Usually for the bred ewes to lamb in the Spring onto the new seasons grazing

Laminitis (lameness)

Is a condition that affects the hooves of cattle, sheep, goats and horses which leads to extreme tenderness and later the inability to walk and increased hoof temperatures. Chronic cases can lead to ‘slipper foot’(langklou) where the hoof grows out into a disfigured form curling at the end and extremely painful to the animal which should be culled as soon as possible

Causes- can have a genetic (breed)origin, intensively fed excessive finely milled grains and insufficient roughage, very sandy or soft ground surface where the animal is kept for a prolonged period

Lanolin

Is grease from raw wool

Larvae

The immature form of many insects which hatch from eggs

Late maturing breeds

Are breeds that are physiologically younger than early maturing breeds and are inclined to deposit carcass fat later in their lives

Legume

Is a plant with edible seeds or pods which is a member of the pea family

Leptospirosis

(lep-toh-spy-ROH-sis) Is a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals or through water or soil infected by their urine

Lethal

Means deadly and can refer to a gene that can cause death of an animal if possessed by it

Lethargic

Is the condition when an animal is slow to react and has no energy

Libido

Describes the sexual drive of a male to mate with a female

Lice

Are small wingless parasites that live on the skins of humans, animals and birds

Lick

Is a common name given to a mixture of essential mineral and /or protein nutrients to meet an animal’s production requirements

Lignin

Is a polymer related to cellulose forming the woody and rigid cell walls of plants

Limited feeding

Is restricting the amount of feed while ensuring the required nutrients are still consumed

Lipids

Is a term given to fats and fatlike substances and waxes

Liquid feed

Usually a molasses-based protein supplement containing elevated levels of NPN with added vitamins and trace minerals

Listeria monocytogenes

Is a dangerous foodborne pathogen which can grow slowly in packaged products under refrigeration which causes Flu like symptoms and abdominal pain

LITS

Is a proposed new national traceability system for the SA beef cattle industry

Litter

A group of related offspring from one birth

Liver abscess

Is a digestive disease condition of the liver caused by rumen bacteria from acidosis which in serious cases reduces production

Liver fluke

Is a flat worm of the infectious Fasciola parasites that is found in the bile ducts of humans and grazing animals resulting in weight loss, anaemia and bottle jaw in livestock

Live sales

Refers to livestock sold either per head or per kg on the hoof weighed in a group or individually

Livestock register

Is the updated record of births, purchases, sales, deaths and all treatments and vaccinations of each and every animal on the property

Livestock removal certificate

Is a mandatory certificate required under the Stock Theft Act which contains the following information of livestock when leaving their place of residence

Details of person issuing the certificate
Details of the owner of the animal
Place from where and place to which the livestock are to be driven or conveyed
Name of driver
Date
If applicable registration of vehicle
Details of the animals
Breed and gender
Number of each class
Registered brand marks

Livestock tilt

Mechanical equipment used to restrain and tip livestock on their side for easy access to their body or feet for management procedures

Livestock Unit (LSU)

is a reference unit which facilitates the aggregation of livestock of various species and ages back to the common basis of one grazing unit of a 450 kg animal gaining 500g per unit per day.
The present SA table of coefficients for the various livestock classes is outdated and requires a revision but as general rule of thumb the following can be used

Mature cow- 0.9
Cow with calf – 1.00
Bull- 1.2
Weaner under 6mths- 0.4
Yearling- 0
Horse- 0.5
Sheep- 0.1
Goat- 0.08

Live vaccine

Also called as attenuated vaccine where the virulence of a pathogen is weakened but kept viable but not to be used on pregnant livestock

Loading ramp

Is a permanent or mobile structure connecting lower and higher surfaces facilitating the humane loading or off- loading of livestock on to a vehicle

Load cells

Is a metal measuring device that converts a mechanical force, like mass, into a digital value that can be read and recorded

Lock of wool

Is a column of freshly shorn wool that stays together when held

Loin

Is the area of muscle on the back of an animal between the ribs and the pelvis

Longissimus dorsi muscle

Is the loin eye/rib eye muscle

Longevity

Is the long duration of an individual’s life

Long weaner

Is a weaner that has passed the normal weaner age also referred to as a yearling

Lungworm

Is a roundworm occurring in the respiratory tract and lung tissue

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Is a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates ovulation in females and the synthesis of androgen in males

Injured

Means hurt, impaired, or physically harmed

International Unit (IU)

International measurement unit for vitamins and drugs

Intramuscular (IM)

Into the muscle

Intravenous (IV)

Into or in a vein

Insemination

Is the action of placing artificially tapped male semen into a female to make her pregnant

Immobiliser

Is an electronic/ battery operated instrument used to restrain cattle during castration, dehorning, branding and hoof trimming procedures by adequately trained handlers

Implantation

Is the first stage of gestation when the embryo attaches to the wall of the pregnant female uterus

