A
ABOMASUM: The fourth or true stomach of a ruminant where enzymatic digestion occurs.
ABSCESS: Boil; a localized collection of pus.
ACIDOSIS (Grain Overload): A condition in which the pH of the rumen is abnormally low (<5.5).
ACUTE: Any process occurring over a short period of time.
ADJUSTED WEIGHT: Weight of the animal that has been adjusted using a
correction formula to a standard age, sex, type of birth/rearing, and/or
age of dam. These weights increase the accuracy of comparisons between
animals for selection as it accounts for known differences in
environment. Adjusted weights are often used when doing performance
testing.
AFTERBIRTH: The placenta and associated membranes expelled from the uterus after parturition.
ANEMIA: An inadequate number of red blood cells in the body.
ANESTROUS PERIOD: The time when the female does not exhibit estrus (heat); the non-breeding season.
ANTHELMINTIC: A drug that expels or kills internal parasites.
ANTIBODY: A protein produced by the body's immune system that
recognizes and helps fight infections and other foreign substances in
the body.
ANTIBOTIC: A pharmaceutical product injected or fed to the animal that helps it fight off a bacterial infection.
ARTIFICAL INSEMINATION: The injection of semen into the female
reproductive tract through the use of an instrument (example: French
gun) in order for the animal to become pregnant.
AVERAGE DAILY GAIN (ADG): The amount of weight gained each day during a period of time.
B
BACK CROSS: Breeding a first cross offspring back to one of the
parental breeds. This is often the first step in establishing a grading
up program or composite breed.
BALANCED RATION: A ration containing nutrients in the correct proportion to meet the nutritional needs of the animal.
BALANCE/SYMMETRY: Describes how the parts of the body blend together and result in good eye appeal and proper confirmation.
BLIND TEAT: A non functional teat on the udder of the goat. It can be
an additional teat that is not connected to a milk duct or one that is
nonfunctional due to mastitis.
BLOAT: An excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen and reticulum, resulting in distension of the abdomen.
BODY CONDTION SCORE: A numeric value assigned to an animal that
estimates the degree of fatness or condition that covers the animal’s
body. This score is assessed by palpating the spine, (spinal and
transverse processes) and ribs. See body condition scores for goats
under goat nutrition Community of Practice.
BOER: One of the breeds of meat goats used in the U.S. This breed
originated in South Africa and was imported into this country during the
early 90s. For more information please see the breeds section in the
goat Community of Practice area.
BOLUS: A rounded mass of medicine used in cattle, goats and sheep.
BREED: A group of animals with similar characteristics (color,
markings, size, etc.) that distinguishes it from other animals. The
characteristics are passed from the parents to the offspring.
BREEDING SEASON: The period when goats will breed naturally. This season usually begins in the fall.
BRUSH GOAT: This was the term used to describe any goat that was of
unknown breeding for many years in the U.S. These goats were generally
provided very little maintenance and kept to clear brush on property.
Many showed traits associated with dairy, Spanish, and Angora breeds
depending on the location they were found.
BUCK (Billy): A sexually mature intact male goat used for breeding.
BUCKLING: A sexually immature young male.
BUCK RAG: A cloth rubbed on a buck and imbued with his odor. The rag
is kept in a closed container and can be used to assist in stimulating
estrus (heat) in does.
BULL DOG or UNDERSHOT or MONKEY MOUTH: The lower jaw is longer than
the upper jaw, and the teeth extend forward past the dental pad on the
upper jaw. This is disqualifying feature for confirmation.
BROWSE: Bushy or woody plants that goats consume.
BURDIZZO: A tool used to castrate goats, sheep or cattle that crush
the spermatic cords to render the male sterile. This leaves the scrotum
intact; however, the testicles will shrink away.
BUTT HEAD: Goats born without horns.
BUTTING: A method of fighting by which one animal strikes the head and horns of its opponent.
C
CAPRINE: The scientific name for the goat species.
CAPRINE ARTHRITIS ENCEPHALITIS (CAE): An infectious disease that
causes arthritis and progressive inflammation in one or more organs or
tissue systems such as the joints, bursae, brain, spinal cord, lungs and
udder. This disease affects goats and is currently incurable.
CALIFORNIA MASTITIS TEST (CMT): A kit that can be used to test mastitis in cows and does.
CHEVON: Chevon is the French word for goat. These are animals that are slaughtered near or shortly after weaning.
CARCASS: The dressed body of a slaughtered animal.
