Important animal terms glossary

A metabolic state in which energy expenditure exceeds dietary energy intake, commonly observed in high-yielding dairy cows in early lactation, leading to mobilization of body fat reserves and associated immunosuppression and increased disease susceptibility.

Small projections usually made of a combination of plastic and steel that are fitted beneath the water supply pipe. Often used in automatic watering systems designed to provide water on demand to broilers or to laying hens.

In swine production, any day on which a breeding-age sow or gilt is neither gestating nor lactating, calculated as 365 minus the product of litters per female per year and the sum of gestation and lactation days; a key indicator of reproductive efficiency and economic performance.