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A
abattoir: a slaughterhouse where animals are killed for meat.
abdomen: the belly.
abomasum: the fourth stomach of ruminants, the true stomach.
abortion: the end of pregnancy before the young can survive.
abscess: a painful lump full of pus.
absorb: to take in.
acute disease (Unit 6): a disease which quickly develops and from which
the animal can die or recover.
African horse sickness (Unit 48): an infectious disease of horses which
can kill.
afterbirth: the flesh which attached the young inside the womb and is
expelled from the womb after the mother gives birth.
alfalfa: a green legume plant grown for animal feed.
anthrax: an infectious disease of cattle and sheep which can be passed to
humans. It can kill animals and humans.
antibiotic: a medicine which can kill germs.
antiseptic: preventing infection by killing germs.
anus: the opening at the end of the gut through" which the faeces pass.
appetite: the desire for feed and drink.
ark (pig ark): a wooden shelter for pigs.
arteries: the vessels or tubes which take blood away from the heart.
artificial insemination (Unit 17): semen taken from the male is introduced
into the uterus of the female.
arsenic: a poison used for killing pests.
ash: the powder formed when something is burnt.
B
barley: a grasslike plant grown for grain.
bedding: straw or other material for animals to lie on. Can be used as a feed
(see Unit 23).
belch: to bring up gas from the stomach through the mouth.
bile: greenish fluid produced by the liver.
bladder: bag in which the urine collects.
blister (Unit 25): bubble of skin in which water collects.
bloat (Unit 8): swollen with gas.
blood smear: small amount of blood from an animal, dried onto a glass
slide, which is sent to a laboratory for checking.
blood vessels: tubes throughout the body which contain the blood.
blowflies (Unit 12): flies that lay their eggs on meat and wounds.
boar: a male pig.
body brush: a brush used to remove dirt and dust from the animal's coat.
bolus: a ball or tablet of medicine.
botfly (bots)(Unit 41): fly maggots which live in the stomach of equines.
bran: husks of cereal grain seperated from the flour.
breast girth (Unit 47): a band around the chest of a horse to prevent the
saddle or harness slipping off.
breed: a group of animals with the same characteristics.
breeding: the controlled reproduction of animals.
bridle (Unit 47): harness on the horses head used to control the horse's
movement.
brisket: breast muscles of the cow, buffalo, horse.
browse: to eat plants and leaves.
Burdizzo (Unit 14): instrument for castrating cattle, sheep, goats and
buffalo.
C
caecal worm: parasitic roundworm in the gut of chickens.
calving (Unit 19): when a cow gives birth.
cake (Unit 23): material left after the oil has been removed from sesame
seeds, groundnuts, linseed, etc.
canine: like a dog, the sharp pointed teeth.
capillaries: very fine blood vessels.
carbohydrate: food such as sugar and starch which contains a lot of energy.
carbon dioxide: colourless gas formed in breathing.
carcass: the dead body of an animal.
carnivores: animals which eat meat.
cartilage (gristle): material found in the joints.
cast: to throw down, to pull an animal off its feet.
castration (Unit 14): removal of the testicles.
cattle plague (Unit 25): infectious disease of cattle (rinderpest).
caustic soda: a chemical which burns.
cauterise: to treat a wound by burning with an hot iron.
cells: smallest piece of substance from which all plants and animals are
formed.
centigrade (°C): scale of temperature, water freezes at 0°C and boils at
1 00°C.
characteristic: a distinguishing feature or quality.
chronic disease (Unit 6): a long-lasting, lowly progressing disease.
circulatory system (Unit 3): the heart, blood vessels and blood.
claw of hoof: hard part at the end of the hoof.
climate: the temperature and weather conditions.
cloaca: the cavity into which the gut and the reproductive organs open in
birds.
clover: a green legume plant with three-lobed leaves used for animal feed.
coat: the hair, wool or fur of an animal.
coccidia: small parasites of the gut.
coccidiostat: medicine to slow down the development of coccidia.
colic: severe cramping pains of the stomach.
colostrum: the first milk produced after birth
comb: fleshy crest on the head of chicken
community (Unit 1): any group of people living together.
