Terminologies, Mostly Used in Veterinary Sciences

Abortion	Premature expulsion of the foetus from the uterus.
Active immunity	Immunity acquired when an individual produces immune products (e.g. antibodies) in  response to an antigenic stimulus.
Al progeny-tested bull	A bull whose genetic merit has been proven using the production records of daughters produced using artificial insemination (AI).
Alimentary tract	Pathway of food and residues through the body.
Alleles	Genes located at the same point (locus) on each of a pair of chromosomes.
Ambient air temperature	Temperature of the air encompassing an object on all sides.
Amine	One of a class of compounds which contain nitrogen and are derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms with an organic radical.
Amino acid	One of a class of organic compounds containing the amino (NH2) group and the carboxyl (COOH) group. They form the chief structure of proteins.
Ammonia	NH3, a colorless alkaline gas with a penetrating odor; soluble in water.
Anaerobic	Pertaining to or living in the absence of oxygen.
Analog	Having similar function but different structure.
Ancestor	Animal of a previous generation which has passed on genes through a line of descent.
Anemia	Deficiency in the quality or quantity of blood.
Anoestrus	Period of sexual quiescence.
Animal flow	The physical pathways animals take to move through a dairy site.
Anomaly	Deviation from normal.
Anthelmintic	Agent which destroys worms in the digestive tract.
Antibiotic	Chemical substance produced by microorganisms which inhibit or destroy bacteria and other microorganisms.
Antidiuretic	Suppressing urinary secretion.
Antigen	Any substance, usually a protein, that stimulates production of a specific antibody in the animal's body. It may also be related to other phenotypic characteristics.
Antimicrobial drug residues	Residues of drugs used to kill bacteria and other organisms.
Antioxidant	Compound which prevents oxidation.
Ash	Residue left after burning; primarily composed of minerals.
Atresia	Degeneration of unruptured ovarian follicles.
Atherosclerosis	Fatty deposits on the lining of the large and medium-sized arteries.
Autopsy	An examination of a carcass to determine the cause of death.
Bacteria	Large group of widely distributed one-celled microorganisms, which may appear singly or in colonies as spherical, rod-shaped, or spiral threadlike cells.
Bacterin	Vaccine containing attenuated or killed bacteria administered to increase the resistance of an animal to a specific infectious disease.
Bacteriostatic	Inhibiting growth of bacteria without destroying them.
Biosecurity	The monitoring of all existing and incoming animals for disease, and the use of disease prevention techniques.
Bolus	Mass of feed ready to be swallowed or regurgitated.
Breed	Group of animals having a common origin and identifying traits which distinguish them as belonging to a certain group.
Breeding value	Genetic worth of an animal's genotype for a certain trait
Brisket board.	A board installed in the front of a freestall that is used to position the animal correctly when lying in the stall.
BST injections	Injection of bovine somatotropin, a growth hormone designed to increase milk yields.
Bunker	A horizontal trench, lined with concrete or some other sidewall material, in which silage is stored.
Butyric acid	CH3CH2CH2C0OH, a rancid, sticky acid from the putrefaction of protein; one of the volatile fatty acids produced by ruminal bacteria.
Calorie	Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water from 14.5°C to 15.5°C.
Carbohydrate	One of a class of compounds with the general chemical formula (CH2O)n. They include the sugars, starches, cellulose, and gums. They are formed in all green plants by photosynthesis.
Carbon dioxide	CO2, an odorless, colorless gas resulting from oxidation of carbon. It is formed in the tissues and excreted by the lungs
Carcinogen	Any cancer-producing substance.
Carotene	Fat-soluble orange or red pigment of plants which may be transformed in the animal body into vitamin A.
Carrier	Animal or person who carries disease organisms without showing symptoms of the disease.
Caruncle	Maternal cotyledon; a specialized area on uterine lining in ruminants where placenta attaches.
Casein	One of a group of several phosphoproteins which comprise the principal proteins in milk. A summary of the money spent and received by a dairy.
Catabolism	Metabolic breakdown of complex substances to simple substances.
