List of cattle terminology
Wikimedia list article
Many terms are used for cattle of different ages and sexes. In general, the same words are used in different parts of the world, but with minor differences in the definitions. The terminology described here contrasts the differences in definition between the United Kingdom and other British-influenced parts of the world such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United States.
Cattle by age, sex, and condition
Age and Sex
Young bovines (regardless of sex) are called calves until they are weaned, then weaners until they are a year old in some areas; in other areas, particularly with male beef bovines, they may be known as feeder calves or feeders. After that, they are referred to as yearlings or stirks if between one and two years of age.
Feeder cattle or store cattle are young bovines soon to be either backgrounded or sent to fattening, most especially those intended to be sold to someone else for finishing before butchering. In some regions, a distinction between stockers and feeders (by those names) is the distinction of backgrounding versus immediate sale to a finisher.
In North America, a young male calf is referred to as a bullock.
A young female before she has had a calf of her own and who is under three years of age is called a heifer ( HEF-ər).
A young female cow that has had only one calf is occasionally called a first-calf heifer.
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