concentrate feed (Unit 23): an animal feed rich in nutrients, especially protein
and energy.
constipation (Unit 68): the faeces are hard and difficult to pass.
contract: to shorten.
cornea: the outer covering of the eyeball.
cough: expel air quickly and noisily from the lungs.
creep: low area for feeding which piglets can enter but the sow cannot.
creosote: liquid used to preserve wood or as a disinfectant.
crush: metal or wooden crate in which animals, usually cattle, can be held or
controlled. cud: partially digested food brought up from the rumen and chewed.
curdle: to make milk seperate into solids and fluids.
curry comb: a metal comb used to clean a body brush when grooming horses.
cyst: a bag which contains fluid, diseased material or tapeworm parasites.
D
dagging (crutching)(Unit 12): removal or dirty, wet wool from around the
tail and hind legs of sheep.
defecate: to pass faeces.
deficiency disease a disease resulting from the lack of an essential nutrient.
deformity: part of the body which is badly shaped.
dehorn (Unit 13): to remove the horns from an animal.
diamond skin disease (Unit 29): erysipelas, a disease of pigs and humans.
diarrhoea: watery faeces which are frequently passed.
digestive system (Unit 3): the gut and associated organs.
disease: an illness or sickness.
disbudding (Unit 13): removal of the small horns from young animals.
discharge: an out flow of fluid or material, usually from the eye or ear.
disinfectant: a chemical used to kill germs.
dislocation: displacement of a bone at the joint from its normal position.
docking: cutting the tail short, especially in sheep.
draught: the act of pulling a load by an animal, as in a cart or plough.
drench: liquid medicine given by mouth to an animal.
droppings: the faeces of birds and small animals.
dung: the faeces of large animals.
dust bath: the act of covering the coat or feathers with dust.
E
ear tagging (Unit 36): marking the ears of an animal to identify it.
elastrator (Unit 14): instrument used to place rubber band around the base of the
testicles in castrating small ruminants.
emasculator (Unit 44): instrument used to castrate horses and other equines.
embryo (Unit 3): the developing young animal inside the uterus.
energy: the capacity for activity or function.
environment (Unit 2): the conditions and surroundings in which people and animals
live.
erosion: the wearing away of rocks and soil by the action of water and wind.
equine (Unit 5): relating to the horse, one of the horse family.
erysipelas (Unit 29): disease of pigs causing diamond-shaped patches on the skin.
expiration: the act of breathing out.
external parasite: parasite which lives on or in the skin, hair, wool or fur for
all or part of its life, such as ticks, lice.
F
faeces: waste material left after digestion.
farrowing: name given to the act of giving birth in the pig.
fat: greasy or oily substance.
fetlock joint: the joint just above the hoof in equines.
fever: a very high body temperature caused by an infection.
first aid: treatment given to wounds or in an emergency.
flank: the side of the abdomen.
fleas: small external parasites found in the coat, bedding and housing of animals.
fleece: the wool of sheep.
flesh: the meat of the body.
flukes (Unit 15): flat, leaf-like parasites found in the liver or rumen.
foaling: the act of giving birth in the horse.
foot and mouth disease (Unit 25): infectious disease of cattle, causes blistering
of mouth,feet and teats.
foot rot (Unit 11): disease of the underside of the hoof.
foreign body: any object not normally found in the body.
forceps: instrument in the form of a pair of pincers.
formalin: a chemical used as a preservative.
foster: to care for and rear the young of another.
foster mother: a female which feeds and cares for the young of another.
fracture: a broken bone.
G
gait (movement): the way in which a horse (or other animal) moves.
Galvayne groove (Unit 38): a groove in the corner front tooth of the horse, first
appears at 10 years of age.
Gentian violet: a violet coloured chemical used to disinfect wounds.
germs: the very small organisms which cause diseases.
girth (Unit 47): the band passed around the belly of the horse to hold the saddle
in place.
girth gall (Unit 47): painful area of skin caused by a badly fitted girth. gizzard:
thick-walled part of the gut in birds.
gizzard worm: parasitic worm living in the wall of the gizzard.
grain: the seeds of grass-like plants, e.g. barley, wheat.
grit: small hard pieces of stone or earth. groom: to brush and clean the
coat of an animal.