CASTRATION: Removal of the testicles.
CUBIC CENTIMETER (cc): A volume measurement identical to milliliter (ml).
CISTERN: The final temporary storage area of milk in the udder.
CLEATS (Clays, Claws, Clees): The two halves of the goat’s hoof.
CLOSED HERD or FLOCK: No new animals are introduced into the herd or flock.
CLOSTRIDIAL INFECTION: A bacterial infection that can occur in sheep
and goats. Some goat diseases that are caused by this infection are:
Blackleg, Enterotoxaemia (Overeating disease) and Tetanus.
COCCIDIOSIS: A disease that is commonly exhibited in younger animals
caused by a protozoa parasite infection. It is characterized by
diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, lack of thriftiness, and weakness.
COLOSTRUM: The first milk the doe or ewe produces after given birth
to their offspring. The milk is thick and golden yellow in color and
contains rich antibodies. If the newborn does not consume the milk
within the first 24 hours of life, there is very little chance the
animal will survive.
CONCENTRATE: The non-forage part of an animal’s diet, principally
grain and including oil seed meal and other feed supplements that are
high in energy and/or protein, but low in crude fiber.
CONFORMATION: The combination of structural correctness and muscling of the animal including the frame and shape of the animal.
CREEP FEEDER: An enclosed feeder meant to keep larger (older) animals out for supplementing the ration of young animals.
CROSS BREED: An animal whose parents are of two different breeds.
CROWN ROAST: Made by adjoining two Frenched eight-rib racks with
twine and bending them to form a circle. The ends are secured by twine.
CRYPTORCHID: A condition where one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum sac.
CULL: To remove a substandard animal from the herd or flock.
D
DAIRY GOATS: Goats that are used primarily for milk production. For
more information please see the breeds section in the goat Community of
Practice area.
DOE (Nanny): A sexually-mature female goat.
DOELING: A young female that is not yet sexually mature.
DRENCHING: To administer an oral dose of liquid.
DRESSING PERCENTAGE: The dressing percentage is calculated by dividing the carcass weight by the live weight.
DRY PERIOD: The time when the female is not producing milk.
DRYLOT: An area with no vegetation generally an outside pen area.
DYSTOCIA: Difficulty in delivering the fetuses.
E
EAR TAG: A method of identifying animals by using a plastic or metal
tag placed in the ear of the animal. The ID information is printed or
written on the tag and then it is applied to the ear. This is not
considered a permanent method of ID.
EMBRYO: Unborn offspring that does not yet have developed organ
systems and is in the very early stages of development in the uterus.
ENVIRONMENT: The sum of all the conditions the animal is exposed to including: climate, housing, feed sources, disease, etc.
ESTROGEN: The hormone that primarily causes behavioral estrus.
ESTROUS (adjective): An adjective describing anything having to do with the female reproductive cycle, including estrus.
ESTROUS CYCLE: The beginning of one estrus (heat) to the beginning of the next estrus (heat).
ESTRUS ((noun, a.k.a “Heat”): The period in which the female is receptive to breeding.
EXTERNAL PARASITE. These parasites feed on body tissue such as blood,
skin, and hair. The wounds and skin irritation produced by these
parasites result in discomfort and irritation to the animal. Some
examples of external parasites are: fleas, keds, lice, mites, nose-blot
flies, and ticks.
F
FAMACHA ©: It is an acronym for Faffa Malan Chart; he is the person
who developed a method of using the color of the inner eye lid to
determine the level of parasite infection in sheep and goats in South
Africa. The method is used to implement selective treatment programs for
parasites in goats. To use the system properly producers need to attend
training course and obtain an official chart. This system is only good
for control of H. Contortus (also known as the barber pole worm).
FECAL EGG COUNT (FEC): Using a fecal flotation method to determine
the level of parasite load in goats based on the number and type of
parasite eggs found in the feces.
FECAL FLOTATION: A microscopic procedure used to identify various
parasite eggs in a fecal sample. There are two basic methods used:
Modified McMasters and Wisconsin methods.
FECES: The manure or excrement produced by an animal.
FEED ADDITIVE: Anything added to a feed, including preservatives, growth promoters and medications.
FETUS: Unborn offspring that has developed organ systems. This term
applies to the baby after embryonic development and until birth.
FIBER (in diet): The portion of a feed that is indigestible or slowly
digested by ruminants. It may be expressed as crude fiber, neutral
detergent fiber, acid fiber or effective fiber.
