N
N.E:
Net Energy
NAAB:
National Association of Animal Breeders
NAAB Code:
A code for identifying semen made up of a total maximum combination of ten characters. The three position stud code is listed first followed by a one or two position breed code and then up to five position bull code
NADL:
National Animal Diseases Laboratory, Ames (Iowa), USA
NADMA:
North American DHIA Managers Association
NAFTA:
(see North American Free Trade Agreement)
NAIS:
National Animal Identification System
Naïve:
An animal is said to be naïve when it has no immunity to a particular disease.
Newborn calves before receiving colostrum are naïve. Animals participating in a health scheme in which that disease has been eradicated are naïve to it and if introduced to a new herd where that disease exists are naïve and therefore susceptible to it
NALMA:
North American Lab Managers Association
Nares:
Openings of the nasal cavities
Narrow Spectrum Antimicrobial:
An antimicrobial effective against a limited number of bacterial genera often applied to an antimicrobial active against either Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria
National Cattle Evaluation (NCE):
Programs of cattle evaluation conducted by breed associations to compute estimated genetic merit of a population of animals. Carefully conducted national cattle evaluation programs give unbiased estimates of expected progeny differences (EPD’s). Cattle evaluations are based on field data and rely on information from the individual animal, relatives, and progeny to calculate EPD’s
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA):
A national organisation for cattle breeders, producers, feeders, and affiliated organisations with offices in Englewood, CO, and Washington, DC. Previously known as the National Cattlemen’s Association or NCA
National Live Stock and Meat Board (NLSMB):
Organization located in Chicago that provides nutrition, research, education, and promotional information on beef, pork, and lamb. See also Beef Industry Council (BIC)
National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS):
The National Livestock Identification Scheme is Australia’s system of traceability of livestock
National Sire Evaluation:
Programs of sire evaluation conducted by breed associations to compare sires on a progeny-test basis. Carefully conducted national reference sire evaluation programs give unbiased estimates of expected progeny differences. Sire evaluations based on field data rely on large number of progeny per sire to compensate for possible favouritism or bias for sires within herds
Native Hides:
Hides from cattle that have not been hot-iron branded
Native Pastures:
(see Unimproved Pastures)
Natural Beef:
A USDA label used by some beef purveyors. By definition (minimally processed and without food additives), all beef produced in the United States qualifies for the natural label
Natural Fleshing:
Lean meat or muscle
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS):
It is an agency within USDA which provides leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. The NRCS was originally called the Soil Conservation Service
Natural Selection:
Selection that occurs in nature independent of human control
Natural Service:
It means to allow natural mating, as opposed to artificial insemination
Naturally Polled:
An animal that was born without horns or any sign of horns
Navel:
Area where the umbilical cord was formerly attached to the body of the offspring
Navel Ill:
(see Joint Ill)
NCBA:
(see National Cattlemen’s Beef Association)
NCDHIP Handbook:
The National Cooperative Dairy Herd Improvement Program Handbook is a comprehensive guide to DHI recordkeeping. It includes uniform procedures and record calculations. The handbook is a cooperative effort of dairy producers, breed associations, AI organisations, Cooperative Extension, and USDA
NCE:
(see National Cattle Evaluation)
NDF:
(see Natural Detergent Fibre)
NDHIA:
National Dairy Herd Information Association
Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS):
A method of forage (or other feedstuffs) quality analysis based on spectrophotometry at wave-lengths in the near infrared region
Neatsfoot Oil:
A pale yellow oil extracted from bones and used as a leather dressing
Nebulise:
To convert a liquid into a spray for inhalational treatments
Neck Rope:
Nylon ropes used to keep animals evenly spaced in stalls and acts as a second halter to restrain animal if halter
becomes untied or slips off
Necropsy:
The examination of an animal after death
Necrosis:
Cell death that could be due to an infection or injury (un-programmed cell death)
NEg:
Net energy for gain
Negri Bodies:
Inclusion bodies which may contain viral antigen, virus particles and nucleocapsid. Negri bodies are intracytoplasmic
NEl:
Net energy for lactation
Nellore:
Bos indicus breed, originally from India. Some animals were imported into Brazil. The breed represents 80% of the Brazilian Beef cattle herds
NEm:
Net energy for maintenance
Nematodes:
Also, known as roundworms
Neonatal:
Pertaining to a newborn animal
Neophilia:
The love / enthusiasm for what is new or novel
Neophobia:
Fear of new things or experiences
Neoplasia:
A class of disease in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth, invasion that intrudes upon and destroys adjacent tissues, and sometimes spreads to other locations in the body. Can be used to describe malignant or benign tumours
Neospora:
Neospora does not cause any obvious problem, but if a cow is pregnant at the time of infection, she may abort; of her calf may die and be mummified and might be later expelled. It may also remain in her uterus preventing future fertility; or her calf may survive and be born infected, in some cases with neurological effects, but if apparently healthy, will likely have depressed growth rates. The infected cow’s milk production may also be negatively affected.