Immunity

Is the state where the immune system of the body protects it against infectious diseases

Impotentia cocundi

Is the inability to insert the penis into the vagina because of not being erect enough

Failure to be able to mate

Impregnate

Is the term used to describe when a male animal mates with a female

Indigenous

Means originating, occurring or native to a particular place (animals or vegetation)

Informal market

Is selling to the market outside the formal auction sale, abattoir, or feedlot structures on a per head basis to individuals, smaller traders, butcheries, or for cultural events or speculation

Ingredient

Is one of the components of a combination of components compiling a mixture of a balanced livestock feed

Initial mass

Is the first mass recorded of any process

Inoculate

Is to inject a live micro-organism into an animal or a product

Inter-calf period (ICP)

A measure of reproductive efficiency of a cow expressed as the period in days between two consecutive calves

Integrated

Is to form, coordinate or blend into a functioning or united whole

Intermediate breeds

Are composite breeds created from the crossbreeding of early maturing and late maturing breeds

Intestinal tract

Is a continuous tube of organs through which food and liquid pass when chewed, swallowed, digested absorbed and excreted which include the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, four stomachs, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus

Injection types

Intramuscular- directly into a muscle for slower absorption, preferably a muscle of low economic value
Intra venous- directly into a vein for quick absorption
Subcutaneous- applied under the skin for a very slow absorption

Inspection stamp

Is the ink mark stamped on a carcass by the Meat Inspector after it has passed meat inspection

Internal parasites

Are parasites that occur in the gastrointestinal tract of animals

Intradermal

Means within the dermis layer of the skin which is below the epidermis

Intranasal

Is the administering of medication into the animal’s nostrils

Irradiate

Is when a product is treated by exposure to specific radiation to sterilise, prepare or alter for animal or product use

Inventory

A complete list of items (amongst other classes of livestock, feed ingredients, veterinary medicines, equipment, property, vehicles)

In vivo

Describes research done within a living organism

In vitro

Describes research done outside a living organism such as in a laboratory

Iodine

Is an excellent disinfectant used to dry out the navel of a newly born offspring closing the way of infection

Ionophores

Originally developed as coccidiostats in poultry feeds which are now registered for their growth promoter characteristics of altering ruminal fermentation in meat producing ruminants

Irradiated

Is a product that has been treated, sterilised, or altered in some way by a process of exposure to a measure of radiation by x-ray or gamma radiation to kill micro-organisms to preserve the product

Iso system

Is a system encompassing an internationally recognised quality management standard

Hand reared

Means the rearing of offspring by hand due to the mother having died or been slaughtered or having insufficient milk

Hay

Is the aerial part of grass especially cut and dried for livestock feeding

Hay additives

Are organic acid - based products that are designed to allow hay to be harvested and baled at a higher-than-normal moisture content by preventing mould damage in the bales

Haylage

(HAY-lij)- is grass silage

Heat

Known as oestrus, is the period when the female is fertile and the most receptive to male semen

Health management

Is the overall management and leadership given by both the private and public sectors

Heat load

Is the quantity of heat energy expected in a particular area to retain the temperature within a specific range

Heat synchronization

Is the manipulating of the heat cycles of a group of female animals to coincide to simplify the breeding process

Heat stress

Occurs when animals are subjected to more heat than they can dissipate

Heat stroke

Is a condition created by excessively high temperatures and the failure of the body’s temperature regulating system to get rid of excess heat which leads to fever and unconsciousness

Hectare

Is a unit of area equal to 10000 sq. metres used to measure land sizes

Heifer

Is a young female bovine that has not yet borne a calf

Hemicellulose

Is found in the plant cell walls but has a less complex structure than cellulose

Herd

Is a group of cattle of any number, size or age

Herd composition

Refers to the ratio of the different gender classes of the herd to each other

Herd /flock management

Is the encompassing term for caring, mating, tendering, feeding, health, welfare and data recording of a herd/flock

Heredity

Is the occurrence of genetic factors derived from each of the animal’s parents

Heritability

Is the percentage of variation in individual characteristics between related animals due to genetic differences also indicating the level of probable transmittance of a characteristic

Hernia

Is a condition when a part of an organ protrudes through the wall of the cavity containing it

Hermaphrodite

(her-MAF-roh-dite) Is an animal that has some or all the primary sex characteristics of both genders

Heterosis

Is the improvement in growth, size, production yield or other characteristics in the offspring of cross bred animals over those of either of the two parent breeds; also referred to as hybrid vigour

Heterozygous (het-er-oh-ZY-gus)- means having two different alleles of a particular gene

Hide

Is the pelt of a bovine or other large animal removed after death for further processing for various human uses.