FIBER GOAT: type of goat used for fiber production. The hair is
harvested and used for textile production. Angora and Cashmere are two
common fiber breeds of goats in the U.S. For more information please see
the breeds section in the goat Community of Practice area.
FINISH/CONDITION: Refers to the amount of external fat that covers the body.
FLUSHING: The process of increasing the quality of the diet of the
doe before breeding season starts. The practice is used to increase the
number of ovulations to try to increase the number of offspring. It is
generally achieved by increasing the energy in the diet by either using
high quality forage or increasing or starting feeding a concentrate.
FORAGE: The hay and/or grassy portion of the diet of goats, sheep and cattle.
FOREQUARTERS: The area on the animal’s body that includes the withers, front legs, feet, shoulder, chest and brisket area.
FREE CHOICE (Ad Libitum): Feed made available to an animal at all
times so that the animal can eat whenever and as much as it chooses.
FRENCHING: Frenching is the process of removing one and a half inches
of meat from the end opposite the loin eye of the roast or rib chops.
FRESHEN: When a does gives birth (kid) and starts to produce milk.
G
GAMBREL RESTRAINER: A restraining device that is made of plastic
placed over the top of the animal’s neck, with slots on either side to
hold both front legs of the animal.
GENOTYPE: The specific genes that the animal has on its chromosomes.
The genotype of an animal is set at conception and controls the
potential performance, color, size, and fertility of the animal. The
genotype and environment combine to produce the phenotype of the animal.
GESTATION: The period in which the doe is pregnant (average 150 days).
H
HAND MATING: A breeding scheme in which a female and male are
isolated by the producer in a confined area for individual breeding.
HEAT (Estrus): The period in which the doe is receptive to mating.
HERMAPHRODITE: A sterile animal with reproductive organs of both sexes.
HORMONE: A chemical secreted into the bloodstream by an endocrine
gland, bringing about a physiological response in another part of the
body.
HOT CARCASS WEIGHT: The weight of a dressed carcass immediately after
slaughter prior to the shrinkage that occurs in the cooler.
HOTWEIGHT BASIS: generally used in marketing where price is based on
the hot carcass weight of the animal rather than the live weight taken
just prior to processing.
HYPOTHERMIA: When body temperature drops below that required for
normal metabolism and body functions. Inability to keep warm often
caused by cold or wet weather.
I
IMMUNITY: Protection from disease that comes as a result of the body’s normal immune system response.
INBREEDING: The mating of closely related individuals.
INTERNAL PARASITES: Parasites located in the gastrointestinal system in animals.
INTRADERMAL: Within the dermis, this is the layer of skin below the epidermis (outermost layer).
INTRAMUSCULAR (IM): The route of administering medications by
inserting the needle straight into the skin and deep into the muscle.
The recommended site for this injection is usually given in the neck of
the animal.
INTRANASAL (IN): The spraying or administering of a solution into the nostrils.
INTRAVENOUS (IV): Medication injected into the vein, usually the jugular vein.
J
JOHNE’S DISEASE (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis): A bacterial disease
causing severe weight loss and some diarrhea. Not currently curable.
K
KEDS: They are large, flattened, usually wingless parasitic flies.
KETONE: Compounds found in the blood of pregnant does suffering from pregnancy toxemia.
KETOSIS: The accumulation of ketones in the body, responsible for
pregnancy diseases, acetonemia, twin lambing disease and others that
occur at the end of pregnancy or within a month of kidding.
KID: A goat less than one year old.
KIKO: Breed of meat goats that originated in New Zealand and are
known for hardiness. They have been imported in the U.S. For more
information please see the breeds section in the goat Community of
Practice area.
L
LACTATION: The period in which a doe produces milk; the secretion or formation of milk.
LARVAE: The immature stage of an adult parasite. The term applies to insects, ticks and worms.
LEGUMES: A family of plants that has nodules on the roots to enable
them to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. Legumes are high in protein
and bear their seeds in a pod (i.e., clover, alfalfa, cowpea).
LETHARGY: An animal that is slow to react lacks energy and is often sick.
LIBIDO: Sex drive.
LINE BREEDING: A form of inbreeding that attempts to concentrate the genetic makeup of some ancestor.
LIVER FLUKES: A small leaf-shaped organism that rolls up like a scroll in the bile ducts or liver tissue.
LOIN: A muscle that lies between the last rib and the hip bones of
the back. Is commonly used to describe the part of the body between the
last rib and the hip.