H
halter: rope or leather headgear used on horses or other animals to handle them.
hand rear: to feed a young, orphaned animal with milk.
harness: the arrangement of straps fitted on a horse to attach it to a cart or
other object for it to pull. hay: sun-dried grasses used as animal feed.
heat (oestrus): when the female will accept the male.
heifer: young cow which has not given birth.
herbivores: animals which eat plants.
herd: large group of animals.
hereditary: characteristics passed from parents to young.
heredity: the passing of characteristics from parent to young.
hobble: to tie the legs of a horse or other animal to prevent it walking away.
hock: the large joint of the hind leg.
horse collar (Unit 47): leather or wood and leather collar fitted around the neck
of a horse used to pull a cart.
hormones: chemicals formed by glands in the body which control the activity of
organs.
hoof, hooves: the horny covering at the end of the foot in animals.
hoof pick: tool used to clean out the hoof.
host: an animal which is infected with parasites.
hydatid cyst: cysts formed in the organs of ruminants and peole by the young of a
tapeworm from dogs.
I
identification: recognition, e.g. permanent name, number, tag or mark on animal.
immunity: an animal's cellular and chemical (antibody) protection against germs or
cancer. Immunity can be produced by vaccination.
infection: disease caused by a germ.
injection: to put a fluid into the body using a needle and syringe.
inspiration (Unit 3): breathing in.
internal parasite: parasite which lives inside the body for all or part of its
life, such as roundworms, lungworms and coccidia.
intramammary: into the udder.
intramuscular: into the muscle.
intravenous: into the vein.
iodine: a brownish chemical used to clean and disinfect wounds.
isolate: to seperate from others, e.g. sick animals from healthy ones.
J
joint: the point where two bones are joined.
juices: liquid which occurs naturally in plants or animals.
K
kaolin: a fine white clay used to treat diarrhoea.
kidding (Unit 20): the name for giving birth in the goat.
kidneys: the organs of the body which form urine.
L
lambing (Unit 20): name used for giving birth in sheep.
Iame: unable to walk properly.
Iaxative: substance which stimulates defecation.
Iegume: certain plant species which fix (produce) nitrogen in the soil, i.e.
clover, lucerne
leguminous: relating to any flowering plant which fixes nitrogen
lesion: injury to or abnormal tissue or loss of function of a body part. Cut skin,
TB tubercles in the lungs and mastitis are all lesions.
Iice (louse): small external parasite found amongst the hairs of the coat.
ligaments: tough fibres which connect bones together at the joints. Iimb: a leg or
wing.
Iitter: a group of animals born at the one birth.
Iivestock: domesticated animals.
Ioose box (Unit 45): stable in which a horse is able to turn around in and is not
tethered.
Iucerne(Unit8): alfalfa.
Iungworm: parasitic worm which lives in the lungs.
Iymph gland or node: small gland which helps to protect the body against disease.
Iympho-reticular system (Unit 3): tissues throughout the body which help protect
from germs through immunity.
M
maggot: the young stage of a fly. maize: grass-like plant grown for its yellow
grains.
mange: infection of the skin caused by mites.
mare: female horse.
marshy: badly drained, wet and muddy land.
mastitis (Unit 22): infection of the udder.
mating: the joining of the male and female to breed, mounting.
meal: ground grain.
mercury: silver coloured liquid used in thermometers.
microscope: magnifying instrument used to see objects too small to be seen with the
naked eye.
milk teeth: the first or temporary teeth.
milk spot: white spots on the liver caused by infection with roundworms.
minerals: naturally occurring chemical substances.
mites: small external parasites found in the skin, coat and ears.
mounting: mating.
mucous: slimy material formed to protect parts of the body e.g. the nostrils.
mud fever: infection of the legs of equines kept in wet and dirty conditions.
mulch: rotting leaves and used to protect the roots of a plant and to fertilise the
soil.
muscles: the meat of the body. Contraction of muscles makes the body move.
musty: smelling or tasting old.
muzzle: sensitive area around the nose and mouth.
