Important animal terms glossary

A metabolic disorder of ruminants characterized by excessive accumulation of volatile fatty acids or lactic acid in the rumen—resulting in a sustained depression of ruminal pH below 5.8—caused by an imbalance between the microbial production and absorption of organic acids, typically triggered by high-concentrate, low-fiber diets.

The development of adaptive immunity through natural exposure to pathogens or environmental antigens, whereby the animal's own immune system mounts a primary response and establishes immunological memory for enhanced protection upon re-exposure.

The chemical units that link together to form proteins and are of fundamental importance to life.

A robotic milking technology in which cows voluntarily enter a milking box where automatic teat detection (typically via laser or camera), pre-treatment, milking, and post-dipping are performed without human intervention, allowing individual milking on a cow-initiated schedule.

House where chickens are kept in large groups and enjoy freedom of movement over the entire house area. Housing space is subdivided into different functional areas (feeding and drinking, sleeping and resting, scratch area, egg laying area). The laying hens can use several house levels that allow for higher stocking densities compared to the commonly used floor regime (deep litter). Droppings are removed via manure belts into containers, or into a manure pit, or otherwise collected in a manure pit.