LUNGWORMS: Roundworms found in the respiratory tract and lung tissue.
LUTALYSE (PGF2@ or Prostaglandin): A hormone used for synchronizing estrus.
M
MARBELING: The fat within the muscle.
MASCULINITY: Term used to describe the secondary male characteristics which are exhibited in the head, neck shoulders and chest.
MASTITIS: Inflammation of the udder usually caused by a bacterial infection.
MATERNAL: Pertaining to the mother or dam.
MEAT GOAT (type): A breed of goat that is primarily used for meat production.
METABOLIC DISEASE: Those diseases that involve the lack of or unusual
breakdown of physical and chemical processes in the body. Often
associated with nutrition and feeding.
METRITIS: Inflammation of the uterus.
MILLILITTER (ml): A metric volume measurement that is identical to cubic centimeter (cc).
MICROORGANISM: Any living creature of microscopic size, especially bacteria and protozoa.
MONKEY or BULL DOG or UNDERSHOT MOUTH: The lower jaw is longer than
the upper jaw, and the teeth extend forward past the dental pad on the
upper jaw. This is disqualifying feature for confirmation.
MUMMIFIED FETUS: a dead, shrunken fetus usually carried to term or
later by the doe. The fetus usually died at an early stage of
development, but after was too large to be reabsorbed by the doe.
N
NECROPSY: To examine an animal after death to determine the cause of death.
NON-PROTEIN NITROGEN (NPN): Feed ingredient that is not a protein,
but contains nitrogen (urea) that can be converted by the animal into
protein (with enough energy).
O
OMASUM: The omasum is the third compartment of a ruminant’s stomach
located between the reticulum and the abomasum. Known as manyplies.
OPEN: A female that is not pregnant.
OPEN SHOULDERS (Loose shoulders): The shoulder blades are
structurally too far apart at the top which makes it difficult for the
animal to stand for long periods or to move around freely.
OVER-CONDITIONED: An animal that is excessively fat often due to over feeding.
OVERSHOT or PARROT MOUTH: An animal that has the lower jaw shorter
than the upper jaw and the lower teeth hit the back of the dental pad.
This is disqualifying feature for confirmation.
P
PALATABLE or PALATABILITY: The taste and texture of forage and feed. A
forage that is highly palatable has a pleasant taste and texture to
livestock.
PARASITE: An organism which lives on or in another living organism (host) at the expense of the latter.
PARROT or OVERSHOT MOUTH: An animal that has the lower jaw shorter
than the upper jaw and the lower teeth hit the back of the dental pad.
This is disqualifying feature for confirmation.
PARTURITION: The process of giving birth.
PASSIVE IMMUNITY: Acquiring the protection against infectious disease
from another animal. This commonly occurs when a newborn consumes
antibody-rich colostrum from its mother. Failure to consume sufficient
colostrum increases the animal’s risk of contracting a disease.
PATERNAL: Pertaining to the father or sire.
PEDIGREE: A listing of the ancestors of an animal that generally goes
back 4 to 8 generations. It is often used to prove parentage for
registration in a breed association. A shorter list can be used by
producers to trace parentage of animals on their farm.
PELT: The skin of a goat.
PENCIL SHRINK: A percentage adjustment in live weight, generally
between 2 and 4 percent, which is subtracted to ensure that
responsibility for weight loss during transport is shared by the buyer
and seller.
PERFORMANCE DATA: Information related to the growth rate of the goat.
This often will include birth to weaning data and adjusted weaning
weights. It correctly refers to any weight and animal gain data
available on an animal.
PERITONITIS: Inflammation of the internal surface of the abdomen.
This condition is often the result of infections and certain diseases.
pH: How much acid or how much base is in a sample. The lower the pH
of a substance, the more acidic the sample. Conversely, the higher the
pH, the more basic the sample. A pH of 7 is considered neutral. Normal
rumen pH should be around 6-7, depending on the ration being fed.
PHENOTYPE: The visible or measurable result of genotype and
environment. The phenotype includes an animal's external appearance,
measures of its productivity and its physiological characteristics.
PHOTOPERIOD: Length of day (or length of period that that artificial
light is provided). This also can be expressed as a ratio of daylight to
darkness.
PLACENTA: the membranes that surround the fetus while it is in the
uterus. This is also referred to as the afterbirth at parturition.
PLACENTITIS: Abnormal inflammation of the placenta, usually due to infectious disease.
POLLED: Naturally hornless.