Catalyze	To change the velocity of a reaction. A catalyst is any substance that affects the rate of reaction but may be recovered unchanged at the end of the reaction.
Cellulose	Carbohydrate (C6H10O5)n forming the skeleton of most plant structures and plant cells.
Cesarean section	Delivery of a foetus through a surgical incision of the abdominal and uterine walls.
Chromosome	Bodies, occurring in pairs in the nuclei of cells, which carry the genetic material in the form of "genes" arranged linearly along the chromosome.
Claw (of milking machine)	A chamber to which the teat cups are attached; delivers milk from the teat cups to the milk line.
Closebreeding	An intense form of inbreeding usually applied to the mating of closely related animals such as full sibs or parent-offspring.
Coagulation	Process of clot formation.
Coitus	Sexual union of two individuals of the opposite sex.
Conception	Fertilization of the ovum.
Conjunctiva	Membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and covers the frontal portion of the eyeball.
Contagious organism	Organisms that can be transferred from one animal to another by contact, or via contaminated feed and water.
Corpus luteum	Temporary structure formed on the ovary after ovulation. During the time in which it secretes progesterone, the animal does not undergo estrous cycles.
Cotyledon	Area of foetal membranes which join the maternal caruncles of the uterus to form the placenta. Sometimes called buttons.
Crossbreeding	Mating of animals of different breeds.
Cryptorchidism	Failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum.
Culling	The removal from a herd of cows/buffaloes of lower genetic or phenotypic merit to in‑ crease production and profits.
Cyst	Pouch or sac filled with fluid or semi-solid material.
D.H.I.A.	Dairy Herd Improvement Association, an association which dairymen join to participate in a dairy record-keeping plan sanctioned under the National Cooperative Dairy Herd Improvement Program.
D.H.I.R.	Dairy Herd Improvement Registry, a dairy record-keeping plan sponsored by the breed associations.
D.R.P.C.	Abbreviation commonly used for the Dairy Records Processing Centers.
Dairy records processing centers	The computing facilities where information from the periodic tests in N.C.D.H.I.P. herds is summarized and analyzed and where information to be used in future management decisions is produced and returned to the dairyman.
Dam	Female parent
Denature	Destruction of the native state of a substance.
Diagnostic information	Information generated by .comparing descriptive information and external standards in order to diagnose problems in an operation.
Diploid	Having two sets of homologous chromosomes. Somatic cells normally are diploid, whereas gametic cells have only one set of chromosomes i.e. are haploid.
Disaccharide	One of a group of sugars which are composed of two monosaccharides.
Diuretic	Increasing urinary secretion.
DM	Dry matter
Dominance	The effect where one gene of an allelic series masks the phenotypic expression of another gene in the same allelic series. The masking effect may be complete or incomplete.
Dry matter (DM) basis	The normal method of evaluating a feed's nutrient content, based on determining the nutrient density of the feed after all moisture has been removed.
Dry period	Period of nonlactation between two periods of lactation.
Dual-purpose	Those breeds of cattle in which selection is practiced for both carcass and milking qualities.
Dyspnea	Difficult or labored respiration.
Dystocia	Calving problems, usually with heifers, normally caused by a disproportion between the size of the calf and the dam (i.e. the calf is too large to pass through the birth canal).
Ectoderm	Outermost of the three germ layers of the embryo.
Edema	Accumulation of fluids in the intercellular tissue spaces of the body.
Ejaculation	Sudden or rhythmic discharge of sperm and seminal fluid from the male.
Embryo	Period in the development of an individual between conception and the completion of organ formation
Endocrine	Pertaining to internal secretions elaborated directly into the blood or lymph that affect another organ or tissue in the body.
Endoderm	Innermost of the three germ layers of the embryo.
Endometrium	Inner lining of the uterine wall.
Epinephrine	Potent vasopressor hormone derived from the adrenal medulla.
Epithelium	Tissue lining the internal cavities and covering the external surfaces of the body.
Eructation	Act of belching.
