Livestock Management -Terminology

By Skumar -

 

Livestock Management-

Terminology

Terminology Used in Livestock Management & Important Breeds of Cattle and Buffalo

(ICAR | MCAER | Agriculture Competitive Exams)


📘 PART–1: Terminology Used in Livestock Management

Understanding livestock terminology is very important for MCQs, as many questions are direct definition-based.

🔹 Common Terminologies

  • Livestock: Domesticated animals raised for milk, meat, draught, wool, eggs, etc.

  • Herd: Group of cattle or buffaloes.

  • Flock: Group of sheep or goats.

  • Calf: Young one of cattle or buffalo (up to 1 year).

  • Heifer: Female cattle that has not yet calved.

  • Cow: Adult female cattle after first calving.

  • Bull: Adult male cattle used for breeding.

  • Bullock/Ox: Castrated male cattle used for draught work.

  • Steer: Castrated male cattle used mainly for meat.

  • Lactation: Period during which animal secretes milk after calving.

  • Dry period: Period between two lactations when milk secretion stops.

  • Gestation period: Time from conception to birth (Cow ≈ 280 days).

  • Calving: Act of giving birth in cattle/buffalo.

  • Heat/Estrus: Period when female is receptive to mating.

  • Service period: Time between calving and successful conception.

  • Breeding: Mating of animals to produce offspring.

  • Artificial Insemination (AI): Introduction of semen into female reproductive tract artificially.

  • Colostrum: First milk after calving, rich in antibodies.

  • Ration: Feed given to animal in 24 hours.

  • Balanced ration: Feed containing all nutrients in proper proportion.

  • Milch animal: Animal reared primarily for milk production.

📘 PART–2: Important Cattle Breeds

🇮🇳 Indigenous (Indian) Cattle Breeds

Breed                                             Native Region                                      Special Feature      
GirGujaratHigh milk yield
SahiwalPunjabHeat tolerant
Red SindhiSindhGood milk producer
TharparkarRajasthanDual purpose
KankrejGujaratDraught + milk
OngoleAndhra PradeshStrong draught
HarianaHaryanaDraught purpose
DeoniMaharashtraDual purpose

🌍 Exotic Cattle Breeds

Breed                                    Country                       Special Feature                   
JerseyEnglandHigh fat milk
Holstein Friesian (HF)NetherlandsHighest milk yield
Brown SwissSwitzerlandGood milk & longevity
AyrshireScotlandAdaptable

📘 PART–3: Important Buffalo Breeds

🇮🇳 Indian Buffalo Breeds

Breed                          Native Region                   Feature                 
MurrahHaryanaHighest milk yield
JaffarabadiGujaratHeavy body
MehsanaGujaratHigh fat content
SurtiGujaratModerate milk
BhadawariUP & MPHigh fat milk
Nili-RaviPunjabGood milch breed
NagpuriMaharashtraDraught + milk

📝 PART–4: 50 MCQs with Answers & Explanations

(MCAER & ICAR Exam Pattern)

