Class notes Agri 1319

Anatomy & Physiology of Cattle
Cattle Terms

 Bovine
o Scientific name for cattle
 Bull
o Intact male
 Cow
o Breeding female with at least one calf
 Free Martin
o Twin of a bull
o Usually infertile
 Heifer
o Young female prior to first calf
 Steer
o Castrated male
 Calf
o Young bull or heifer
 Herd
o Group of cattle
 Dam
o Mother to a calf
 Dam breed
o Good mothering breed
o Milking
o Calving
 Sire
o Father to a calf
 Sire/terminal breed
o Sires used in crossbreeding for market animals
 Full blood
o 100% of ancestry is the designated breed
 Pure blood/ pure breed
o Percentage of the breed set by registry
 Dual purpose
o Meat and milk
 Triple purpose
o Meat, milk, and Draft

, Beef and Dairy

 Anatomy
o Structural makeup, especially of an organism or any of its parts
o Example: bones and muscles
 Physiology
o The organic processes and phenomena of an organism or any of
its parts or a particular body process
o Example: digestion & muscle movement
 Body Systems
o Integumentary
o Skeletal
o Muscular
o Lymphatic
o Digestive
o Nervous
o Endocrine
o Cardiovascular
o Respiratory
o Urinary
o Reproductive

Integumentary

 Skin is the largest organ
 Epidermis
o Thin outer layer with multiple layers
o Many nerves
o Prevents water loss
o Produces hooves, horns
o Produces melanin
 Dermis
o Hair follicles and sweat glands
o Regulates temperature & supplies blood
o Pressure receptors and nerve endings
 Hypodermis
o Attaches the skin to the muscle and bone

Skin diseases

 Insects