Esophagus	Canal from the mouth to the stomach.
Estradiol-17(3	Principal estrogenic steroid hormone secreted from the ovary.
Etiology	Study of the causes of disease.
Excretion	Elimination of waste products from the body.
Exocrine	Pertaining to secretions elaborated into a duct and conveyed to other organs or to the outside of the body.
Exudation	Originating outside the organism; pertaining to the introduction of materials into the body from outside.
Faeces	Excrement discharged from the intestines.
Gene	Hereditary unit, located on a chromosome, which affects a specific trait and is not known to subdivide.
Gene frequency	Proportion (percentage) of a certain gene in its allelic series.
Generation length (interval)	Average length of time from birth of one generation to birth of the succeeding generation.
Genetic correlation	Tendency of two traits to vary in the same direction (positive genetic correlation) or in the opposite direction (negative genetic correlation) due to common genetic influences.
Genetic transmitting ability	The average genetic merit for some specified trait that is passed on by a parent to its off-spring; one-half breeding value.
Gestation	Pregnancy. The period of development of an individual between fertilization and birth.
Gluconeogenesis	Formation of glucose from noncarbohydrates, such as fats or proteins.
Glucose	Primary sugar in blood, C6H1206, used for energy, lactose synthesis, ribonucleic acid synthesis, and glycerol synthesis.
Glycerol	Three carbon molecule, CH2OH. CHOH. CH2OH, which normally contains three fatty acids to form a triglyceride.
Glycogen	Principal storage form of glucose primarily found in liver and muscle with the general chemical formula (C6H10O5)n•
Glycolysis	Metabolic breakdown of carbohydrates.
Goiter	Enlarged thyroid gland.
Gonad	Germ cell-producing tissue; an ovary or testis.
Gonadotropin	Hormone that stimulates the gonads. In cattle and buffaloes this would include FSH and LH.
Fat corrected milk (FCM)	Adjustment of milk with different fat percentages to equivalent amounts on an energy basis. The two most commonly used formulas are: 4% FCM = (0.4 X pounds of milk) + (15 X pounds of fat) 3.5% FCM = (0.4324 X pounds of milk) + (16.218 X pounds of tat)
Feeding program	The methods used to raise or purchase feed for a herd.
Feeding systems	Feeds used by a herd, and the different rations fed to different groups of animals. The methods used to feed a herd.
Feeding waste	Feed given but not consumed due to environmental conditions (rain, wind, sun) or animal refusal.
Fertile	Capable of producing offspring.
Fertilization:	Union of sperm and egg cells.
Foetus	Period in the development of an individual between completion of organ formation and birth.
Follicle	Ovarian structure containing the egg and its accompanying cells.
Foot bath	A flat container filled with water and disinfectants that buffaloes walk through to cleans hooves and prevent infection.
Formic acid	HCOOH, a colorless pungent liquid.
Freemartin	An infertile female calf born co-twin to a bull; the abnormal genital tract development present in the female is the result of circulatory connections between the 2 sexes of calves in utero; approximately 90% of the female members of female/male twin sets are free-martins.
Freestall barn	A barn with pens that allow animals to move as they wish, and with freestalls for resting
Haploid	Condition found in the sex cells or gametes in which half the normal (diploid) number of chromosomes are found. Condition necessitated by sexual reproduction and occurs during meiosis.
Heat	An increase in temperature. Also, another name for oestrus.
Heat-stressed cattle	Cattle that are suffering from an inability to dissipate sufficient heat to maintain normal body function. Caused by excessive temperature, radiant energy, or relative humidity.
Heifer	A cow or buffalo before she has her first calf.
Hemoglobin	Red pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen to the tissues.
Hemorrhage	An excessive loss of blood from the blood vessels.
Heritability	That fraction or proportion of variation in a trait which is due to genetic effects (usually defined in terms of additive genetic effects for purposes of selection).
Heterosis	Hybrid vigor; the amount by which the Fl generation exceeds the average of the parents (genetic heterosis) or the superior parent (economic heterosis).
