Abomasum: The fourth chamber of the stomach in ruminant animals, and the only one having glands that secrete digestive acids and enzymes. It can be compared with the simple stomach of other mammals.
Acidosis: An abnormally high level of acidity of the body’s fluids, In ruminants it may be caused by accumulation of acids or by depletion of bicarbonates as it happens by ingestion of high amounts of grain hence poor stimulation of saliva production.
Bulling heifer: A heifer unbred but of an age suitable for breeding.
Challenge feeding: A system of feeding where dairy cows are given more concentrate feed than is justified by the level of the individual cow’s milk production as a way of stimulating the cow to produce more. In the early part of the lactation the cow in many instances does so. This is done until the cow no longer responds to the increased level of feeding. Challenge feeding is also called lead feeding because the cow is led to produce more heavily.
Dystocia: Difficult calving.
Endotoxin: A toxin present inside a bacterial cell produced and released upon destruction of the bacterial cell.
Fermentation inhibitor: An additive used to retard or prevent undesirable fermentation action in a product.
Hypocalcaemia: Low calcium level in the blood.
Hypoglycaemia: Low glucose level in the blood.
Ketone bodies: Chemicals produced in the body when there is low blood sugar and the animal is forced to break down fat to generate energy. Ketone bodies are toxic acidic chemicals and may build up in the blood and then spill over into the urine or lungs, giving the breath a fruity odour.
Ketosis: The presence of ketone bodies in the blood.
Laminitis: Inflammation of sensitive layers of tissue (laminae) inside the hoof.
Omasum: The third chamber of the stomach of a ruminant animal located between the reticulum and the abomasum.
Milk fever (post-parturient paresis): A disease of pregnant and lactating cows characterized by low calcium levels in the blood. It leads to generalized paralysis and death. The disease commonly occurs around calving in cows and a few weeks before or after lambing in ewes.
Pollard: Wheat by-product.
Probiotics: Live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganisms in the animals’ digestive system. They are also called ‘friendly bacteria’ or ‘good bacteria’ and are fed to ruminants as feed additives to enhance growth of rumen microorganisms.
Propionic acid: One of the end products of carbohydrate digestion in ruminants.
Reticulum: The second chamber of the ruminant stomach.
Rumen: The first and largest chamber of the ruminant stomach.
Steaming up: Putting a pregnant animal on a high plane of nutrition a few weeks before it gives birth.
Stool: Group of Napier grass tillers that have established from one initially planted cane or split.