H
HACCP:
(see Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
HACCP Plan:
A documented system, prepared in accordance with all the principles of HACCP, to ensure control of significant food safety hazards in a food handling process. A HACCP Plan will always include one or more critical control points
Haemagglutinin:
A substance which agglutinates red blood cells. This may be a specific antibody, or a lectin, or a component of certain viruses, (e.g. influenza or measles) by which they bind to cell surfaces
Haemangiosarcoma:
A malignant tumour of the blood vessels, usually occurring in the skin, liver or spleen
Haematocrit:
The volume of red blood cells in a sample of blood after it has been centrifuged (spun at high speeds). The PCV (Packed Cell Volume), or haematocrit, is expressed as a percentage
Haematology:
The study of blood and diseases of the blood
Haematoma:
A localised swelling filled with blood outside the blood vessels. Usually, occurs due to haemorrhage
Haematuria:
The presence of blood in the urine; often a clinical sign of urinary tract disease
Haemophilus Somnus:
(see Histophilus Somni)
Haemorrhage:
(see Hemorrhage)
Haemorrhage:
(see Hemorrhage)
Hair-conditioning Polish:
A spray-on product used to set hair and resists stains and dust. Sometimes referred as Show Sheen
Half – sibs:
Individuals having the same sire but different dams (or less commonly the same dam but different sires). Half–brothers, half-sisters, or half brother / sister
Half Moon:
A common term for the pectorales profundi
Halter:
Nylon halter available in a variety of colours. Halters are used on a daily basis when working with show cattle
Halter Class:
A class judged on soundness, style, and how well an entry physically conforms to its breed standard
Hand:
Four inches
Hand Keeper:
Term used when an animal does not perform well; it may have hardware, parasites, or show the effects of disease
Hand Mating:
The portion of the total variation or phenotypic differences among animals that is due to heredity
Hand Milking:
The manual milking of an animal as opposed to the use of mechanical milking devices
Hand on your Head:
A practice or situation, which will cause significant grief
Handlers:
Processors or dealers of milk who commonly purchase raw milk and sell pasteurised milk and milk products
Hanging Tender:
The thick muscle dorsal attachments of the diaphragm. It begins in the lumbar and extends to the posterior end of the thoracic cavity in beef - it is ventral to the chine bone. The hanging tender is commonly called the pillar
Hanging Tenderloin:
(see Hanging Tender)
Haploid Cells:
A cell with a single set of chromosomes; e.g. gametes. In cattle, the haploid number is 30
Haplotype:
A set of alleles at a closely linked group of loci, so closely linked that the allelic set behave almost as one allele in terms of inheritance. The Rh blood group system in humans, for example, has three tightly-linked loci, C, D and E, with two or more alleles (C, c, etc.) at each locus, common haplotypes are CDe, cde and cDE. The CDE and cdE haplotypes are rare. Individuals with a genotype, CDE / cdE, are thus very uncommon. Individuals who are cde / cde are the commonest Rh negative genotype
Hard Keeper:
An animal that requires more than the usual amount of feed to maintain weight
Hardiness:
The ability of an animal to withstand the environment
Hardware Disease:
Commonly, an inflammation of the body cavity by an animal eating metal objects and perforation of the digestive tract
Harvest:
To slaughter an animal
Harvestone Silo:
A brand of oxygen-limiting (air tight) upright silos with bottom unloading
Hay:
Dried feed such as rye, alfalfa, clover, grass and oats, which is used as a food source for dairy cows. A hay pasture is mowed and the trimmings dry in the sun for two to three days. The hay is then gathered by a piece of farm machinery called a baler that processes it into varying sizes of bales, which can be rectangular or round
Haylage:
Product resulting from ensiling forage with about 45% moisture in the absence of oxygen
Hazard:
A biological, chemical, or physical agent that
(a) Is in or has the potential to be in animal material or product, or is or has the potential to be a condition of animal material or product; and
(b) Leads or could lead to an adverse health effect on humans or animals
Hazard Analysis:
The process of collecting and evaluating information on hazards and conditions leading to their presence to decide which are significant for food safety and therefore should be addressed in the HACCP plan
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP):
A systematic, science‐based approach to assuring the production of safe food. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service requires all meat and poultry processing facilities to implement the system
HC 1:
Hydrochloric Acid
HCW:
(see Hot Carcass Weight)