POSTPARTUM: Occurring after birth.
ppm: Parts per million.
PREPARTUM: Occurring before birth.
PRIMAL CUTS: Also called wholesale cuts the original cuts resulting
from the first division of the fore and hind saddle of lamb or mutton.
PROGENY: Offspring.
PROLAPSE: An interior organ pushing outside of the body cavity.
PROGNOSIS: The chances of an animal having a normal quality of life
following a disease or problem. This is reported using the words poor,
fair, good, or excellent.
PROLIFIC: Tendency to produce many offspring.
PROTEIN: A nutrient required for growth and the repair of body tissue.
PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT: A feed that contains a high density of protein and is used to supply additional protein in the ration.
PROXIMAL: A structure that is nearer the main body. For example, the
three bones in the foot are designated by the terms proximal, middle,
and distal depending on their location relative to the main body.
PUBERTY: When an animal becomes sexually mature. This occurs around 4 months of age in most goat breeds.
PUREBRED: An individual whose parents are of the same breed and can
be traced back to the establishment of that particular breed through the
records of a registry association.
PURULENT: A term describing pus-like discharge or infection.
PYELONEPHRITIS: Inflammation of the kidney, beginning at the "pelvis." Generally due to a bacterial infection.
Q
QUARANTINE: To confine and keep an animal away from the rest of the herd or flock to prevent the spread of disease.
R
RACK (meat term): refers to the rib section of the carcass along the
back. This is one of the highest value cuts on a goat and is often used
as a roast.
RADDLE (Marker): Paint or crayon applied to the male’s chest to mark the females he mates.
RATION: The total feed given to an animal during a 24-hour period.
RECESSIVE GENE: A gene which must be present on both chromosomes in a pair to show outward signs of a certain characteristic.
RECTAL PROLAPSE: When a portion of the rectum protrudes from the anus.
REGISTERED: A goat whose birth and ancestry has been recorded by a registry association.
RETICULUM: The second compartment of the ruminant’s stomach. The
reticulum has a honey-combed appearance and is the receptacle for metal
foreign objects that is swallowed.
ROTATIONAL GRAZING: A system by which livestock are allotted to a
certain grazing or browsing area for a certain period of time before
they are moved to another area.
ROUGHAGE: A high fiber, low total digestible nutrient feed consisting
of coarse bulky plants or plant parts; dry or green feed with over 18%
crude fiber.
RUGGED: Big and strong.
RUMP: The area between the hip bones and the tail head.
RUMEN: The large first compartment of a ruminant's stomach containing
a microbial population that is capable of breaking down forages and
roughages.
RUMENOCENTESIS (rumen tap): When the rumen contents are collected by inserting a needle into the rumen.
RUMINANT: Animals that have a four-compartment stomach (rumen or
paunch, reticulum or honeycomb, omasum or manyplies, and abomasum or
true stomach).
RUMINATION: The process of regurgitating food to be re-chewed.
S
SAVANNA: Breed of meat goats that originated from South Africa. This
breed states that the goats are hardier than some other breeds and have
good muscle traits. For more information please see the breeds section
in the goat Community of Practice area.
SCALE: A device used to weigh animals, feed etc.
SCOURS: Diarrhea.
SCRAPIE: Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the
central nervous system, one of the class of diseases known as
transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).
SCROTUM: The skin sac or bag containing the testicles of a male animal.
SCURS: A rudimentary horn. A small rounded portion of horn tissue attached to the skin of the horn pit of a polled animal.
SECOND CROSS: Progeny resulting from the mating of true half-breeds and a distinct breed.
SEPTICAEMIA: A serious infection in which the bloodstream is invaded by large numbers of causal bacteria which multiply there.
SERVICE: Mating.
SETTLED: A female that is pregnant.
SICKLE-HOCKED: Condition when an animal has too much angle or set to
the hock. This condition, when viewed from the side is identified as the
animal having their feet too far under the animal while the hock is in
the correct position behind the animal.
SIRE: Male parent.
SKIN TENT: When the skin of an animal is gently pinched and pulled
outward. A dehydrated animal's skin will not rapidly return to its
normal position or shape.
SMOOTH-MOUTH: An animal that has lost all of its permanent incisors, usually at 7 or more years of age.
SOUNDNESS: When an animal is free from disease and lacks structural defects that affect its usefulness.
SOREMOUTH: A highly contagious, (also to humans), viral infection
that causes scabs around the mouth, nostrils, and eyes and may affect
the udders of lactating does.
