Common Species Names - Cattle

Lay people and professionals use terms to describe in one word the status of an animal. The term may relate to the sexual status of an animal (intact or sexually functional, or altered or sexually nonfunctional) or the age status of an animal. Terms have also been derived to denote the process of giving birth and the grouping of animals.

bovine: cattle

bull: intact (not sexually altered) male bovine 

jumper bull: intact male bovine that has just reached maturity and is used for breeding

cow: intact female bovine that has given birth

steer: male bovine castrated when young

stag: male bovine castrated after maturity

heifer (hehf-ər): young female bovine that has not given birth

calf: young bovine

calving: giving birth to cattle

freshening: giving birth to dairy animals

herd: group of cattle

springing heifer or first calf heifer: young female pregnant with her first calf

freemartin: sexually imperfect, usually sterile female calf born as a twin with a male calf

gomer bull or teaser bull: bull used to detect female bovines in heat; bull may have penis surgically deviated to the side, may be treated with androgens, or may be vasectomized so as not to impregnate female