R
Radiation:
Heat transfer to the body via direct sun and reflective surfaces
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID):
A method of identifying cattle by placing an electronic tag or button in their ear. The tags are read by a scanner attached to a hand-held or portable computer
Radiology:
A branch of veterinary science dealing with the medical use of X-rays to diagnose and treat disease
Radius:
(1) A long bone of the forelimb, extending between the humerus and the carpal bones, it is fused with the ulna;
(2) the distance from the centre of a circle to the periphery
Rail Grade:
The option is usually a private treaty sale. Cattle are slaughtered and the carcasses are graded for quality and prices according to the different grades. The producer sells directly to the packer and is paid according to the weight and grade of the carcass
Rail Out:
A carcass that has been placed on a special rail in the packing plant so that the USDA inspector can make a more detailed inspection of the carcass
Railer:
(see Realiser)
Ralgro:
Growth implant containing zeranol (a fermentation product exhibiting estrogenic activity)
Ranch Roping:
A low-stress, slow-speed, versatile, practical, ethical and humane style of roping. It is distinguished from rodeo-style team and calf roping, which are high-stress, high-speed sports
Ranch to Rail:
A branded name, “value added” program, created by the research done at Texas A&M University involving the vaccinations of calves pre-weaning and then again post-weaning against pathogens. Performance and carcass information is then recorded and the information is given back to the producer
Random:
Determined solely by chance
Random Mating:
A system of mating in which every female (cow and / or heifer have an equal or random chance of being assigned to any bull used for breeding in a particular breeding season. Random mating is required for accurate progeny tests
Range:
Land on which the natural and potential climax (most diverse and usually most desired) potential plant community is dominated by grasses, forbs and shrubs, and is managed in its natural condition. Range (or rangelands) is also usually characterised by seasonal precipitation patterns whereby most of the precipitation falls outside the growing season
Range cubes:
Large pellets or cubes designed to be fed on the ground
Rangeland:
Land on which the indigenous or native vegetation (climax or natural potential) is predominantly grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs and is managed as a natural ecosystem
Rangy:
Long in body
RAP:
Risk Analysis Program
RAPD’s:
Randomly Applied Polymorphic DNAs. Genetic markets that are randomly amplified using PCR with random primers to find polymorphic regions
Raphe:
Line, ridge or seam in a tissue or organ
Rapid Exit:
Panels or rails that rise to release all cows on one side of the milking parlour at once
Rat:
The digital flexor muscles in beef
Rataque:
Fence made by laying mesquite logs or sticks between posts
Rate of Gain:
The number of pounds (weight) an animal gains in a day or over the entire feeding period
Rate of Genetic Improvement:
The amount of improvement per unit of time (year). The rate of improvement is dependent on:
(1) heritability of traits considered,
(2) selection differentials,
(3) genetic correlations among traits considered,
(4) generation interval in the herd, and
(5) the number of traits for which selections are made
Rate of Passage:
The time taken by undigested residues from a given meal to reach the feces
Rating:
A letter rating is used to categorise cows in five production groups based on their current lactation. To determine the rating the 305-2X-ME records for all cows are adjusted to an energy corrected milk (ECM) basis. The ECM for each cow is divided by the ECM lactation average for the herd and the results are designated as follows:
A = Top Cow - more than 110% of herd average
B = Above Average - 100 to 110% of herd average
C = Below Average = 90 to 100% of herd average
D = Marginal Cows = 80 to 90% of herd average
E = Probable Cull Cows = < 80% of herd average
Breed adjustments are applied when calculating ratings for multi-breed herds. This adjustment standardises comparisons for the breed differences in average ECM
Ratio:
An expression of an animal’s performance for a particular trait relative to the herd or contemporary group average. It is calculated for most traits as Individual Record x 100
Ration:
The amount of feed fed to an animal in one day
Raw Milk:
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurised before consumption
rBGH:
(see rbST)
RBOC:
rinderpest bovine "O" Kabete
rbST:
bST (bovine somatotropin) is a protein hormone that occurs naturally in all dairy cows. Some farmers choose to supplement some of their cows with rbST, also known as bovine growth hormone (rBGH), to help increase milk production. The safety of milk from rbST - supplemented cows has been affirmed and reaffirmed since it was approved for use in the U.S. in the early 1990s
REA:
(see Rib Eye Area)
Reach:
(see Selection Differential)
Reactor:
Cattle that have tested positive for TB are known as reactors
Realised Heritability:
The portion obtained of what is reached for in selection
Realiser:
Cattle which fail to respond to treatment
Rearing:
The keeping of growing livestock
Receiving:
Getting new cattle into the feedlot
Recessive:
Recessive alleles are expressed only when homozygous. They must have been inherited from both parents before the phenotype with which they are associated can be expressed. At the locus affected the growth or absence of horns, for example, homozygous recessive pp individuals are horned whereas PP and Pp individuals are polled
Recessive Gene:
A gene that has its phenotypic expression masked by its dominant allele when the two genes are present together in an individual
Recipient:
Substitute mother cow implanted with embryo
Reciprocal Recurrent Selection:
The selection of breeding animals in two populations based on the performance of their offspring after animals from two populations are crossed
Recognised Dairy Laboratory:
A laboratory that is a recognised agency for testing of dairy material or product