Heterozygous	Pertaining to that condition where the two alleles at a given locus in an animal are not the same; i.e. the two chromosomes contain different alleles at that locus.
Histology	Study of microscopic anatomy of tissues.
Homozygous	Pertaining to that condition where both genes at a particular locus are the same allele; i.e. the two chromosomes both contain the same allele at that locus.
Horizontal silo	A horizontal trench, lined on the sides with concrete or other materials, in which silage is stored.
Hormone	Specific chemicals secreted from endocrine glands which influence the activities of other organs in the body.
Hybrid vigor	See heterosis.
Hydrochloric acid	HCI, a normal constituent of gastric juice
Hydrosalpinx	Distension of the oviduct with fluid.
Hyperglycemia	Higher than normal concentration of glucose in the blood.
Hypoglycemia	Lower than normal concentration of glucose in the blood.
Hypophysectomy	Removal of the pituitary gland.
Hypoplasia	Incomplete or reduced development.
Hypothalamus	Portion of the brain that regulates the anterior pituitary and many visceral activities.
Hysterectomy	Removal of the uterus.
Immune	Protected against a specific disease or poison
Immune globulin	Protein that contains large amounts of antibodies.
Inbreeding	Mating of animals which are more, closely related than the average relationship in the population.
Inbreeding coefficient	Percentage which expresses the degree of extra homozygosity in an inbred animal due to the relationship between its parents.
Infertility	Capacity for reproduction is reduced but not eliminated.
Inflammation	Tissue response to injury characterized by pain, swelling, redness, and heat
Inorganic	Not of organic origin.
Insemination	Deposition of semen in the female reproductive tract.
Ketoneuria	Presence of ketone (acetone) bodies in the urine.
Ketosis	Metabolic disease characterized by excessive ketone body formation and high blood ketone level.
Lactalbumin	A milk protein; also a subunit of the enzyme lactose synthetase.
Lactogen	Lymphatic vessel of the intestines which absorbs large amounts of fat, or chyle.
Leydig cells	White or colorless blood cells of which there are several types including neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes.
Libido	Sexual desire
Linebreeding	Form of inbreeding in which an attempt is made to concentrate the genes of a superior ancestor in animals of later generations.
Luteinization	Formation of the corpus luteum.
Luteolytic	Pertaining to the destruction of the corpus luteum.
Lymphocyte	Type of white blood cells which originate from lymph nodes.
Macromolecules	Large molecules with molecular weights between a few thousand and hundreds of millions.
Mastitis	An inflammation or infection of the udder that causes soreness, hardening of the udder, and reduced milk quality.
Maternity pens	Housing for dairy animals during the parturition.
Mattress-based stall	A stall with a mattress-type surface, in which the mattress is composed of a fabric cover over an interior filled with soft material.
Meiosis	A type of cell division which produces the sex cells, or gametes, which contain half the number (haploid) of chromosomes found in the somatic cells of the same species. Thin sheet of tissue which covers a surface or divides a space or organ.
Mesoderm	Middle layer of the three germ layers of the embryo.
Metabolism	Sum of the physical and chemical processes whereby the living organism is produced and maintained.
Metabolite	Any substance produced in metabolism.
Metritis	Uterine inflammation
Micelle	Colloidal particle composed of casein molecules in milk.
Microflora	Plant life, visible only under a microscope, which is present in or characteristic of a special location, such as in the rumen.
Milk fat	A currently more popular and acceptable term that is synonymous with butterfat.
Milk letdown	The ejection reflex caused by tiny muscle cells around a cows milk glands, to squeeze milk out of the glands and into the milk ducts of her udder.
Mitosis	Cell division of somatic cells including longitudinal splitting of the chromosomes so that each daughter cell has the same number (diploid) of chromosomes as the parent cell before division.
Molecule	The smallest portion of an element or compound that retains chemical identity with the substance in mass.
Morphology	Study of form and structure of plants and animals.
Mucosa	Mucous membrane.
Mucous	Pertaining to mucus
Mucus	Slimy, sticky fluid produced by certain membranes.