Pelt is an animal hide or skin with the hair or wool still on it
Flaying means the process of removal of the hide or skin from the carcass of the slaughtered animal
Green means hides or skins immediately after removal from the dead animal
Wet blue are hides or skins that has been chrome tanned but not finished
Cured are hides or skins that have been soaked in a brine solution and turned in a large vat for at least 12hrs before draining and salting
Dry salted refers to a green hide or skin that was salted and air dried
Splits refers to the two portions of a hide that has been split into two equal pieces usually used for the furniture and foot ware trades
Hide damage means physical damage to a hide of skin caused by parasites, branding, horns, fence wire, thorn trees or during the hide or skin removal or flaying process.

Hide / carcass

Hide mass- is around 13.2 % of the final carcass mass

High moisture corn

Is maize that is harvested at 24 % moisture or more and allowed to ferment in a silo to feed at a later date to livestock

Hogget

Is an Australian term for a yearling sheep but also used in SA

Holding pen

A pen where livestock are temporarily confined before further handling

Holistic farming

Is a livestock and resource management system that focuses on promoting soil and grazing patterns together with water usage in an overall eco system

Homeotherm

Refers to an animal that can maintain its body temperature despite a change in the temperature around it

Homogenisation

Is mechanically reducing a product into small uniform particles evenly distributed

Homozygous

(hoh-moh-ZY-gus)- means having two identical alleles of a particular gene

Hoof scale

Is an individual or group walk-on scale

Hormone

Is a natural chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates cells and organs

Horned

Means animals or breeds that have horns

Hospital pens

Are pens that segregate sick or treated animals from the rest of the group for recuperation or retreatment purposes

Hot carcass mass

Is the carcass mass immediately after slaughter

Hull

Is the dry outer shell of a seed or nut

Humane handling

Means using methods to handle, treat, transport or slaughter animals in a compassionate way to avoid unnecessary injuries or stress

Humane Transportation of Livestock-by Road

SANS 1488:20XX

Humidity

Refers to a percentage of moisture in the air

Husks

Are the dried leaves enveloping the kernels on an ear of maize

Hybrid vigour

Is the improvement in performance of cross breeds over that of the purebreds

Hyperplasia

(hi-per-PLAY-zhuh) Is the enlargement of an organ caused by an increase in the reproduction rate of its cells

Hyperthermic

Is an abnormally high temperature which can be caused by infection or exposure to heat

Hypertrophy

Is the increase in muscle size in response to a stimulus such as exercise

Hypocalcaemia

(hi-poh-kal-SEE-mee-uh)- A condition of low blood levels of calcium

Hypothalamus

Is a control centre situated in the brain to keep the body in a stable state called homeostasis

Hypothermia

Is when the body temperature drops below that required for normal bodily functions caused by extreme cold or wet conditions

Genitalia

Are the internal and external sex organs

Genome

Is the complete set of DNA of an individual

Genotype

Is the complete combination of the genes of an animal which influences its characteristics

Germ

Is the embryo part of the kernel of seeds that is separated from the bran and starch endosperm during the milling process

Gestation

(jes-TAY-shun) period- is the period from date of conception that it takes for a foetus to develop fully until birth.

Gestation periods of farm animals (days):

Cow 282
Ewe 152
Sow 115-122
Mare 320-362
Doe 148-152

Glycogen

Is a polysaccharide of glucose stored in muscle and liver tissue in an animal and as starch in plants

GMP (Good Management Practice)

Is a practice or series of industry agreed practices routinely audited that have as objective a more efficient, safer, or ethical operating environment

Doeling (DOE-ling)

Is a young, sexually immature female goat

Goat breeds

Meat- Boer, Kalahari Red, Savanna and indigenous breeds
Wool- Angora
Milk- Saanen, Toggenburg, British Alpine

Goitre

(GOY-ter)- is a swelling of the neck resulting from the enlargement of the thyroid gland

Dominant

Is a genetic trait that will appear in the offspring if one of the parents possesses the trait

Gonad

Refers to the sex organ that produces egg cells in females (ovary) and sperm in males
(testicle)

Double muscling

Is a muscle hypertrophy characteristic caused by a gene mutation prominent in some cattle breeds

Dorsal

Is a point above the middle line

Gossypol

Is a phenolic pigment in cottonseeds that is toxic to some animals

Grade

Is the system used to measure quality of an animal or a product against that animal/ product standard

Dose

Is to administer orally or by injection a specific quantity of a therapeutic drug or medicine, which is intended to be taken all at one time

Grain

Is the general term given to the harvested seeds of cereal plants for example Maize, Sorghum, Wheat, Oats, Barley, Rye, Millet and Triticale

Downer

Is the term for an animal that has been unable to stand for a prolonged period due to various medical reasons and is usually put down

Drench

Is the forced pouring of various pharmaceuticals or medications down the throat of livestock for prophylactic or treatment reasons

Grain fed

Is the intensive production of livestock fed nutritionally balanced grain-based diets for a period prior to slaughter

Dressing percentage

Is the warm eviscerated carcass mass divided by the live mass of the animal, expressed as a percentage

Grass based

Is when pasture or natural grazing plays the major role in the production process

