This glossary is intended as an explanation in plain language of certain terms frequently used in cattle production. It is not meant to be a scientific reference but simply a tool facilitating understanding of our site.
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Backgrounding:
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Growth phase of the feeder calf between weaning and finishing.
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Bob calf:
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Young dairy calf marketed for growing for the purpose of veal production (generally males) or for dairy production (females).
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BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy):
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Progressive fatal diseases of the cattle nervous system associated with the presence of an abnormal protein called prion.
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| Cull cattle: |
Dairy or beef cattle at the end of their career marketed for meat.
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| Fed cattle: |
Beef cattle grown for beef production.
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Feeder calf or cow-calf:
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Feeder calf fed on its mother’s milk and pasture grass.
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Feedlot:
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Pens used to grow the animals.
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| Finishing: |
Last phase of cattle production during which cattle are grown to an ideal weight for slaughter.
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Grain-fed calf:
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Dairy calf fed mainly with grain corn for the purpose of veal production.
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| Heifer: |
Young female that has not yet given birth to a calf.
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| Milk-fed calf: |
Dairy calf fed mainly with milk (milk replacer) for the purpose of veal production.
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| Preconditioning: |
Action of preparing the feeder calf (vaccinating, weaning, castrating, dehorning, deworming) with the aim of continuing to grow it.
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| Weaning: |
Action of ceasing to feed a calf on a diet mainly consisting of milk to replace it with a solid diet.
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