This document defines common terminology used for various livestock animals. It provides terms for males and females of cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses and chickens. For each it identifies breeding males and females as well as young offspring and the act of giving birth.

1. Animal Terminology

2. Cattle

3. Cattle
• Bull – uncastrated male beef/dairy animal.
• Steer – castrated male beef/dairy animal.
• Heifer – female beef/dairy animal that has
not had a calf. (Usually less than 18-24
months of age)
• Cow – female beef/dairy animal that has
had a calf.

4. • Calf – young beef/dairy animal either male
or female.
• Calving – the act of parturition in cattle.

5. Swine

6. Swine
• Boar – uncastrated male swine.
• Barrow – castrated male swine.
• Gilt – female swine that has not had a
litter.
• Sow – female swine that has had a litter.
• Pig – young swine.
• Farrowing – act of parturition in swine.

7. Sheep

8. Sheep
• Ram – uncastrated male sheep.
• Wether – castrated male sheep.
• Ewe – female sheep.
• Lamb – young sheep.
• Lambing – act of parturition in sheep.

9. Goats

10. Goats
• Billy – uncastrated male goat.
• Wether – castrated male goat.
• Nanny – female goat.
• Kid – young goat.
• Kidding – act of parturition in goats.

11. Horses

12. Horses
• Stallion – uncastrated male horse.
• Gelding – castrated male horse.
• Mare – female horse over two years of
age.
• Filly – female horse less than two years of
age that has not had a foal.

13. • Foal – young horse.
• Foaling – act of parturition in horses.

14. Chickens

15. Chickens
• Rooster – uncastrated male chicken.
• Capon – castrated male chicken.
• Hen – female chicken.
• Broiler – young chicken at market weight.
• Chick – very young chicken not yet at
market weight.
• Laying – act of parturition in chickens.