Drinking nipple

Is a small fitting on the water supply line used in pig and poultry production to supply water in a hygienic and controlled manner directly into the animal’s mouth

Grass fed

Is the extensive production of livestock on pastures with only limited feed supplementation

Driving

Is the moving of a group of animals on foot from one location to another

Drug

Is a chemical substance intended to prevent, treat, or cure a disease, or to effect a change in bodily function of an animal

Dry cow

Is the period in which a dairy cow moves from the end of one calving lactation period to the beginning of the next, during which all lactation stops

Dry heat cooking

Is the cooking of meat without adding additional moisture, for example grilling, broiling, roasting, frying and stir-frying

Drylot

Is a limited fenced-off area to contain, care for and feed livestock during a period of limited natural vegetation

Drying up

Is when a dairy cow is stopped from milking, usually around 220 days of pregnancy

Dry period

Is the period in which a female animal does not produce any milk

Grain preservation

Is the practice of harvesting grain at its highest nutritional value and storing it for a long period to either enhance the nutritional value or to lose the least amount of the original value:

Dry storage is the process of harvesting the grain at a moisture content that will not result in fermentation or fungal growth, store either outside in heaps or in sheds, silos, or covered trench pits.
High moisture is grain that is harvested and stored whole or milled at a moisture content of around 24% in a bunker type of silo for later use but requires good management to prevent spoilage
Reconstituted is the process of soaking grain in water until the inside of the seed swells making the starch and other nutrients more readily available for digestion
Grain processing:
- Whole
- Milled/ ground
- Cracked
- Micronised
- Exploded
- Steam flaked
- Reconstituted
- Pelleted
- Dry rolled
- High moisture
- Ensiled

Dry matter %

Is the percentage of a feed or ingredient sample including the fat, protein, fibre, mineral and vitamin fractions, with the moisture fraction deducted

Gravid

Is the term used for pregnant females

Dry milled

Is the process by which grain is tempered with a little moisture and milled to separate various parts of the kernel

Grazing density

Is the number of livestock expressed in terms of number of hectares per livestock unit grazing

Dry salted hides/skins

Are freshly flayed hides or skins that have been preserved by curing with ample amounts of coarse salt and dried for further processing

Grazing systems

Grazing means the free roaming of animals to fend for themselves in open pastures or rangeland where the system will depend on the quality of the pastures, production system envisaged and the class of livestock. Grazing systems can differ between neighbouring farms as well as sections of the same farm. However, the objectives should remain the same; to maintain the ground cover and to supply sufficient sustainable grazing for optimum production and reproduction

Continuous (one camp system) is when livestock graze for an extended period on plentiful grazing with no rest periods
3 Camp is a system whereby animals rotate between 3 camps with periods of up to 3months and a rest period of up to 6months
4 Camp is a system where 3 camps are grazed annually with the 4th camp rested for a full year.
Rotational is a system allocating herds to their own smaller camps allowing the animals to be moved routinely between these camps allowing rest periods for regrowth of the grazing.
Savory is a holistic approach with the basic principle of intensive grazing of smaller pastures for a short duration of time by a concentrated herd before moving to the next camp.
Overgrazing is the result of pastures being intensively grazed without a rest period and can result from; too many animals for an extended period; insufficient grazing due to adverse climatic conditions; poorly managed grazing systems
Strip (controlled) is a system involving the moving of the livestock from a limited area to another after short grazing periods followed by fertilisation and irrigation.
Zero systems used mainly in dairy production where cows are kept in pens to save energy expenditure and for ease of observation and management, by supplying them with high quality feed and forage in feed bunkers

Dust control

Refers to managing excessive dust in livestock production units, which can be caused by feed handling and milling, wind blowing dry manure and gravel roads, and which is a serious health hazard to animals and humans and an irritation to neighbours and passing traffic

Control measures include removing excess dry manure regularly, sprinkling water or spraying in open pens, using tankers spraying chemical mixtures or waste oils on gravel roads, adding vegetable oil when milling feed, and increasing stocking rates to keep manure in pens moist in dry periods

Green chop

Is a cultivated crop chopped during premature harvesting either for direct feeding or ensiling

Dwarfism

Is a condition of stunted growth marked by unusually small size or stature, which could be of genetic origin

Green hide/skin

Is a raw or untanned hide /skin

Dystocia (dis-TOH-shuh)

Refers to a difficult birth which is caused by an unusually large or badly positioned foetus, failure of the uterus and cervix to contract and expand normally, or the size of the pelvic opening of the dam

Grinding

Is the process whereby the particle size of a grain or roughage is reduced by hammering, impact, shearing, or roller milling

Ground water

Is the supply of fresh water drawn from an underground aquifer or reservoir

Group feeding

Is a feeding system where a group of similar sized animals of the same species are fed all together

Growth curve

Is a plotted graphic representation of the variation in the movement of growth performance

Growth hormone (somatotropin)

Is a naturally produced hormone released into the blood stream by the anterior pituitary gland

