Cattle Terminology

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Beef

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Red meat product from cattle one year of age or older

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Breeding value

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The value of a dam or sire’s genetic traits

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Bovine

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Relating to cattle species

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Bull

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Male bovine that has not been castrated

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Bos indicus

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Cattle originating from tropical regions, distinguished by loose skin and a large hump on their back. Developed for durability and tolerance to heat and insects.

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Bos taurus

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Cattle originating from temperate regions, better suited to handle colder climates compared to Bos indicus cattle.

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Calf

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Newborn/young bovine under one year of age (the plural form of calf is calves)

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Calf crop

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Number of calves weaned from a given number of cows that were exposed to breeding, expressed in a percentage

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Carcass evaluation

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Assessment(s) to determine the quality (grade) of a carcass

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Carcass merit

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The overall quality of a carcass, based on carcass weight, quality of lean, and quantity of lean.