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.

A closed building with forced ventilation and with or without a lighting system for laying hens. Birds are kept in tiered cages, usually made of steel wire, arranged in long rows. After 2012 conventional cages will be banned in EU member states. After 2012 only enriched cages are allowed. They can be replaced by enriched cages or aviary system.

Small enclosures, usually made of wire or metal bars and arranged in rows or tiers, in which laying hens are kept. Banned in many countries for animal welfare reasons.

Removal of part of the beak (laying hens, parent broilers and turkeys) using a hot blade, secateurs or an infra-red beam. In the EU no more than a third of the beak may be removed. Infra-red method is encouraged when beak trimming cannot be avoided. Since 2017 beak-trimming is not practiced anymore in Germany.

Cow kept mainly for rearing calves for beef production.

Measures that minimise/prevent the entry and spread of infectious agent within/into a farm.