Growth implant

Is a small pellet inserted under the skin of the animal’s ear that releases a growth stimulant over a period of time resulting in increased muscle growth

Growth promoter

Are chemicals used to promote growth in livestock that can be either implanted or taken orally in mixed feed

Growth rate

Is the percentage increase in body mass measured over a period

Bred

Is the past tense of to produce offspring by gestation or hatching

Breed

Is a group of animals that are related and similar in general appearance and in colour, size and characteristics

Breed society

A society formed by breeders of a specific breed to manage the administration, marketing, general affairs and the records pertaining to that specific breed

Breed averages

Refers to average production or reproduction performance across a particular breed for the specific age and sex of the animal in that country

Breeding stock

Is the select group of animals specifically kept for improving the breeding herd genetics

Breeding season

Is the period that a female shows oestrus

Edema (oedema)

Is the accumulation of abnormally large concentrations of fluid between the tissues of an animal, which causes swelling

Edible by-products

Are parts of the slaughtered animal, other than the carcass, that can be consumed by humans

Breed types

Three main categories of cattle breeds are bos taurus (non-humped), bos indicus (humped) and dairy breeds
Five main categories of sheep breeds are wool, pelt, mutton, dual purpose and fat tail breeds
Main categories of goats are meat, wool, dairy and indigenous

Elastrator

Is an applicator used to apply rubber rings to either a lamb’s tail or scrotum to either dock or castrate the animal

Breeding values

Are an arithmetic estimate of an animal’s genetic value for a particular trait obtained from pedigree and performance information of near relatives and ancestors

Electrical stimulation

Is a process applied immediately after slaughter to an eviscerated beef carcass before de-hiding, whereby the stimulated carcass muscles extend and contract to hasten the depletion of muscle energy reserves and thereby the rigor mortis process, reducing the variability in meat tenderness between carcasses

Broken needle procedure

Refers to the recording and marking procedure followed when an injection needle or part thereof is left or breaks off in the muscle of an animal destined for slaughter

Electronic identification

Is a management system based on low-frequency radio waves from a transponder embedded in a unique permanent tag or chip used to record animal movement

Browse

Is the habit of certain species grazing bushes, shrubs and branches of trees in preference over grass

Ejaculation

Is the action of ejecting semen from the male penis during sexual activity

Brucellosis (Malta fever)

(broo-suh-LOH-sis)- Is a notifiable contagious bacterial disease caused by the brucella bacteria occurring in female animals causing abortions and stillborn calves which are then infected as well as transferred to cows by infected bulls, brucellosis is highly contagious to unprotected humans and known as undulant fever

Emaciation

Is the state of an animal being abnormally thin and weak, normally through sickness, hunger, or neglect

Bruising

Is the localised discolouring and swelling on a carcass caused by transport or handling injuries before slaughter that have a negative effect on the carcass appearance and price

Emasculate

Is the neutering of a male animal by removing the testicles or by severing the sperm tracts permanently

Emasculator

Is the tool used for the mechanical castration of male livestock

BSE

Is a degenerative disease of cattle commonly known as “Mad Cow Disease” believed to have originated from infected meat and bone meal of animals 30 months and older. The time from the onset of symptoms to death can vary from a few weeks to a few years.

BSE in sheep has not been proven to spread in a sheep population but could be masked by Scrapie a brain disease of sheep but not known to be linked to the human disease

Embryo

Is a fertilised egg cell in the uterus of the female

Buck

A mature intact male breeding goat

Embryo transfer

Is a reproductive technique whereby embryos are flushed from a donor female and implanted into recipient females

Buckling

A young sexually immature male goat

Emulsion

Is a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble

Buffer

Is a product regularly used in ruminant rations to help prevent that the acidity level (pH) drops to a level that can negatively affect the digestive process

Endemic

Is a disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in a certain area

Bulk feed

Is a feed commodity or mixed feed purchased, transported and stored in large quantities

Endoparasite

Is a parasite that lives inside the host animal, such as roundworms and tapeworms

Bull

Is an intact male bovine used as a sire in a cattle breeding programme

Energy

Is the capacity to do work, required by animals for maintenance, growth, reproduction and production

Buller (rider)

Can be a steer or a heifer that is singled out by pen mates and chased and mounted continuously causing excessive bruising and injury unless removed from the pen- caused by climatic change or mingling of strange animals - the name also given to a cow always in oestrus

Bullock

A young intact male beef animal that is less developed than a mature bull

Enrichment (feed)

Is the process of adding specific nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, to a feed to improve its nutritional value

Enterotoxemia

Is a disease caused by toxins produced in the intestines, often associated with Clostridium bacteria, leading to sudden death in otherwise healthy animals

Bunker silo

Is a deep trench usually with concrete walls and floor filled, packed and compacted with tractors and loaders and covered with a tarp or plastic to make it airtight

Environment

Is the sum of all external conditions and influences affecting the life and development of an animal

Buying margin

Is a ratio used in the livestock feeding industry as an indicator of whether the purchase price is such that it is economical to feed the calf or lamb intensively.