Headcatcher:
(see Headgate)
Headgate:
A device used to restrain cattle (to keep them from moving) while being vaccinated or treated
Headlocks:
Self-locking stanchions along a feed alley in which cows voluntarily enter the head slot when going to eat. All cows may be held until herd health work is completed, and then all cows may be simultaneously released. Headlocks may be adjusted to remain open, allowing cows to come and go at will when restraining the cows is not necessary
Health Certificate:
A certificate of health provided by a veterinarian upon the completion of a physical examination of the animal. Required to haul the animal out-of-state
Health Status:
The health status of cattle affects their ability to manage heat load
Health Traits:
Traits that relate to the health of an animal
Heart Bread:
A common name for the portion of the beef thymus gland located inside the thoracic cavity
Heart Cap:
The stumps of the major vessels, the auricles and the attached fat at the base of an untrimmed heart
Heart Fat:
The fat in the anterior end of the thoracic cavity
Heart Girth and Chest:
The chest should be wide and the heart girth deep. This strength will help cows stay healthy during periods of stress and extremely temperament
Heartburn:
Discomfort or pain that occurs in the chest. Often occurs after eating
Heartworm:
Also known as Dirofilaria immitis, is a parasite that is spread from host to host via the bites of mosquitoes
Heat:
(see Estrous)
Heat (estrous) Synchronisation:
Through hormonal manipulation, causing a group of cows or heifers to initiate estrous cycles at approximately the same time
Heat Balance:
Heat balance in a system is the balance between heat gain and heat loss. Where heat gain is greater than heat loss, heat is said to be accumulating in the system
Heat Date:
A date reported when the animal showed estrous. This date will be used to record the next expected heat date as a notification when to possibly breed the animal
Heat Increment:
Increase in heat production following consumption of feed when an animal is in a thermoneutral environment. It includes additional heat generated in fermentation, digestion, and nutrient metabolism
Heat Interval:
Time between normal heat periods; average is 21 days with a usual range from 18 to 26 days
Heat Load:
Heat load occurs when heat accumulates in cattle
Heat Load Index Threshold:
The Heat Load Index Threshold is determined based on cattle and feedlot characteristics and represents the tipping point for when cattle will accumulate heat load
Heat Load Management Plan:
The Heat Management Plan is a feedlot specific document that details the risk management practices and strategies that will be implemented at the feedlot
Heat Treatment:
The use of heat as a critical control point for the control of pathogenic micro-organisms. The term “heat treatment” includes the heat treatment equipment, drawings, manuals, operating and maintenance plans/procedures, training and validation programmes, and records
Hectare:
A metric unit of land measurement (2.47 acres)
Hedge:
Risk management strategy that allows a producer to lock in a price for a given commodity at a specified time
Heel:
The tough fibrous group of small muscles adjacent to the femur in the lower portion of the outside round. The heel is commonly referred to as the "mouse," rat, or horseshoe. It contains the gastrocnemius and superficial digital flexor muscles
Heel Fly:
(see Bomb Fly)
Heel Warts:
Contagious infection usually affecting the skin on the bulbs of the heel
Heifer:
A young female bovine animal
Heifer Pregnancy EPD:
Heifer pregnancy EPD’s expressed as probabilities of successful conception predict differences among individuals in the ability of their daughters to conceive and calve at two years of age
Heiferette:
A heifer that has calved once, after which the heifer is fed for slaughter; the calf has usually died or been weaned at an early age
Heifering a Steer:
A penile urethrostomy performed on a steer as treatment for urethral calculi
Hemoglobin:
A red, iron-containing protein in blood. Its function is to transport oxygen from the lungs, through the vascular system, to the cells where the oxygen is transferred into the cell
Hemorrhage:
Bleeding or blood loss
Hemotoxin:
Toxins that destroy red blood cells
Hepatic:
Relating to, affecting, or associated with the liver
Hepatitis:
Inflammation of the liver
Hepatomegaly:
Abnormal enlargement of the liver
Herd:
A group of animals (especially cattle, horses, and swine), collectively considered as a unit
Herd Average:
Average milk and component production per cow for all cows in the herd unit for 12 months
Herd Average SCC Count:
The average somatic cell count for the herd. This is a weighted average based on individual cow’s milk weight and actual somatic cell count
Herd Blood Test:
A blood test that is conducted on a herd of cattle at a farmers pasture to test for Brucellosis
Herd Code:
An exclusive reference number that identifies every DHI herd. The first two numbers identify the state, the next two, the association, and the final numerical series identifies the herd within an association
Herd Effect:
The careless trampling of a herd of animals
Herd Immunity:
A situation in which further transmission of an infectious disease from individual to individual has become unlikely because a large enough proportion of the total population has become immune to the disease through vaccination and / or by having natural or acquired resistance to the disease (e.g by getting it and surviving). Even individuals that have not been vaccinated (such as newborn animals) are offered some protection because the disease has little opportunity to spread within the community. Also known as community immunity
Herd Operator:
A person that takes care and watches over the herd
Herd Owner:
The declared owner of a herd of dairy cattle as recorded on a legal document, registration papers or other official documents
Herd Self-clearance:
When a herd clears an infection from itself by each individual acquiring immunity to that infection
Herd Sire:
The principal breeding bull in a herd
Herdbook:
The publication of a breed’s ancestry and characteristics
Herdcare:
A health scheme licensed by CHeCS and administrated by BioBest
Herding:
A form of livestock management where riders strive to keep livestock together as a herd and rotate the herd through a grazing rotation based upon a set of range management principles or rules
Herdmate Deviation:
(See Difference from Herdmates)
Herdmates:
Cows of the same breed that calved during the same season of the year
Heredity:
The heredity transmission of genetic or physical traits of parents to their offspring
Heritability:
The proportion of the differences among cattle, measured or observed, that is transmitted, on average, to their offspring. Heritability of different traits may vary from zero to one. The higher the heritability of a trait, the more accurately individual performance predicts breeding value and the more rapid should be the response to selection for that trait
Heritability Estimate:
An estimate of the proportion of the total phenotypic variation between individuals for a certain trait that is due to transmissible genetic merit. It is proportion of total variation for a trait caused by differences among individuals in breeding value
Hermaphroditism:
The presence of both male and female production organs in the same organism, which may be capable of reproducing singularly
Hermaturia:
Blood in the urine. The blood may or may not be seen with the naked eye
Hernia:
The protrusion of some of the intestine through an opening in the body wall (also commonly called rupture). Two types of hernias, umbilical and scrotal, occur in farm animals
Herringbone Parlour:
A milking parlour in which cows stand side-by-side angled towards the pit. This allows milking from the side of the udder
Heterogonic:
Alternation of sexual and asexual reproduction in successive generations of an organism
Heterosis (hybrid vigour):
Amount by which the average performance for a trait in crossbred calves exceeds the average performance of the two or more purebreds that were mated in that particular cross
Heterozygote:
A genotype in which the two alleles at a locus are different e.g. Pp
Heterozygous Polled:
The individual is polled but carries both a polled gene and a horned gene. The animal will sire both polled and horned calves
hGC:
human Chorionic Gonadotrophin. The placental hormone of primates with similar actions to LH. Although it is produced in the placenta and not in the brain it is still called a gonadotrophin since it acts on the gonads
HI Health:
Highlands and Islands health Scheme licensed by CHeCS and administered by BioBest
Hickey:
A poor return or a loss on investment as in “You will probably take a hickey when you sell this pen”
Hide:
Skins from cattle
Hide Beetle:
Hide beetles (Dermestes maculatus) are very similar to litter beetles, and may also be a problem as they can become a pervasive pest
Hide Puller:
A device used to remove the hide by attaching a chain to the hide and pulling it either up or down from the carcass
High Conservation Value:
An elevated ranking owing to the native biodiversity present
High Moisture Corn:
Corn which is harvested when moisture levels are 22-28%. Generally, this corn is ground or rolled and stored in pit or bunker silos. It can also be stored whole and processed before feeding
High Mountain Disease:
(see Brisket Disease)
Highly Conserved:
Where changes in a particular nucleotide sequence only rarely occur
Highly Contagious Foreign Animal Disease:
A disease that spreads rapidly from animal-to-animal as well as herd-to-herd through direct contact, aerosol, oral, fomite or vector-borne transmission. Highly contagious FADs may be recognised by above normal morbidity or mortality per unit time, where morbidity could be characterised solely by a decrease in production
Highly Susceptible Animals:
Animals that are at greater risk than others of infection following disease exposure, including calves or young stock; sick, stressed, or recently recovered animals; and those lacking immunity or resistance
High-risk Animals:
Animals with a greater risk than others of transmitting a disease, or an unknown risk, including those of unknown health status, of a different species, not part of the herd, returning after being away from the herd, or sick or recently recovered
Highveld:
High altitude countryside
Hindquarter:
The posterior end of a beef side. It is separated from the anterior end (forequarter) by cutting the side between the 12th and 13th ribs. The beef hindquarter contains the full loin, flank, and round
Hindsaddle:
The un-split posterior hind half of an ovine, veal, or calf carcass
Hindshank:
The distal portion of the hind leg, including the tibia, fibula, their covering muscle, and connective tissues. The hindshank corresponds to the human shin. Note: In bovine and ovine carcasses the tibia and fibula may be fused, making it difficult to distinguish two separate bones
Hip:
(1) The sirloin portion of the hindquarter;
(2) commonly called the "Loin End"
Hip Height:
Height at the hip, in inches
Hiplock:
Condition at calving in which the hips of the calf cannot pass through the pelvis of the cow
Hippocampus:
(see Ammon’s Horn)
Histology:
Study of structure of tissues (histos) using special staining techniques and microscopy
Histopathology:
Refers to the microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease
Histophilus Somni:
(previously known as Haemophilus Somnus) - A bacterium which can cause respiratory, nervous system, reproductive and joint disease
Hives:
An allergic skin reaction causing localised redness, swelling and itching
HLDN:
Heat Load Data Network
HLI:
Heat Load Index
HLU:
Herd Look Up
Hock Joint:
The joint between the distal end of the tibia and the proximal end of the metatarsus
Holding Pen:
An area in which cows congregate prior to entering a milking parlour to be milked
Holistic Management:
A decision-making process developed by Allan Savory that is based on four key insights that are crucial to reversing environmental deterioration. Holistic management and decision making is based on the practice of involving all the people, resources and capital being managed and collective development of one goal, comprised of three parts. Resource evaluation is based on examination of resource cycle function, understanding all the tools available for use to manage these processes, a set of guidelines for testing decisions and making management choices, as well as use of new planning procedures and monitoring methods
Homeotherm:
A warm-blooded animal. An animal that maintains its characteristic body temperature even though environmental temperature varies
Homogenisation:
The process breaks up the fat in milk into tiny pieces so the cream in the milk will not rise to the top
Homogonic:
Successive generations of an organism, which reproduce in the same manner
Homologous Chromosomes:
In all cells except germ cells, chromosomes exist in pairs and the two members of each pair are homologous
Homozygote:
A genotype in which the two alleles at a locus are the same, e.g. PP or pp
Homozygous Black:
This individual will always pass on a black gene for colour to his offspring. When bred to a diluted cow, this bull can still sire grey colour patterns
Homozygous Polled:
This individual is polled and carries two polled genes. The animal will sire all polled offspring regardless of whether the other parent is horned or polled
Honeycomb Tripe:
A common name for the reticulum
Honker:
Tracheal edema, these animals have a severe obstruction of the trachea and have a characteristic “honking” sound
Hoof Trimmer:
A trained professional who specialises in the trimming of a cow’s hooves on a regular basis in order to maintain comfort. Hoof trimmers are trained to detect disease, injury or other hoof-related problems and can advise farmers on treatments
Hooks:
Hip bones
Hormone:
A chemical messenger from one cell (or group of cells) to another. Hormones are naturally produced by nearly every organ and tissue type in a human or animal body. All milk naturally contains hormones. References to hormones on milk packaging refer to whether the dairy farmers producing that milk use a supplemental hormone with their cows
Horn Fly:
Small (3/16 inch long), dark grey flies that feed on cattle and occasionally horses. Both sexes are blood feeders, taking 20 or more blood meals
Horn Iron:
The old way to help heal the horn base after de-horning was to cauterise the horn stub with a hot iron