N
navel cord: cord which attached the young to the placenta in the womb.
newborn: recently or just born animal.
nerves: fibres which carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
nervous system: the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
nicotine: poisonous substance found in tobacco.
nose holder tongs: instrument used to control cattle and buffalo.
nostril: one of the openings in the nose.
notching (Unit 36): making cuts or marks in the ear of the animal to identify it.
nozzle: a spout from which fluid can be discharged.
nutrient (Unit 23): a food substance such as carbohydrate, fat, vitamins.
O
oesophagus (gullet): the tube between the mouth and the stomach.
oestrus (Unit 17): when the female will accept the male and mate.
Ointment: creamy or oily substance used on the skin, eyes or wounds. omasum: one of
the four stomachs of ruminants, also called the book.
Omnivores: animals which eat plants and meat. Organ: part of the body which carries
out a particular task.
Orphan (Unit 21): young animal whose mother has died. Ova: the egg formed by the
ovary. Ovary: the organ in the female which produces the egg or ova.
Overgrazing: when pasture grasses have provided feed for too many animals for too
long and becomes damaged or destroyed by loss of grass and soil.
overstocking: keeping too many animals in an area. Oxygen: colourless gas taken
into the body during breathing.
P
PAHCW: primary animal health care worker.
panting: breathing rapidly through the open mouth.
paraffin: kerosene, oil used to burn for light or heat.
paralysed: unable to move, having no control over the limbs.
parasite: animal or plant which lives in or on another.
parturition: giving birth.
pastern bone: the part of the leg of a horse (or equine) between the hoof and the
fetlock.
pasture: area of grassland used for grazing.
pasture rotation: system of resting pasture for a time between grazing with
animals.
pawing: scraping or hitting the ground with the foot.
pedal bone: one of the bones of the foot in equines. pen: small fenced area for
animals
pig ark: wooden or metal shelter in a field for pigs.
pig board: large wooden board used in moving or handling pigs.
piglet: young pig.
pigsty: house and pen for pigs.
pig swill: boiled feed for pigs.
plague: infectious disease, usually spreading rapidly infecting many animals.
pliers: strong tool used for cutting.
ploughing: cutting or turning over the soil.
poultry: domesticated birds.
post mortem: after death, examination to discover the cause of death.
pregnancy: the development of the young inside the mother.
pregnant: having developing young in the womb.
protein: an essential nutrient, important for good growth.
pus: white, grey or yellow fluid from an infected wound or abscess.
R
rabid: mad, having rabies.
rabies (Unit 77): infectious disease causing madness, fear of water and death.
race: fenced passageway, too narrow for an animal to turn around in.
rain scald (Unit 42): skin problem of horses caused by wet and dirty conditions.
rasp: to scrape or rub with a metal file.
ration (Unit 23): amount and composition of animal feed.
record: written information.
rectum: the last part of the gut which opens at the anus.
red worms: red parasitic worms of the gut and its blood vessels in equines.
reproductive system (Unit 3): the organs involved in reproduction and the
production of young.
respiratory system: the lungs and windpipe, organs involved in breathing.
restrain (Unit 10): to control or prevent an animal from moving.
reticulum: one of the four stomachs of the ruminant also known as the honeycomb.
ribs: the bones of the chest.
rinderpest (Unit 25): infectious disease of cattle, cattle plague.
ringworm: infection causing round light coloured spots on the skin of animals and
humans.
ruminant (Unit 7): animal which has a rumen and chews the cud.
ruminate (Unit 4): to chew the cud.
rumination: act of chewing the cud.
roughage: bulky feed which is only partly digestible.
roundworms: small worms, many of which are parasites.
S
saddlery: the saddles and harnessm for horses.
saddle sores: painful areas of skin and wounds on the back caused by badly fitted
saddles.
saliva: fluid produced in the mouth.
scalpel: a surgical instrument for cutting.
scaley: covered with scales.
scapula: the shoulder blade.
schistosomes (Unit 15): parasites found in the blood and urine.
screwworm: maggots of the screwworm fly which infect wounds forming deep holes; can
cause death.
scrotum: the bag of skin containing the testicles.
semen: fluid produced by the testicles and other glands.
shear: to cut the wool off an animal.
shoeing: to fix metal to the bottom of the hoof to protect it.
silage: grass and plants cut green and stored in an airtight container for feed.
