Animal Science - Terminology

Bovine

Cattle

Bull

A male bovine that has not been castrated

Steer

A male bovine animal that was castrated before reaching maturity

Cow

A female bovine that has had one or more calves

Heifer

A female bovine that has not had a calf

Cattle Gestation

285 days (9 months)

Calving

Bovine giving birth

Calf

Young male/female bovine

Boar

A male swine that has not been castrated, used for breeding

Procine

Swine

Barrow

A male swine castrated while young, in which physical traits of a boar have not developed

Sow

An older female swine that has farrowed or is showing signs of pregnancy

Gilt

A young female swine that has not farrowed and is not showing signs of pregnancy

Swine Gestation

114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days)

Farrowing

Swine giving birth

Piglet

Young female/male swine

Ovine

Sheep

Ram

A male sheep or lamb that has not been castrated

Wether

A male sheep or male goat that has been castrated before reaching maturity

Ewe Lamb

A female sheep that has not given birth

Ewe

A female sheep that has given birth

Sheep & Goat Gestation

152 days ( 5 months)

Lambing

Sheep giving birth

Lamb

Young male/female sheep

Caprine

Goats

Buck

Uncastrated male goat

Doe

Female goat that has given birth

Doeling

Female goat that has not given birth

Kidding

Goat giving birth

Kid

Young male/female goat

Equine

Horses

Stallion

A mature male horse four years of age or older

Gelding

A male horse that has been castrated

Mare

A mature female horse, four years of age or older

Filly

A female horse under three years of age

Foal

A young horse of either gender up to one year of age

Horse Gestation

340 days (11 months)

Foaling

A horse giving birth

Foal

Young male/female horse

Poultry

Domesticated fowl

Rooster

A male of domestic poultry

Capon

A male chicken that has been surgically castrated

Hen

A female of domestic poultry

Pullet

A female chicken that has not produced yet

Poultry Gestation

21 days

Hatching/Laying

Poultry giving birth

Chick

Young male/female chicken