Once infected, an animal remains so for life, although the Neospora will usually be kept in a dormant state by the animal’s immune system. Changes in the cow’s immunity necessary to the success of a normal pregnancy enable the infection to become active again, thus threatening each pregnancy, with the highest risk period during the second trimester. It is suggested that the cow’s immune system becomes better at dealing with Neospora over time, so the risk of abortion may gradually reduce from year to year
Nerve Impulse:
The movement of an action potential down a nerve fibre to a muscle to signal the contraction process
Net Cash Flow:
The difference between the money received and the money spent in any one period
Net Energy:
Metabolizable energy minus heat increments. The energy available to the animal for maintenance and production
Net Energy for Gain:
Estimate of the energy value of a feed used for body tissue gain (weight gain) above the required for maintenance
Net Energy for Lactation:
Estimate the energy value of a feed used for maintenance plus milk production during lactation and for maintenance plus the last two months of gestation for dry, pregnant cows
Net Energy for Maintenance:
The fraction of net energy expended to keep an animal in energy equilibrium
Net Energy for Production:
The fraction of net energy that is used for work or for tissue gain
Net Farm Income:
Operating profits minus interest, the return on the owners’ capital. Also, known as Net Profit
Net Feed Efficiency (NFE):
Refers to the difference in animals feed intake independent of requirements for growth rate and body weight
Net Feed Intake (NFI):
The trait calculated by phenotypic adjustment of feed intake for body weight and growth as a measure of NFE
Net Income:
Total revenue earned minus expenses incurred for a given period of time
Net Present Value:
The difference between the present value of all benefits and present value of all costs of an investment
Net Profit:
(see Net Farm Income)
Net Worth:
Represents the owner's claim on the assets of a business: net worth = assets – liabilities
Net Worth Statement:
(see Balance Sheet)
Neuroblast:
An embryonic cell from which nerve fibres originate
Neuroblastoma Cells:
Cells derived from a malignant tumour composed of neuroblasts
Neuromuscular Junction:
The location in which the nerve fibre attaches to muscle fibre
Neurons:
Cells specialised to transmit electrical nerve impulses, to carry information from one part of the body to another
Neuropathy:
A condition involving a dysfunction of the nerves
Neurotropic:
Growing towards or having an affinity for neural tissue
Neuter:
Also known as desexing. It involves the surgical removal of the testes in males or the ovaries and uterus in females
Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF):
That portion of a forage that is insoluble in neutral detergent; synonymous with cell well constituents
Neutrophils:
A phagocytic leukocyte
New Infection:
Animals with a SCC Score > 4 (200,000) for the first time during the current infection
New Variant CJD (nvCJD):
A new form of Creutzfeldt‐Jakob Disease (CJD) identified in Great Britain. Some scientists believe it is related to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathies (BSE), but it is clearly different from normal CJD
New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease:
(see New Variant CJD)
NFAS:
National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme
Nicitating Membrane:
Translucent membrane that forms an inner eyelid in birds, reptiles and some mammals
Nick:
When a bull produces outstanding calves from a certain breeding line
Nicking:
The way in which certain lines, strains, or breeds perform when mated together. When outstanding offspring result, the parents are said to have nicked well
Nipple:
(see Teat)
Nipple Clamp:
(see Teat Clamp)
NIRS:
(see Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy)
Nitrification:
The biochemical oxidation of ammonium to nitrate, predominantly by autotrophic bacteria
Nitrogen Balance:
Nitrogen in the food consumed minus nitrogen in feces and nitrogen in urine (nitrogen retention)
Nitrogen-carbon Balance:
Difference between carbon and nitrogen content of food intake and of excreta permits determination of energy liberated in the metabolic process
Nitrogen-free Extract (NFE):
Consisting of carbohydrates, sugars, starches, and a major portion of materials classed as hemicellulose in feeds. When crude protein, fat, water, ash, and fibre are added and the sum is subtracted from 100, the difference is NFE
NLIS:
(see National Livestock Identification Scheme)
Nodule:
Nodules are solid lumps or bumps found on an animal's skin
Nominal Classification:
Occurs where observations are recorded in discrete, unordered classes, like breed or reason for disposal
Nominal Terms:
Dollar value or interest rates that include an inflation component
Non - addictive Gene Effects:
Effects of specific gene pairs or combinations.