silent heat (Unit 17): animal in oestrus but signs of heat are not seen.
silo (Unit 23): airtight pit in which silage is made and stored.
skin scraping: scraping from an infected area of skin used to check for cause of
problem.
skull: the bones of the head.
slaughterhouse: place where animals are killed for meat, abattoir.
sneeze: to expel air from the nose suddenly and with no control.
sodium bicarbonate: white substance used to treat bloat and neonatal diarrhoea,
e.g. baking powder.
sole: the underside of the foot.
sorghum: grass grown for grain, hay and to make silage. sow: female pig.
sperm: produced in the testicle and present in semen, fertilises the ova in the
female.
spinal cord: main nerve supply running from the brain and protected in the
backbone.
spleen: organ found near the stomach and involved in protecting the body from
infection.
spongy: like a sponge, soft and with many holes or cavities.
sputum: saliva and mucous.
star gazing: sheep about to give birth holds head up and back as if watching the
stars, a sign of the beginning of parturition in sheep.
stallion: a male horse (or equine).
sterlisation: killing all germs using heat or disinfectants.
straw: dried stems and leaves of grain plants.
strychnine: a very poisonous drug, used to kill stray dogs.
subcutaneous: under the skin.
subnormal: lower than normal.
suckle: to drink milk from the udder.
swill: boiled animal feed, especially for pigs.
T
tack, tackle (Unit 47): the saddles, harness and bridles used with horses.
tapeworm: long, flat parasitic worm found in the gut.
teat: the opening in the udder through which the milk can pass.
teat catheter: instrument used to remove milk and fluid from the udder with
mastitis.
teeth clipping (Unit 26): cutting off the sharp teeth of the young animal (pig) to
prevent damage to the mother's teats during suckling.
temporary teeth: the first or milk teeth.
tether: rope used to tie up an animal.
testicles: the male reproductive organs found outside the scrotum.
thermometer: glass instrument used to measure temperature.
thrush (Unit 39): infection of the foot of equines.
tick: blood sucking external parasite.
tick-borne disease: disease spread by tick bites.
tourniquet: rope or cloth tied around a blood vessel to stop bleeding.
triplets (Unit 20): three young born from one birth.
trocar and cannula: instruments used to pierce the rumen and relieve bloat.
troughs: wooden or metal containers for feed or water.
tubercles: small hard lumps in the lungs and other organs of an animal infected
with tuberculosis.
tuberculin: sterilised liquid produced from the germ which causes tuberculosis and
used to test animals for tuberculosis.
tuberculosis (TB): infectious disease of the lungs and other organs which can be
passed to humans from animals.
twins: two young born at the same time.
twitch: tool used on the muzzle to control equines.
tympany: bloat, excess gas in the rumen.
U
udder: milk producing gland of the female.
urinary system (Unit 3): the kidneys and bladder which get rid of waste water and
other substances as urine.
urine: fluid formed in the kidneys and containing waste substances and water.
uterus (Unit 3): the womb, the organ of the female in which the young
develop.
V
vaccination: putting a non-disease producing germ into the body to stimulate an
animal's immunity.
vaccine: a fluid which can make the body develop protection (immunity) against a
certain disease.
vagina: the part of the female into which the womb opens and through which urine
passes to the outside of the body.
vegetation: plants, e.g. grasses, trees, shrubs. veins: blood vessels which carry
blood back to the heart.
ventilation: letting fresh air into an area or house.
vitamin: substance occuring naturally and essential to the normal working of the
body.
vulva: where the vagina opens to the outside.
W
wattles: fleshy areas around the beak and neck of chickens.
wallowing: to roll about in mud or water.
warfarin: poison which stops the blood from clotting.
water bag: the fluid filled bag in which the young develops and which comes out of
the vulva at the beginning of birth.
wean: to stop drinking milk and eat solid food.
weaned: when the young animal no longer drinks milk.
whipworm: whip-like worm which is a parasite in the gut.
windpipe: tube which connects the lungs with the nostrils, the trachea.
womb: the uterus, the organ of the female in which the young develop.
wool: soft curly hair of sheep and other animals.
wound: a cut in the skin.
wrist: where the hand joins the arm.