Mummification	Drying up of a dead foetus.
Mutation	Change in the genetic code at a locus which causes a different phenotypic effect and is transmissible to offspring.
Myometrium	Muscle layer of the uterus.
Negative feedback	Mechanism whereby a hormone acts to inhibit the secretion of another hormone.
Negative pressure	The effect created by a fan that reduces the pressure within a barn, causing outside air to be pulled into an enclosed area.
Neurohormone	Hormone which is synthesized in neurons.
Neurohypophysis	Posterior pituitary.
Neuron	A nerve cell
Neurotransmitter	Chemicals associated with the nerves that are involved in transmission of impulses.
Nuisance problem	An annoying, unpleasant, or obnoxious situation; manure smells, for example.
Nymphomania	Excessive sexual desire in the female. In dairy cows/buffaloes, the most common symptom is prolonged or constant oestrus.
Oestrous	Pertaining to the entire cycle of reproductive changes in the nonpregnant female mammal.
Oestrus	Period of sexual receptivity in female animals. Also called heat.
Organic	Pertaining to substances derived from living organisms.
Osmosis	Differential passage of solute molecules across a semi-permeable membrane which is completely permeable to the solvent.
Outbreeding	System of mating animals which are less closely related than the average relationship in the population.
Ova	Plural of ovum.
Ovogenesis	Formation and development of the ovum.
Ovulation	Release of a mature ovum from an ovarian follicle.
Oxidation	Loss of electrons from an atom or its gain in positive charges; for example, the chemical combination of oxygen with another atom.
Papillae	Small, nipple-shaped projections or elevations.
Parity	State of the female with respect to her having produced offspring.
Parturition	Act of giving birth to a young(s).
Passive immunity	Immunity acquired when an individual receives preformed immune products (e.g. antibodies) produced by another individual.
Pathogen	Any disease-producing organism.
Peak milk	The point in a cow's/buffalo's lactation at which she produces her greatest quantity of milk per day.
Pedigree	List or diagram of an animal's ancestors ideally including complete information on their performance and genetic merit.
Peptide	One of a class of low-molecular weight compounds which yield 2 or more amino acids upon hydrolysis.
Peristalsis	Rhythmic contractions by which the alimentary canal propels its contents.
Peritoneal cavity	Cavity containing the digestive organs.
Peritonitis	Inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity and encasing the viscera.
Phenol	Carbolic acid, C6H5OH.
Phenotypic correlation	Degree to which phenotypic traits tend to vary in the same or opposite directions.
Phenotypic variance	Variation in animal's physical traits and performance due to the action and interaction of genetic and environmental effects.
Physiology	Study of function of living plants and animals.
Placenta	Vascular tissue in the uterus, which allows exchange of nutrients and waste products between the mother and foetus.
Polypeptide	Combination of a few amino acids.
Postcalving	The period of time immediately after a cow/buffalo has given birth to its calf.
PPM	Parts per Million
gonadotrapin	A hormone, rich in FSH- and LH-like activity, secreted from the placenta into the serum of the mare PMSG.
Prehension	Act of seizing or grasping.
Production System	The organized set of assets and procedures used to operate a business and produce a product.
Profitability	The returns remaining after all liabilities incurred to create a product have been met.
Progeny	An animal's offspring.
Progeny Test	An evaluation of the transmitting ability of an individual by studying the performance of its offspring.
Prolapse	Abnormal protrusion of an organ, such as a prolapsed uterus.
Propionic Acid	CH3CH2000H, an acid found in chyme and sweat; one of the volatile fatty acids produced by ruminal bacteria
Protein	One of a class of compounds composed of many amino acids which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.
Protozoa	One-celled animals which are the lowest division of the animal kingdom.
Puberty	Period of time at which the reproductive system acquires its mature form and function.
Purebred	An animal with two parents of the same breed.
Pyometra	Accumulation of pus in the uterus.
Qualitative trait	Trait whose measurement or description would fall into discrete classifications such as color, sex, or the presence of horns.