Non – addictive gene effects occur when the heterozygous genotype is not intermediate in phenotypic value to the two homozygous genotypes. Undesirable homozygous gene combinations lead to inbreeding depression in inbred populations; whereas favourable heterozygous gene combinations lead to heterosis in outbred herds
Non-core Vaccine:
Vaccines that should be administered to animals assessed to be at risk of that disease
Non-cytopathic:
The inability of a virus to kill cells in tissue culture in the laboratory
Nondiluter:
This individual does not carry the diluter gene and therefore will not pass on the diluter gene to his progeny
Nonencapsulated:
A bacterium which does not possess a capsule or envelope
Non-fed Cattle:
Animals slaughtered without a finishing period, usually cull cows and bulls sold for slaughter
Non-genetic Effect:
Effects which influence the performance of an animal which are not genetic in origin
Nonmotile:
A bacterium which lacks the power of active motion
Non-pathogenic:
Not capable of causing disease
Non-protein Nitrogen (NPN):
Nitrogen in feeds from substances such as urea and amino acids, but not from preformed proteins
Non-return:
The breeding efficiency of bulls expressed as the percentage of cows that conceive on the first service. Also called non-return rate
Non-return Dip Cup:
A dip cup that does not allow the liquid to re-enter and potentially contaminate the storage container
Non-return Rate:
Based on the observation that a bred/mated cow has not returned for another service within a defined number of days
Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID):
Medications with anti-inflammatory, analgaesic (pain reducing) and anti-pyretic (fever-reducing) effects. Non-steroidal distinguishes NSAIDs from other drugs which contain steroids, which are also anti-inflammatory
Non-Structural Virus Protection:
Proteins that are not part of a virus capsid but perform regulatory or other functions
Normal Distribution:
The distribution of observations that appears graphically as a bell-shaped curved. The horizontal axis represents the level of performance of animals, or their breeding values, etc., and the height of the curve represents the relative frequency of observations. What this means is that for a normal distribution, we expect most observations to cluster near the mean and extreme values far away from the mean are rare (compare this to the case of a uniform distribution, where the observations are equally likely over the relevant range, e.g. in a wheel of fortune, all positions are equally likely). Most continuous variables that we measure on animals are normally-distributed
No-Roll:
Carcasses that do not have a quality grade stamp ‘rolled’ onto the carcass (the ink printer is on a wheel). A carcass is ‘no-rolled’ when it is projected to not grade well (i.e. it is too mature, a dark cutter, not enough marbling, etc.)
Nose Lead:
Lead used for guiding animal
Nose Tongs:
Large metal pincher tool that is placed into each nostril of a bovine and has a rope to grasp and tie to provide head restraint
Notifiable:
A disease is notifiable if there is a statutory requirement to notify the D.V.M of any suspicion of that disease. Examples are FMD, bovine TB and brucellosis
Notifiable Disease:
Diseases where any confirmed or suspected outbreak must be notified to the authorities e.g. foot-and-mouth
NPN:
(see Non-Protein Nitrogen)
NRC:
National Research Council
NRCS:
(see Natural Resources Conservation Service)
NSG:
Non Selective Grazing
Nucleic Acid:
The basic structure of DNA and RNA. DNA and RNA consist of a sugar (Deoxyribose and Ribose respectively) and Nucleic Acids (the NA of DNA and RNA)
Nucleotide:
The subunit of DNA composed of a five carbon sugar, one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, cyosine, or guanine), and a phosphate group
Nucleus:
Central body present in all cells, except red blood cells. It contains the chromosomes and is, therefore, the ‘control centre’ of the cell
Nuflor:
Ingestible solution for treating Bovine Respiratory Disease
Number Breedings:
The number of times a cow was serviced during a lactation
Number Breedings per Conception:
The number of services required in order to confirm an animal pregnant
Number Calving:
The reported number of calvings that occurred during a test period
Number Confirmed Pregnant:
The outcome of pregnancy exams conducted during the test period. Only cows with a "P" pregnancy confirmation will be included
Number of Contemporaries:
The number of animals of similar breed, sex, and age against which an animal was compared in performance tests. The greater the number of contemporaries, the greater the accuracy of comparisons
Number Services:
The number of times a cow was bred during a lactation or number of times breedings were reported for cows in the herd during the test period
Nurse Cow:
Cow used to suckle calves
Nursing:
A calf getting milk from its mother; also, a cow producing milk for her calf
Nutraceutical:
A term combining the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”. It is used to describe a food or part of a food that allegedly provides medicinal or health benefits
Nutrient:
(1) A substance that nourishes the metabolic processes of the body.
(2) End product of digestion
Nutrient / Calorie Ratio:
This is a ratio expression as the weight of nutrient per unit of caloric energy. An animal usually stops eating when it has met its caloric needs (energy), therefore the daily needed nutrients must be in the amount of feed required to give the needed energy to have a desirable nutrient : calorie ration
Nutrient Density:
Amount of essential nutrients relative to the number of calories in a given amount of food
Nutrient Management Plan:
A planning resource that defines the nutrient needs of crops and the amount, sources, placement and timing of fertiliser applications to maximise nutrient uptake of the crop and improve yields. Implementation of nutrient management plans should protect the environment, maintain crop productivity and increase profitability
Nutrients:
Parts of a feed that an animal must have to stay healthy, grow, gain weight and reproduce. The nutrients that an animal must have in its diet are vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, protein and water
Nutritional Stress:
Stress on the organism because of deficiency and/or imbalance of one or more nutrients and/or calories, or caloric excess
NvCJD:
(see New Variant CJD)
Nystagmus:
A term describing involuntary eye movement. Nystagmus can be horizontal, vertical or rotary