Proper Terms for Barnyard Animals: Calves, Cattle, Steers and More

The correct terms for the males and females of species of animals differ immensely between species, yet the terms usually are the same for a family of species. The descriptive terms for the members of barnyard animals are not the same for any of the species. The terms for barnyard animals are simple, easy to learn, and knowledge of these terms can make describing any barnyard animal an easier task.

There are also terms that describe the age of domestically raised animals. For some species there are terms that directly describe members of different ages but there are also generic terms for all animals of certain ages. An example is that all domesticated animals that are of age to be taken away from their mothers are weanlings. Animals that are a year old are referred to as yearlings. There are additional terms for the ages of specific animals for example cattle age in the progression of 2, 3 and 4 years old, long-mouthed, short-mouthed, broken-mouthed and short-term.

A herd of cows and bulls are a herd of cattle. When cattle are born the males are called bulls and the females heifers, where as any baby of the species is a calf. Calves are birthed through the process of calving. The bull calves will always be a bull; unless they are castrated then they become steers. The heifer calves will be heifers until they have their first calves, then they are considered cows.

For horses the correct term for all young horses is foul. While, young male horses are referred to as colts and young female horses are referred to as fillies. Full-grown female horses are mares. Older male horses that have not been castrated are called stallions and those male horses that have been castrated are known as geldings. The mother of a horse is it's dam and the father is it's stud.

For goats and all members of the goat family the baby goats are identified as kids. Adult female goats are nannies and male goats are billies. If an adult male goat has been castrated then it is entitled as a wether.

Piglets are the term used to describe young hogs. Mother hogs are known as sows and full-grown females that have not had piglets are known as gilts. Male hogs are called boars and when they have been castrated they are then known as barrows. It is also important to note that when a sow has piglets she is then placed in a crate so that the piglets can nurse without the sow being able to touch them because sows will kill their piglets.

In chickens, the young are called chicks. Baby chicks hatch from eggs, so they are born through the process of hatching. Female chickens are known as chickens and males are known as rosters.