The buying margin can be either positive or negative:

Is positive when the price of the feeder animal calculated per kg of its carcass is less than a kg of carcass products sold
Is negative when the price of the feeder animal calculated per kg of its carcass is more than a kg of carcass products sold

Burdizzo

Is a castrating device designed to externally clamp the neck of the scrotum and break the blood vessels leading to the testicles, resulting in the eventual shrinking and disappearance of the testicles

Bushel

Is the US measure of volume for dry agricultural products equal to 2150.42 cubic inches

Bushveld

A rather loose term referring to mixed woodland between 1000 – 1500 m above sea level and stretching from Mpumalanga through Northern parts of Gauteng, the North West, and Limpopo

Butterfat

Is the measurable natural fat portion of milk used to determine the commercial value of milk for further processing

Butting

Is when livestock hit an opponent with their head and horns

Enzyme

Is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in the body

Buyer of livestock

Is the term used for an experienced person procuring livestock according to specific requirements on behalf of a third party

Buyer of feed

Is the term used for an experienced person procuring feed ingredients or compounds according to specific requirements on behalf of a third party

Epidemic

Is an outbreak of disease that spreads rapidly among many animals in a region

BVDV (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus)

Is a contagious respiratory and reproductive disease affecting the animal’s immune system and its ability to bear a calf

Epididymis

Is the coiled tube attached to the testicle where sperm mature and are stored

Bypass protein

An ingested protein that is protected from digestion by rumen microbes and bypasses the rumen to be digested in the small intestine

Epidural

Is an injection administered into the epidural space of the spinal column to provide regional anaesthesia

Byproducts

Are secondary products derived from the industrial processing of primary human food products that can be utilised cost effectively in the human food chain or in animal feed.

Human food chain includes livers, brains, hearts, sweetbreads, testicles, kidneys, oxtails, tripe and tongue

Epinephrine

Is a hormone (also called adrenaline) produced by the adrenal glands that increases heart rate and prepares the body for “fight or flight” responses

Byproducts plant (sterilization plant)

Is the processing plant normally located adjacent to an abattoir where discarded organs and meat tissue are sterilised by cooking at a stipulated temperature

Epithelial tissue

Is the tissue forming the outer layer of the body’s surface and lining the alimentary canal and other hollow structures

Equine

Relates to horses and related species such as donkeys and mules

Eradicate

Is to completely destroy or eliminate a disease or pest

Eructation (belching)

Is the process by which ruminant animals expel gas from the rumen through the mouth

Estradiol

Is a naturally occurring oestrogen hormone used in some growth-promoting implants in livestock

Estrous cycle

Is the recurring reproductive cycle in female animals, consisting of periods of oestrus (heat), metestrus, diestrus and proestrus

Ether extract (EE)

Is the fraction of feed that is soluble in ether, and is used as an estimate of fat content

Euthanise / euthanize

Is the humane killing of an animal to relieve incurable suffering or for welfare reasons

Ewe

Is a female sheep that has given birth to a lamb

Ewe breeding season

Usually refers to the period in which ewes are bred during autumn to carry the lamb through the winter and lamb in the spring

Exsanguinate (eks-SANG-gwin-ate)

Is to drain the blood out of a dead or slaughtered animal

Expiry date

Is the last date for use of a product, medication or vaccine before it starts to lose its efficacy

External parasites

Are parasites that feed on external body tissue, such as skin, wounds and hair, which cause extreme discomfort to the animal, such as ticks, lice, flies and mites

Fat soluble vitamins

Are the vitamins A, D, E and K which are supplemented in the diet and stored in the body’s fat reserves

Fatten

Is to feed intensively in preparation for slaughter

Fatty acid

Is a component of fat made up of carbon and hydrogen and used by animals as an energy source

Fecundity (feh-KUN-dih-tee)

Is a measure of the reproductive success of an animal

Feed

Is edible material of plant or animal origin that is consumed in wet or dry form to provide energy and nutrients

Feed additive

Is a supplement used in animal feed to improve feed quality or enhance production

Feed passage / alley

Is the passage allowing the manual or mechanical delivery of feed into feed bunkers

Feed analysis

Is the laboratory testing of single feed ingredients or mixed feed to determine physical or chemical qualities

Feed bunk

Is a trough-like construction that allows one or more animals to feed alongside each other or from both sides

Feed bunk management

Is ensuring maximum intake by keeping a clean bunk with fresh feed available at all times

Feed bunk reading

Is the process of predicting the amount of feed and the delivery time required for a specific bunk each day

Feed bunk space

Is the number of centimetres allocated per animal at the bunk, varying according to size, finish, feed amount, feeding frequency and climate

Feeder calf

Is a male or female bovine calf under one year old being prepared for a feedlot phase

