Glossary 439 



after he is old enough for more or less masculine character of 

 the head and neck to become noticeable. 



Staggy. Having the appearance of a stag. The degree of 

 stagginess is of course controlled by the age at which the animal 

 was castrated. 



Thoroughbred. A term often used as synonymous with pure- 

 bred, but generally considered as incorrect when so used. It is 

 more properly used as the name of a breed of horses. It is also 

 used in nontechnical literature to indicate any very high class 

 animal. 



BEEF CATTLE TERMS 



Beef cattle. A stock-yard term used to designate all steers 

 suitable for slaughter purposes, as distinguished from steers 

 not fat enough or old enough to slaughter, and as distinguished 

 from all classes of cows, heifers, and bulls. 



Bos. Bos is the zoological name for the particular genus of 

 the animal kingdom to which cattle of all kinds belong. 



Bovine. Of or pertaining to cattle; derived from the word 

 bos. 



Butcher stock. A stock-yard term used to indicate all classes 

 of cows, heifers, and bulls used for slaughter purposes. {See 

 Beef cattle.) 



Calf. The young animal of the bovine species without regard 

 to sex, usually under twelve months of age. Animals born 

 during any one calendar year are ordinarily called calves until 

 some time the following spring. 



Canners. A market class of very inferior cattle, usually old, 

 thin cows, used for canning purposes. 



Cow. The female of the bovine species after she has pro- 

 duced her first calf. Sometimes in the case of pure-bred herds 

 the term cow is not appHed until after the female has produced 

 her second calf. 



Durham. An old but now practically obsolete name for the 

 Shorthorn breed of beef cattle. 



Feeders. Steers that are not fat enough to slaughter, and 

 yet are old enough and large enough to be ready to fatten off 

 without further growth on range or pasture. Ordinarily steers 

 that are two years old or over and weigh over 950 pounds will 