Quantitative trait	Trait which is subject to more or less continuous variation and must be measured on a (pseudo) continuous scale such as body weight or milk yield.
Quarantine	Separating infectious or newly acquired animals from others to reduce the potential spread of disease.
Regurgitation	Backward flowing, as the movement of undigested feed up the esophagus.
Replacement animal	An animal (usually a heifer) that is used to replace another animal when it is culled.
Rodent	Mammal belonging to the order Rodentia which have gnawing or biting habits; such as rats, squirrels, or beaver
Rubber mat	A one-piece rubber-based pad installed in a freestall to provide cushion for an animal when lying, and traction when rising.
Ruminating	Chewing the cud; remastication of a bolus of feed which has been regurgitated from the rumen of the animal.
Salpingitis	Inflammation of the oviduct.
Saturated fatty acid	Fatty acid that has no double bonds; all carbon atoms are combined with the maximum number of hydrogen atoms.
Scours	Diarrhea, a profuse watery discharge from the intestines of cattle or buffaloes, more com­mon in calves.
Sebaceous glands	Ductular glands located in the skin which secrete a fatty material, sebum.
Sebum	Fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands.
Secondary sex characteristics	Distinct anatomical traits which characterize a sex but are not directly related to repro­duction.
Secretion	Intracellular synthesis and expulsion of a specific substance from the cell.
Seminal plasma	Fluid from the accessory sex glands of the male.
Serological	Pertaining to use of blood serum of animals in certain tests such as in vitro study of antigen-antibody reactions.
Sex cells	Reproductive cells, ova in females and spermatozoa in males.
Short-chain fatty acids	Fatty acids containing 14 or fewer carbon atoms.
Silage leachate	The liquid generated by the forage fermenting process, which flows from a silage container.
Silent oestrus	Oestrus which occurs without the typical behavioral signs of normal oestrus.
Site selection	The process of evaluating a parcel of land for its physical qualities and determining its acceptability for the placement of a dairy facility.
SNF	See solids-not-fat.
Solids-not-fat	Total milk solids minus the fat. It includes lactose, protein, and minerals.
Somatic cell count (SCC)	A measure of somatic cells in milk, used as an indicator of mastitis.
Somatic cells	All cells which are part of an animal's body except the sex cells.
Somatotropin	Hormone of the anterior pituitary which causes growth in young animals; also called growth hormone.
Spermatogenesis	Formation and development of sperm
Spermatozoa	Mature male sex cells containing the haploid number of chromosomes.
Sphincter	A ring-like muscle which closes a natural opening.
Springing heifer	A heifer that has not yet calved but is close to having her first calf.
Starch	Carbohydrate with the general formula (C6H10O5)„ from various plant tissues.
Sterility	Inability to produce offspring.
Steroid	One of a class of compounds characterized by a 4-ring carbon structure resembling cholesterol. They are soluble in organic solvents.
Stress	Subjection to external forces.
Superovulation	Shedding of large number of ova.
Syndrome	Group of symptoms which occur together and characterize a disease.
Synergism	The combined action of two or more agents which produce a greater response than the sum of their individual effects.
Synthetic	Artificial.
System of mating	Procedure which causes the nonrandom combining of genotypes to change the genotypic frequencies in the next generation but not the gene frequencies; common examples are crossbreeding and various forms of inbreeding.
TDN	Total digestible nutrients.
Transition cow	A cow in the last stages of pregnancy or the first stages of lactation
Urea	NH2CONH2, a white, crystalline substance found in urine, blood, and lymph, which is the final product of protein metabolism in the body. Synthetic urea can be used by ruminal bacteria as a nitrogen source for protein synthesis.
Vaccine	Suspension of attenuated or killed microorganisms (bacteria, rickettsiae, or viruses) which is injected into animals to prevent, ameliorate, or treat infectious diseases.
Vaginitis	Inflammation of the vagina.
Vasoconstriction	Reduction in the diameter of blood vessels, especially arterioles.
Vasopressin	See antidiuretic hormone.
Venereal	Caused or propagated by mating.