Ewe-lambs, Ram-Lambs, Ovines and Bovines! Animal Terms at Red Gate Farm
/As you drive around the farmlands of western mass, you may see a field of cattle and you intuitively think: “A field of cows!” But are they truly cows? What’s the difference between cow and cattle or bull and ox for that matter? Let’s look at animal terminology for our animals on our farm:
Bovine
Our oxen are Steers.
Bovine- a term used for cattle including domesticated cattle, bison, and buffalo. All Cows are cattle, but not all cattle are cows. Cattle is a term used for more than one bovine. A Calf is a young bovine under 6-10 months of age. Heifers are young cattle not ready for breeding. Cows are mature female cattle. Bulls are male cattle for breeding, and steer are bulls that are neutered.
Ox- are cattle used for working on the farm. Oxen (plural for ox) like on our farm, are typically male steers because male cattle grow to be larger and more ideal for using to pull or move heavy items on the farm like wagons or logs. Cows can also be oxen and trained for work too.
Ovine
Our Ewe and her two lambs.
Ovine- a term used for sheep. Lambkin is a newly born ovine. Lamb is a young ovine under the age of 1 year old. Ewe-lamb are young female ovines. Ewe- an adult female over the age of 1 year old. Ram-lamb are young male ovines. Ram are male ovines over 1 year old for breeding. Wether is a term for neutered ovine.
Caprine
Wallace and Gromit are wethers.
Caprine- is a term for goats. A Kid is a young caprine under the age of 1 year old. Doeling are female kids under the age of 1 year old. Doe is a female caprine. Buckling are male kids under the age of 1 year old. Buck is a male caprine for breeding. Wether is a term for neutered male caprine.
Porcine
Our Pigs (not yet mature swine).
Porcine- is a term relating to swine. Piglet is a porcine under the age of 14-21 days old and still nursing. Pig is a term for young swine not yet fully mature, and it also includes mature swine with an adult weight under 150 pounds. A Hog is a term for mature swine with an adult weight over 150 pounds. Gilt are young adult female swine. Sow are adult swine for breeding. Boar is a term for adult male swine for breeding. Barrow is a term for young neutered male swine while male swine that were neutered after maturity are called stags.
Fowl
One of our Pullets.
Fowl is a term used for two biological orders of birds which are game/land fowl (Galliformes) and waterfowl (Anseriformes). Gamefowl or Landfowl is a term for domesticated chickens, turkey, pheasant, and quail. Waterfowl is a term used for domesticated ducks, geese, and swans. Poultry is a term relating to domesticated fowl which include all domesticated gamefowl, landfowl, and waterfowl raised for meat and eggs.
Chicken: A chick is a newly hatched or very young chicken before they develop feathers. Pullet is a term for young female chicken that has yet to lay eggs and is under 1 year old. Cockerel is a term for young male chicken under 1 year old. A Hen is an adult chicken 1 or more years old. Cock or Rooster is a term for adult male chicken 1 or more years old.
Duck: A duckling is a newly hatched or very young waterfowl before they develop feathers. Young Duck is a term for female waterfowl under 1 year old and Old Duck is a female 1 year or more old. Young Drake is a term for male waterfowl under 1 year of age and Old Drake is a male 1 year or more old. We have one Old Drake and One Old Hen at the farm.
Our two waterfowls: an Old Duck and Old Drake.
Just like scientists use specific terminology in their field of work, so do farmers and people who work with domesticated animals will use specific terms to describe the animals they work with. The more you work with domestic animals, the more these terms come into play of common use. Next time you see a field of cattle, hopefully you can see whether they are truly a field of cows or not!
Source: Livestock Conservancy. “Animal terms and their proper usage.” 2020, https://livestockconservancy.org/resources/animal-terms/. Accessed 8/17/2023.