1. Group of cattle is called:

A. Flock
B. Herd
C. Litter
D. Pack

✅ Ans: B
📌 Herd = group of cattle/buffalo

2. Young one of cattle up to one year:

A. Heifer
B. Calf
C. Cow
D. Steer

✅ Ans: B

3. Adult female cattle after first calving:

A. Heifer
B. Cow
C. Calf
D. Doe

✅ Ans: B

4. Castrated male cattle used for draught:

A. Bull
B. Steer
C. Bullock
D. Ram

✅ Ans: C

5. Period during which milk is secreted:

A. Dry period
B. Service period
C. Lactation
D. Gestation

✅ Ans: C

6. First milk after calving is called:

A. Milk
B. Whey
C. Colostrum
D. Cream

✅ Ans: C

7. Gestation period of cow is about:

A. 250 days
B. 270 days
C. 280 days
D. 300 days

✅ Ans: C

8. Period when female accepts male:

A. Lactation
B. Heat
C. Dry period
D. Weaning

✅ Ans: B

9. Balanced ration means:

A. Only green fodder
B. Only concentrate
C. Nutrients in proper proportion
D. High protein diet

✅ Ans: C

10. Group of sheep is called:

A. Herd
B. Flock
C. Litter
D. Pack

✅ Ans: B

11. Artificial insemination is:

A. Natural mating
B. Hand mating
C. Artificial introduction of semen
D. Cross breeding

✅ Ans: C

12. Which is a milch animal?

A. Bull
B. Cow
C. Ox
D. Steer

✅ Ans: B

13. Dry period is:

A. Milk producing stage
B. Non-lactating period
C. Gestation period
D. Heat period

✅ Ans: B

14. Gir cattle breed belongs to:

A. Punjab
B. Gujarat
C. Rajasthan
D. Haryana

✅ Ans: B

15. Highest milk yielding exotic breed:

A. Jersey
B. Brown Swiss
C. Ayrshire
D. Holstein Friesian

✅ Ans: D

16. Jersey breed is known for:

A. High milk yield
B. High fat milk
C. Draught power
D. Disease resistance

✅ Ans: B

17. Sahiwal breed is native of:

A. Gujarat
B. Rajasthan
C. Punjab
D. Maharashtra

✅ Ans: C

18. Red Sindhi breed originated from:

A. India
B. Pakistan (Sindh)
C. England
D. Switzerland

✅ Ans: B

19. Murrah is a breed of:

A. Cow
B. Sheep
C. Goat
D. Buffalo

✅ Ans: D

20. Highest milk yielding buffalo breed:

A. Surti
B. Mehsana
C. Murrah
D. Bhadawari

✅ Ans: C

21. Jaffarabadi buffalo is known for:

A. Small size
B. High fat milk
C. Heavy body
D. Draught work

✅ Ans: C

22. Bhadawari buffalo is famous for:

A. High milk yield
B. High fat content
C. Draught ability
D. Disease resistance

✅ Ans: B

23. Nili-Ravi breed belongs to:

A. Gujarat
B. Punjab
C. Maharashtra
D. UP

✅ Ans: B

24. Kankrej cattle is mainly:

A. Milch
B. Draught
C. Dual purpose
D. Meat type

✅ Ans: C

25. Ongole breed is mainly used for:

A. Milk
B. Meat
C. Draught
D. Wool

✅ Ans: C

26. The term “Colostrum” refers to

A. First milk after calving
B. Last milk before drying
C. Milk fat
D. Milk sugar

✅ Answer: A

27. Which term is used for a cow that has calved only once?

A. Heifer
B. Cow
C. Primiparous cow
D. Dry cow

✅ Answer: C

28. The male buffalo is known as

A. Bull
B. Ox
C. Bullock
D. Murrah

✅ Answer: A

29. Which breed is known as “Queen of Indian Cattle”?

A. Gir
B. Sahiwal
C. Red Sindhi
D. Tharparkar

✅ Answer: B

30. Jersey cattle originated from

A. USA
B. France
C. Island of Jersey (UK)
D. Australia

✅ Answer: C

31. The normal gestation period of cattle is

A. 250 days
B. 270 days
C. 283 days
D. 300 days

✅ Answer: C

32. Which Indian cattle breed is dual-purpose?

A. Gir
B. Hallikar
C. Ongole
D. Tharparkar

✅ Answer: D

33. “Bullock” is defined as

A. Castrated male cattle
B. Adult female cattle
C. Young male cattle
D. Breeding male cattle

✅ Answer: A

34. The milk yield of Jersey cattle is

A. Very high
B. Moderate with high fat
C. Low
D. Nil

✅ Answer: B

35. Which buffalo breed is best known for highest milk fat?

A. Surti
B. Jaffarabadi
C. Murrah
D. Bhadawari

✅ Answer: D

36. “Dry period” refers to

A. Period after calving
B. Period before calving without milking
C. Feeding period
D. Lactation period

✅ Answer: B

37. Which Indian cattle breed is famous for drought resistance?

A. Gir
B. Hallikar
C. Kangayam
D. Kankrej

✅ Answer: D

38. Calving interval is the time between

A. Birth and weaning
B. Two successive calvings
C. Service and conception
D. Lactation and dry period

✅ Answer: B

39. Which exotic breed is widely used for crossbreeding in India?

A. Brown Swiss
B. Jersey
C. Holstein Friesian
D. All of the above

✅ Answer: D

40. The term “Lactation length” means

A. Milk fat percentage
B. Milk yield per day
C. Period of milk secretion