SPANISH: A breed of goat that was identified in the South West part
of the country and is believed to have originated from goats brought
over by the Spanish explorers in the 1700’s. Efforts are underway to
better categorize this breed and establish breed registry. For more
information please see the breeds section in the goat Community of
Practice area.
STANCHION: A device for restraining a goat by the neck for the
purpose of feeding, milking, hoof trimming or artificial insemination.
STANDING HEAT: The period in which the doe or ewe will stand still and accept the male for breeding.
STILLBIRTH: A fetus born dead. There can be many possible causes some
related to disease others due to nutrition or conditions in the uterus
at or before the birth process starts.
STOCKING RATE (per acre): The number of animals that can be pastured
on one acre, or the number of acres required to pasture one animal.
STRUCTURAL CORRECTNESS: Free from any conformational abnormalities which includes the skeleton, feet, and legs of the animal.
STYLISH (Tracking): An animal possessing an attractive, pleasing conformation or way of movement.
SUBCUTANEOUS (SQ) INJECTIONS: Insertion of the needle just under the
skin and not into the muscle. This is important because SQ injectables
are designed for a slower rate of absorption.
T
TAPEWORMS: Long, ribbon-like segmented flatworms that can inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of animals.
TATTOO: Permanent identification of animals produced by placing ink
under the skin, generally in the ear, or in the tail web (of the
LaMancha goat) using a tattoo gun with digital (sharp needle-like)
numbers.
TEASER: A male that has been vasectomized and is used to indicate which females are in estrus.
TETANUS: Also called Lock Jaw is a condition caused by poisons
produced by Clostridium tetani which is a bacterium found in the soil.
Symptoms usually appear within 7 to 14 days of exposure and include
stiffness and soreness that progresses through the body until the whole
body is paralyzed within 48 hrs of first appearance.
TOTAL DIGESTIBLE NUTRIENTS (TDN): A measure used to indicate the energy in a feed or of how much energy an animal requires.
TOXEMIA: Generalized poisoning, due to soluble (usually bacterial) toxins entering the bloodstream.
TOXIN: Any poisonous substance of biological origin.
TOXOID: An immunizing agent against toxins produced by bacteria. Most often form of immunity to tetanus.
TRACE MINERALS(TM): Minerals that are required in very small amounts.
U
UDDER: The mammary gland of sheep and goats that secretes-milk.
UMBILICUS: The area where the umbilical cord was attached during gestation. This is commonly known as the "belly button."
UNDERSHOT or BULL DOG MOUTH or MONKEY MOUTH: The lower jaw is longer
than the upper jaw, and the teeth extend forward past the dental pad on
the upper jaw.
UPGRADE: The process of grading up from a commercial animal to a
specific breed through the use of backcrossing. This results in animals
that are often referred to as percentage or full blood animals by breed
associations.
URINARY CALCULI: A metabolic disease of males characterized by the
formation of stones within the urinary tract. It is caused primarily by
an imbalance of dietary calcium and phosphorus.
URETHROSCOPY: An examination of the urethra using an endoscope.
UROLITHS or UROLITHIASIS: Describing a variety of stones that are
found in the urinary system. These include kidney and bladder stones.
V
VACCINE: A biological product that is injected into an animal to stimulate an immunity to a particular disease.
VAGINAL PROLAPSE: The protrusion of the vagina in ewes or does during late pregnancy.
VEIN: Blood vessels in the body that carry blood towards the heart.
VIRULENCE: The ability a microorganism has to cause an infection or
disease. Microorganisms which have the ability to cause more severe
disease are said to be highly virulent.
W
WASTY: a:) Too much fat on the carcass; b:) An animal that has a paunchy-middle.
WATTLE: A small fleshy appendage attached on or near the throat area of the goat and which serves no known function.
WEAN: To separate nursing offspring from their mothers so that they no longer receive milk.
WEANER or WEANLING: An animal that has been weaned from its mother or
has stopped suckling its mother. WETHER: A male sheep or goat that has
been castrated.
WHITE MUSCLE DISEASE: Problem in young goats caused by a deficiency
of selenium and/or vitamin E. It causes kids to be weak at birth and
shortly after birth. The condition impairs the animals ability to
transport oxygen properly and if not treated can result in death within
48 hrs of birth.
Y
YEARLING: A male or female sheep or goat that is between 1 and 2 years of age.
Z
ZOONOSIS or ZOONOTIC: Any animal disease that can be spread to humans.