Feeder cattle

Are male or female cattle that have reached the desirable mass to enter the feedlot phase for the slaughter market

Feed commercial

Is any mixed animal diet offered for sale on the open market

Feed compound

Is a scientifically formulated, commercially manufactured feed blended from raw materials, by-products and additives to meet the nutritional requirements of a specific animal class

Feed conveyor

Is a mechanical handling system used to move feed or ingredients from one area to another

Feed conversion ratio (efficiency)

Refers to the mass in kilograms of 90 per cent dry feed consumed per kilogram of gain

Feed grade

Refers to products intended for animal consumption but not for human consumption

Feed ingredients

Are the individual components or mixtures that make up an animal’s feed

Feed ingredient classes

Energy concentrates are feedstuffs high in energy content and low in fibre content
Protein supplements are feedstuffs with a high protein content used to increase the protein content in the diet
Roughages are feedstuffs high in fibre content and low in energy content
Mineral concentrates are feedstuffs providing additional major minerals Ca, P, Mg and S and trace minerals which include Fe, Zn, I, Cu, Mn, Fl, Se, Cr and Mo to the diet in recognised ratios
Vitamin premix is a mixture of vitamins, trace minerals, medication, and other supplements prescribed by a Nutritionist for specific classes and production levels of animals
By- / waste products are products from the processing of livestock and plants used as valuable ingredients for livestock feeding

Feed ingredient quality control

Is the process of ensuring a product meets required specifications

Feed intake

% of body mass dry matter feed intake can be estimated for:

Beef cattle at 2.5-3.5% of the animal’s average body mass during the process
Dairy cows at 2.5-4.5% of the animal’s average body mass
Lambs up to 4% and sheep 2-3% of body mass
Pigs between 2.7- 4.00 % of body mass

Ad lib (ad libitum) is a Latin term meaning unlimited availability of feed to be able to be consumed as much as is required
Dry matter: water is around 1kg of dry feed /4 lt of water consumed at a daily temperature of 18 degrees C
Voluntary intake is the maximum feed intake determined by feed composition, palatability, moisture content, water consumed, body condition of the animal and can vary according to the animal’s body mass
Restricted feeding means the restriction of the amount of feed/ energy while ensuring sufficient nutrient intake

Feeding margin

Is a ratio used to determine whether intensive feeding is economical based on the cost of producing a kilogram of carcass versus the carcass sale price

Feedlot breakeven

Is when the purchase price, feed cost, overheads and marketing cost equal carcass, offal, hide and other income

Feed milling

Is the weighing, processing and mixing of feed ingredients, liquids and additives into specialised feed blends

Feed mill types

Hammermill is a mechanical or electrically driven grinder in which feed ingredients are milled by swinging hammers through a static sieve to a required fineness
Roller mill is a machine for breaking grains into smaller particles by passing them through rotating cylindrical rollers
Cracker mill is a mill with large discs covered with projecting teeth rotating in opposite directions, used to crush previously moistened grains
Steam flaking mill is a machine which mills steamed whole or cracked grain through adjustable heated contra- moving rollers into grain flakes
Pelleting mill is a machine which forces a soft, finely milled mixed feed through either round or square holes in a rotating ring dye transforming it into uniform hard pellets

Feed mixing

Is the blending of dissimilar ingredients into a uniform product

Feed mixer types

Blender is a horizontal mixer used to blend feed ingredients of different particle size, moisture content and density into a uniform feed mix
Batch mixer can be:
- A horizontal stationary open mixer is a mixer mounted on load cells which mixes various weighed amounts of ingredients into a uniform mix before loading into a mobile feed wagon
- A large vertical mixer can be a 3-compartment bin mounted on load cells which is automatically loaded with individual ingredients per compartment before discharging into the awaiting mixer truck below while refilling the next compartment
- Vertical mixer- used in small operations consisting of a tank fitted with vertical auger(s) which lifts the ingredients to the top of the tank, which then fall and are repeatedly re-elevated before discharging as a mixed feed
- Mobile paddle mixer- is a large horizontal mobile load cell mounted hopper fitted with a set of augers and a paddle that lifts and tumbles different weighed feed ingredients backwards and forwards into a uniform mixed feed and then discharges it into a feed bunker. The mobile mixers are of varying sizes and are used by feedlots and dairies

Feed on farm mixing

Is the process of combining feed ingredients into a mixed feed on the farm

Feed processing

Is the mechanical or chemical alteration of feed ingredients to increase nutritional value

Feed scale

Is a measuring device used to weigh ingredients or mixed feed

Feed silo

Is a vertical or horizontal storage facility for bulk feed

Feedstuff

Is a material supplying protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals or water for animal nutrition

