Animal Science Glossary

The fourth and final compartment of the ruminant stomach, often called the 'true stomach,' where enzymatic and acid digestion occurs similar to the monogastric stomach.

The process of depositing collected and processed semen into the female reproductive tract to achieve pregnancy without natural mating.

A numerical assessment of the fat and muscle covering of a live animal, used to evaluate nutritional status and predict reproductive performance.

The first secretion from the mammary gland after parturition, rich in immunoglobulins that provide passive immunity to the newborn.

The mating of animals from two or more different breeds to exploit heterosis and combine desirable traits from multiple breeds.

A laboratory measure of feed protein content calculated by multiplying total nitrogen by 6.25.

The portion of feed remaining after all water has been removed, used as the standard basis for expressing nutrient concentrations.

A reproductive technology involving the collection of embryos from a donor female and their transfer to recipient females for gestation.

The recurring hormonal cycle in sexually mature female mammals during which the animal becomes receptive to mating.

A genetic prediction of how an animal's progeny will perform relative to the progeny of other animals for a given trait.

A measure of feed efficiency representing the amount of feed consumed per unit of weight gain or product output.

Plant material such as hay, silage, or pasture used as feed for livestock, typically high in fiber and digested through microbial fermentation.

A breeding approach using genome-wide DNA marker data to predict an animal's genetic merit with greater accuracy.

The period of fetal development from conception to birth, varying in length by species.

The proportion of phenotypic variation among individuals in a population that is attributable to additive genetic differences.

The superiority in performance of crossbred offspring over the average of their purebred parents, also called hybrid vigor.

The secretion and production of milk by the mammary glands, typically initiated by parturition and maintained by hormonal signals.

Intramuscular fat visible as white flecks in the lean of meat, used as a primary criterion in USDA beef quality grading.

An inflammatory disease of the mammary gland tissue, typically caused by bacterial infection and detected by elevated somatic cell counts in milk.

The process of giving birth, triggered by hormonal changes involving cortisol, prostaglandin, and oxytocin.

The observable characteristics of an animal resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

The largest compartment of the ruminant stomach where microbial fermentation of fibrous feeds occurs.

A measure of the number of white blood cells per milliliter of milk, used as an indicator of udder health and milk quality.

A nutritionally balanced feed mixture combining all forages, grains, supplements, and additives in a single homogeneous blend.

Short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) produced by microbial fermentation in the rumen that serve as the primary energy source for ruminants.