D. Dry period

✅ Answer: C

41. Which buffalo breed is native to Gujarat?

A. Murrah
B. Jaffarabadi
C. Nili-Ravi
D. Mehsana

✅ Answer: B

42. The normal age at first calving in cattle is

A. 12–15 months
B. 18–20 months
C. 30–36 months
D. 48 months

✅ Answer: C

43. “Estrus” is commonly known as

A. Pregnancy
B. Heat period
C. Dry period
D. Calving

✅ Answer: B

44. Which breed is known for long lactation period?

A. Sahiwal
B. Red Sindhi
C. Gir
D. All of the above

✅ Answer: D

45. Which cattle breed has hump and loose skin?

A. Jersey
B. HF
C. Zebu cattle
D. Brown Swiss

✅ Answer: C

46. The term “Weaning” refers to

A. Feeding milk
B. Separation of calf from dam
C. Breeding
D. Castration

✅ Answer: B

47. Which Indian buffalo breed is most popular for milk production?

A. Surti
B. Bhadawari
C. Murrah
D. Toda

✅ Answer: C

48. The practice of removal of testes in male animals is called

A. Dehorning
B. Weaning
C. Castration
D. Docking

✅ Answer: C

49. Which cattle breed originated from Gujarat?

A. Ongole
B. Gir
C. Hallikar
D. Hariana

✅ Answer: B

50. The study of breeding and management of livestock is called

A. Agronomy
B. Animal Husbandry
C. Veterinary Science
D. Zoology

✅ Answer: B

26. The term “Colostrum” refers to

A. First milk after calving
B. Last milk before drying
C. Milk fat
D. Milk sugar

✅ Answer: A

27. Which term is used for a cow that has calved only once?

A. Heifer
B. Cow
C. Primiparous cow
D. Dry cow

✅ Answer: C

28. The male buffalo is known as

A. Bull
B. Ox
C. Bullock
D. Murrah

✅ Answer: A

29. Which breed is known as “Queen of Indian Cattle”?

A. Gir
B. Sahiwal
C. Red Sindhi
D. Tharparkar

✅ Answer: B

30. Jersey cattle originated from

A. USA
B. France
C. Island of Jersey (UK)
D. Australia

✅ Answer: C

31. The normal gestation period of cattle is

A. 250 days
B. 270 days
C. 283 days
D. 300 days

✅ Answer: C

32. Which Indian cattle breed is dual-purpose?

A. Gir
B. Hallikar
C. Ongole
D. Tharparkar

✅ Answer: D

33. “Bullock” is defined as

A. Castrated male cattle
B. Adult female cattle
C. Young male cattle
D. Breeding male cattle

✅ Answer: A

34. The milk yield of Jersey cattle is

A. Very high
B. Moderate with high fat
C. Low
D. Nil

✅ Answer: B

35. Which buffalo breed is best known for highest milk fat?

A. Surti
B. Jaffarabadi
C. Murrah
D. Bhadawari

✅ Answer: D

36. “Dry period” refers to

A. Period after calving
B. Period before calving without milking
C. Feeding period
D. Lactation period

✅ Answer: B

37. Which Indian cattle breed is famous for drought resistance?

A. Gir
B. Hallikar
C. Kangayam
D. Kankrej

✅ Answer: D

38. Calving interval is the time between

A. Birth and weaning
B. Two successive calvings
C. Service and conception
D. Lactation and dry period

✅ Answer: B

39. Which exotic breed is widely used for crossbreeding in India?

A. Brown Swiss
B. Jersey
C. Holstein Friesian
D. All of the above

✅ Answer: D

40. The term “Lactation length” means

A. Milk fat percentage
B. Milk yield per day
C. Period of milk secretion
D. Dry period

✅ Answer: C

41. Which buffalo breed is native to Gujarat?

A. Murrah
B. Jaffarabadi
C. Nili-Ravi
D. Mehsana

✅ Answer: B

42. The normal age at first calving in cattle is

A. 12–15 months
B. 18–20 months
C. 30–36 months
D. 48 months

✅ Answer: C

43. “Estrus” is commonly known as

A. Pregnancy
B. Heat period
C. Dry period
D. Calving

✅ Answer: B

44. Which breed is known for long lactation period?

A. Sahiwal
B. Red Sindhi
C. Gir
D. All of the above

✅ Answer: D

45. Which cattle breed has hump and loose skin?

A. Jersey
B. HF
C. Zebu cattle
D. Brown Swiss

✅ Answer: C

46. The term “Weaning” refers to

A. Feeding milk
B. Separation of calf from dam
C. Breeding
D. Castration

✅ Answer: B

47. Which Indian buffalo breed is most popular for milk production?

A. Surti
B. Bhadawari
C. Murrah
D. Toda

✅ Answer: C

48. The practice of removal of testes in male animals is called

A. Dehorning
B. Weaning
C. Castration
D. Docking

✅ Answer: C

49. Which cattle breed originated from Gujarat?

A. Ongole
B. Gir
C. Hallikar
D. Hariana

✅ Answer: B

50. The study of breeding and management of livestock is called

A. Agronomy
B. Animal Husbandry
C. Veterinary Science
D. Zoology

✅ Answer: B


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