Feed truck

Is a truck-mounted bulk tank or mixer used to discharge feed

Feeding alley

Is the passage used by feed mixers to deliver feed to bunks

Feeding phases in feedlot production

Starter is when a palatable, protein-dense, nutritious, low-grain: high roughage diet is fed for around 10-14 days
Grower is when the animals have adapted to the feedlot diet and environment and fed a high-protein diet with a higher level of grain with reduced roughage for between 1430 days
In some feeding operations, additional Grower steps are used
Finisher is when the animals are in the final feedlot phase and fed a high-energy: low-fibre diet until they reach the required marketing specifications for weight and carcass finish

Feeding pen

Is a confined feedlot area where animals have ad lib access to fresh feed and water

Feeding pen area

Is the production pen area allocated per animal, varying with climate, drainage and floor conditions

Feeding pen capacity

Is the number of animals a pen can hold based on size, finish and climate

Feeding period

Is the number of days required for an animal to grow from initial to market-ready condition

Feeding regime

Is the programme specifying diet, quantity, feeding intervals and nutrient intake

Feedlot

Is an intensive production facility where animals are grouped and scientifically fed for a defined feeding period

Feedlot carcass dressing percentage

Can range from 56–62 percent depending on gender, age, fatness, travel distance and feed/water withdrawal

Feedlot initial carcass dressing percentage

Is approximately 48 percent for a dry SA feeder calf of 230–245 kg on arrival

Feedlot carcass gain (approximate)

Is live mass gain multiplied by 0.68

Feedlot diets

Are diet formulations adapted to the animal’s stage of production

Feedlot live gain (approximate)

Is mid mass multiplied by 0.54 percent

Feedlot processes

Estimating feeding potential and suitability
Purchasing
Transporting
Receiving
Processing
Adaptation
Production
Marketing
Feed milling
Feeding management
Water management
Health management
Waste management
Maintenance
Administration

Feed requirements

Are the physical feed amounts or daily nutrient needs for the animal’s production phase

Fermentation

Is an anaerobic process where moulds, bacteria or yeast produce acids, alcohol and vitamins

Fermentation aid

Is a substance added to improve fermentation efficiency

Fertility

Is the ability of an animal to produce living offspring

Fertility test

Is an assessment of sperm count and mobility in breeding males

Fertilisation

Is the fusion of male and female egg cells after mating

Fertiliser

Is a natural or synthetic compound supplying N, P and K to increase soil fertility

Fibre

Is a plant component consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin that slows digestion

Fifth quarter

Refers to the hide and offal components of a slaughtered beef animal

Fight or flight

Is an animal’s defensive reaction to perceived threat

Fines in feed

Are particles small enough to pass through pellet or crumble screens that reduce feed palatability

Final mass

Is the final recorded mass of any process

Fines in bunker

Are small, less palatable particles left behind after feed segregation

Finishing

Is feeding animals a higher plane of nutrition to reach market specification

Fistula

Is a surgically created tubular connection from the exterior to an internal organ for research

Flakes

Are processed feed ingredients rolled or flaked into thin pieces for improved digestion

Fleece

Is the wool covering of sheep and goats

Fleece casting

Is the action of throwing the newly shorn fleece onto a sorting table for skirting

Flehman response

Is a behaviour where males curl back the upper lip with closed nostrils

Flight distance

Is the minimum distance before an animal moves away from a human

Flight zone

Is the distance a human must maintain for the animal to remain calm

Flock

Is a group of sheep, goats or birds

Flushing (Prikkelvoeding)

Is the practice of increasing nutritional intake before breeding to improve conception

Also refers to removing fertilised eggs from a female for transfer to a recipient

Fodder

Is any coarse green or cured plant-based feed for livestock

Fodder flow

Is the matching of fodder supply to livestock requirements over the year

Foetus

Is the unborn offspring undergoing prenatal development

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

Is a pituitary hormone stimulating ovarian follicle production

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Is the US agency responsible for the safety and efficacy of human and veterinary products

Foot and mouth disease (FMD)

Is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hooved livestock causing mouth and hoof lesions

Footbath

Is a shallow structure containing diluted hoof treatment through which animals walk

Foot rot

Is a contagious bacterial infection of the hooves causing swelling and lameness

Formal market

Is the organised market operating under accepted price and quality standards

Forage

Refers to all fresh, baled, ensiled, chopped, ground or grazed plant material forming part of livestock diet

Forequarter

Refers to the areas including front legs, feet, shoulder, chest and brisket

Formulation

Is the combination of specific ingredients, according to nutrient analysis, to meet dietary needs

Frame score

Is a numerical description of skeletal size reflecting growth potential

Frame size

Is a categorisation of livestock as large, intermediate or small frame

Free choice

Is a feeding system where animals have unlimited access to separate ingredients of a balanced die

Freemartin

Is an infertile female, usually the twin of a male, showing masculine traits

Free range

Describes livestock raised in a natural open environment with freedom of movement

Freezing

Is the process of turning liquid into solid at 0°C to preserve meat, semen or embryos

Freshen

Means for a female to come into milk

Functional efficiency

Is an animal’s ability to produce and reproduce under its environmental conditions with minimal input