The Beginner’s Guide to Farm Animal Terms

Do you know what a Macho, Jake, Wether, Barrow, or Buck have in common?  Well, they are all male animals that you may find on a farm. 

This guide will walk you through many terms for groups of animals, what male and female animals of multiple species are called, and of course what all of the cute and cuddly babies are called.  Many of them you have probably never heard of.

I know a few caught me by surprise!  Mostly what groups of guineafowl, peafowl, and cats were called. 

The Beginner’s Guide to Farm Animal Terms

Livestock

Livestock are animals kept by people for use or pleasure.

General Terms

Intact or non-castrated refers to a male animal whose testicles remain intact, and they are able to breed.

 

 

Cattle

There are two main categories of cattle: Beef Cattle and Dairy Cattle

• Scientific Name: Bos taurus
• Bovine is a term used for cattle.
• Herd is a group of 2 or more cattle.
• Fold is a group of 2 or more Scottish Highland cattle.
• Bull is an intact (or non-castrated) male bovine.
• Steer is a castrated male bovine.
• Ox is a castrated bovine that has been trained to pull something and is at least 4 years old.
• Oxen is more than one ox.
• Calf is a young bovine.  Typically, this term is used from birth until 6 to 10 months of age or when the animal is weaned.
• Bull Calf is a male calf.
• Cow is a female bovine that has had a calf.
• Heifer is a female bovine that has NOT had a calf.
• Heifer Calf is a female calf.

Sheep

• Scientific Name: Ovis aries
• Ovine is a term use for sheep.
• Sheep is an ovine at least 1 year of age.
• Flock is a group of 2 or more sheep.
• Ram is an intact male sheep that is at least 1 year of age.
• Ram Lamb is an intact male sheep that is under 1 year of age.
• Wether is a castrated male sheep.
• Ewe is a female sheep at least 1 year of age.
• Ewe Lamb is a female sheep under 1 year of age.
• Lamb is a young sheep.  A lamb’s butcher age is generally between 12-14 months of age.

Swine

• Scientific Name: Sus
• Porcine is a term used for swine.
• Drove is a group of 2 or more swine.
• Boar is an adult male swine.
• Barrow is a castrated male swine.
• Sow is an adult female swine.
• Gilt is a female swine who has not given birth.
• Piglet is a baby swine.

Horses

• Scientific Name: Equus ferus caballus
• Equine is a term used for horses.
• Herd is typically used for a group of horse, but this interesting article breaks it down even farther. 
• Stallion is an intact male horse.
• Stud is a stallion kept for breeding.
• Colt is a male horse 1 to 3 years old.
• Mare is a female horse who is 4 years or older.
• Filly is a female horse 1 to 3 years old.  You can also call a filly that is older than 3 years old a mare as well.
• Foal is a young horse under 1 year old.

Goats

• Scientific Name: Capra aegagrus hircus
• Caprine is a term used for goats.
• Herd is a group of 2 or more goats.
• Buck is an intact male goat over 1 year of age.
• Wether is a castrated male goat (same as with sheep).
• Buckling is a male goat less than 1 year of age.
• Doe is a female goat over 1 year of age.
• Doeling is a female goat less than 1 year of age.
• Kid is a baby goat of either sex.

Llamas

• Scientific name: Lama glama
• Herd is a group of 2 or more llamas.
• Macho or Stud is an intact male llama.
• Gelding is a castrated male llama.
• Hembra is a female llama.
• Cria (pronounced CREE’ah) is a baby llama of either sex.  In Spanish ‘Cria’ means baby.

Rabbits

• Scientific name: Leporidae
• Colony is a group of 2 or more rabbits.
• Nest is what a bunch of baby rabbits are called, although it is also referred to as a litter or kindle.
• Buck is a male rabbit.
• Doe is a female rabbit.
• Kit is a baby rabbit.

Poultry 

Scientific Name: Gallus

Poultry are domesticated bird that are kept for meat, eggs, or pleasure.  Let’s break them down by species.

Chickens

• Scientific name: Gallus gallus domesticus
• Flock is a group of 2 of more chickens.
• Brood is a group of baby chicks.
• Cock is a male chicken over 1 year of age.
• Rooster is another name for a cock and is over 1 year of age.
• Cockerel is a male chicken that is less than 1 year of age.
• Hen is a female chicken at least 1 year of age.
• Pullet is a female chicken less than 1 year of age.
• Chick is a newly hatched or young chicken.

Turkeys

• Scientific name: Meleagris
• Rafter, Gang, or Flock are a group of turkeys.  This post explains these terms farther.
• Tom is a male turkey over 1 year old.
• Jake is a male turkey under 1 year old.
• Hen is a female turkey over 1 year old. 
• Jenny is a female turkey under 1 year old.
• Poult is a newly hatched turkey.

Guineafowl

• Scientific name: Numididae
• Confusion is the term for a group of 2 or more guineafowl.
• Guinea Cock or Guinea Rooster is a male guineafowl over 1 year of age.
• Guineas Cockerel is a male guineafowl under 1 year of age.
• Guinea Hen is a female guineafowl over 1 year of age.
• Guinea Pullet is a guineafowl under 1 year of age.
• Keet is a newly hatched guineafowl.

Peafowl

• Scientific name: Pavo
• Ostentation, Muster, Pride, and Party are the terms used for a group of peafowl.  Read more about each one here.
• Peacock is a male peafowl.
• Peahen is a female peafowl.
• Peachick is a newly hatched peafowl.

Waterfowl

There are both wild waterfowl and waterfowl that you can purchase from hatcheries for your farm.

Geese

• Scientific name: Anserini
• Gaggle is a group of 2 or more geese.
• Goose is the singular of geese.
• Gander is a male goose over 1 year of age.
• Goose is also the term for a female goose.
• Goslings are baby geese from the age of just hatched until they are fully feathered out.

Ducks

• Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos
• Flock is the most commonly used term for a group of 2 or more ducks.  This post explains other ‘duck grouping terms’ such as a brace or team of ducks.
• Drake is a male duck.
• Hen is a female duck.
• Duckling is a newly hatched duck.

Game Birds

Scientific Name: Galliformes

There are both wild game birds and game birds that you can purchase from hatcheries for your farm. 

Be sure to check your states regulations on game birds before you order or bring them home from the store.

Pheasants

•  Scientific name: Phasianidae
• Brace is two pheasants or a pair of pheasants.
• Brood is a family group of pheasants.
• Flock, Nest, or Bouquet is a group of pheasants.
• Nye or Nide is a large group of pheasants.
• Rooster, Cock, or Cockbird are male pheasant.
• Hen is a female pheasant.
• Chick is a newly hatched pheasant.

Quails

• Scientific Name: Coturnix coturnix
• Covey or Bevy is a group of 2 or more quail.
• Cock is a male quail.
• Hen is a female quail.
• Chick is a newly hatched quail.

Bees

• Scientific name: Anthophila
• Colony, Hive, or Swarm is a group of bees.
• Drone is a male bee.
• Queen is a female bee who can lay eggs.
• Worker is a female bee who does not lay eggs.
• Bee Brood are baby bees.

Dogs 

• Scientific Name Canis lupus familiaris
• Pack or Kennel is a group of dogs.
• Sire is a intact male dog.
• Bitch is a female dog.
• Puppy is a newborn dog.

Cats

• Scientific Name Felis catus
• Clowder is a group of cats.
• Tom or Tomcat is an intact male cat.
• Gib is a neutered male cat.
• Queen is a female cat that is able to breed.
• Molly is a spayed or immature female cat.
• Kitten is a newborn cat.

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