Horn Tipping:
The removal of the sharp points of the horns of adult cattle
Horns
Solid, boney cores covered by a sheath of hard, fibrous material. They form part of an animal's skull, grow throughout its lifetime and never shed
Hospital Pen:
Pen(s) / working facility where sick cattle are treated before being returned to their home pen
Host:
The animal that provides small animals or organisms with food and a home. E.g. cattle can be hosts to lice
Host Specific:
Organism that completes its lifecycle in one kind of host
Host Susceptibility:
This is dependent on the immune status of the animal, including its health
Hot Carcass Weight (HCW):
Weight of a carcass just prior to chilling
Hot Fat Trim:
A method of removing adipose tissue. The process is usually performed prior to carcass refrigeration
Hot Quarter:
A quarter of the udder that is infected and may actually feel hard or hot to the touch due to elevated temperatures
Hot Ration:
A ration in the feedlot that has a high energy density. This usually denotes a ration that is the “finish” ration on which the cattle will be fed until they are slaughtered
Hot Standard Carcass Weight (HSCW):
The fundamental unit of over – the – hooks selling; the weight, within two hours of slaughter, of a carcass with standard trim (all fat off)
Housed Livestock:
Livestock that are kept indoors for all or part of the year
HRI:
(hotel, restaurant, and institutional) - used in the context that some beef is supplied to the HRI trade
Human-centred:
Human-centred means putting the human, its point-of-view and needs first
Humane:
Having or showing compassion, sympathy or benevolence, usually as regards the treatment of animals (e.g., treating animals with kindness and inflicting the minimum of pain or suffering). Inhumane treatment of animals would be callous, heartless, merciless, brutal or cruel
Humerus:
The long bone of the upper forelimb, extending from the shoulder joint to the elbow joint. Commonly called the "arm bone," the humerus corresponds to the upper arm in humans
Humoral Immunity:
Antibodied – mediated immunity
Husbandry:
Also called animal science, stockbreeding or simple husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock
Hutch:
An individual housing unit designed for young calves
Hybrid:
Animal resulting from the crossing of parents of a very different genetic make-up
Hybrids (‘crossbreds’) are usually more healthy and fertile than their parents, but if the parents are too dissimilar genetically their offspring will be sterile, e.g. crossing a horse and a donkey produces a sterile mule
Hybrid Vigour:
(see Heterosis)
Hydrocephalus:
A condition characterised by an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebral fluid, accompanied by dilation of the cerebral ventricles
Hydrocyanic Acid:
(see Prussic Acid)
Hydrops Amnii:
Condition in which too much fluid develops around the fetus
Hyper:
A prefix meaning more than normal
Hyperaemia:
Excess of blood in part of tissue
Hyperaesthesia:
An abnormal increase in the sensitivity of the senses
Hyperglycaemia:
High levels of glucose in the blood
Hyperplasia:
An abnormal increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ
Hypersensitivity:
An allergic condition in which the body overreacts to certain substances, such as a bee sting or medication
Hypertension:
High blood pressure
Hyperthermia:
Elevated body temperature
Hyperthyroidism:
Increased production of thyroid hormones caused by an overactive thyroid gland
Hypertrophy:
An enlargement of an organ or a tissue as a result of an increase in the size of cells (rather than the number as in hyperplasia)
Hyperventilate:
To breathe excessively hard and fast causing blood gas disorders
Hypo:
A prefix meaning less than normal
Hypocalcaemia:
(see Hypocalcemia)
Hypocalcemia:
Low levels of calcium in the blood
Hypocuprosis:
A condition characterized by low levels of copper in the blood and plasma due to low availability of copper in the diet or interference with copper uptake due to the high levels of sulphar or molybdenum in the diet
Hypoglycaemia:
(see Hypoglycemia)
Hypoglycemia:
Below normal blood glucose level
Hypomagnesemia:
Low levels of magnesium in the blood
Hypophagia:
Reduced voluntary feed intake, below what is expected from dietary analysis
Hypoplasia:
Incomplete formation of a structure or organ in the body
Hypopyon:
Pus in the (anterior chamber of the) eye
Hypotension:
Low blood pressure
Hypothalamus:
A portion of the brain found in the floor of the third ventricle. It regulates reproduction, hunger, and body temperature and has other functions
Hypothermia:
Condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body function
Hypothyroidism:
Decreased production of thyroid hormones caused by an underactive thyroid gland
Hypovolemia:
Blood loss
Hypoxia:
A condition resulting from deficient oxygenation of the blood
Hysterectomy:
(see Spayed)