Recognised Person:
In relation to any verification or other specialised function or activity, means a person recognised or accredited under section 103 of the Act to perform that function or activity
Recognised Risk Management Program Verifier:
A person currently recognised or accredited under section 103 of the Act as a risk management programme verifier
Recombination:
The formation of a new combination of alleles at linked loci as a result of crossing over
Recombination Loss:
A loss in epistatic effects as a result of breaking up of the linked loci in advanced generations in interbreeding hybrids
Recorded Trait:
Traits actually recorded on the animal
Recrudescence:
The recurrence of symptoms
Rectal Prolapse:
Protrusion of part of large intestine through the anus
Recticulum:
The second compartment of the stomach of ruminant mammals lined with a membrane having honeycombed ridges
Rectus Abdominis:
A muscle originating at the costal cartilage and sternum. It attaches to the prepubic tendon, which attaches to the hip
Rectus Femoris:
One of the quadriceps femoris muscles which extends the stifle. It originates from the ilium and extends to the patella
Recumbancy:
Lying down
Recurrent Selection:
Selection for general combining ability by selecting males that sire outstanding offspring when mated to females from varying genetic backgrounds
Red Meat:
Meat from cattle, sheep, swine, and goats, as contrasted to the white meat of poultry
Red Tag:
A tail tag on a cow at physical market (store or prime) that is in calf more than four months
Reduced Animal Model:
A genetic prediction procedure in which EPDs are computed directly for all parents in the population, while EPDs for non-parents and progeny are computed from the parent solutions. Predictions are equal and equivalent to those from the animal model
Redwater:
Deadly bacterial disease of cattle
Reference Sire:
A bull that has previously been progeny tested and subjected to national cattle evaluation that is used concurrently with a test sire or sires in a new progeny test program. Reference sires provide genetic linkages among herds and / or existing databases, allowing indirect comparison of the test sire with bulls evaluated at other places and times
Registered:
Recorded in the herdbook of a breed
Registered Animal:
An animal that is registered by one of the national breed registry organisations and has a registration certificate
Registration Certificate:
Proof that the parentage of an animal is known and is recorded in the Breed Registry Herdbook
Registration Number:
Unique number listed on a registered animal’s registration certificate
Regression:
A measure of the relationship between two variables expressing the expected change in one of them per unit change in the other. Using regressive methods, the value of one trait can be predicted by knowing the value of others. For example, easily obtained carcass traits (hot carcass weight, fat thickness, rib eye area, and percentage of internal fat) are used to predict percent cutability
Regurgitate:
To cast up digested food to the mouth as is done by ruminants
Rehydrate:
To replace body fluids lost through dehydration
Re-implanting:
Giving cattle their second implant. Usually done 70 to 120 days prior to slaughter
REL:
Reliability
Relationship Coefficient:
The probable proportion of one individual's genes that are identical by descent to genes of a second individual
Relationship Matrix:
A table that stores numerical values for the genetic relationships among all pairs of animals in a population. It is used in genetic prediction technology to properly predict the genetic merit of each animal from its own phenotypic merit and that of all of its relatives
Relative Economic Value:
The amount by which net income to the cattle enterprise will change, per unit change in genetic merit for a trait
Relative Feed Value:
Expression of a forage's expected intake by animals and its energy value; index ranking forages on ADF and NDF content; digestible dry matter times dry matter intake divided by 100; compared to full bloom alfalfa (RFV=100); forage quality generally increases as RFV increases
Relative Forage Quality:
Total digestible nutrients times dry matter intake divided by 100; similar to relative feed value but includes digestible fibre, making it more representative of animal performance; can be used with all forages except corn silage
Relative Intake:
An animal’s intake relative to its size
Relative Value Percentage:
A comparison of the cow’s dollar value and the herd’s ME dollar value. Formula is: 100 * Cow Dollar Value / Herd ME Dollar Value
Relaxin:
Hormone from the uterus which helps prepare the animal for parturition
Release Phase:
Phase of an adaptive cycle that radically and rapidly reduces the structural complexity of a system
Reliability:
Measure of amount of information in the evaluation; information from the animal, parents and progeny are considered
Remnants:
Cattle not gathered in the first roundup and remaining on the range. Riders go out, again and again, to find all the animals till the count is right
Renal:
Pertaining to the kidneys
Renal Insufficiency:
Also, called renal failure, is when the kidneys no longer function well enough to maintain a normal state of health
Rendering:
A process of converting animal carcasses into a stable product that can be used for other purposes. By-products of cattle rendering include tallow and meat and bone meal
Rennet:
An extract of the stomach of certain mammals containing rennin. It is used for the coagulation of milk proteins in the manufacture of most cheeses
Repeatability:
A measure of the consistency between records of an individual. The top producers one year will tend to be near the top the next year producers one year will tend to be near the top the next year
Repeated Trait:
A trait which can be expressed repeatedly by an animal throughout its life, e.g. milk production in a lactation expressed by dairy cattle
Replacement:
Heifers that are kept to freshen and replace older cows in the herd
Replacement Heifer:
Female dairy animals that are raised with the intent of eventually replacing the cows currently in the milking herd
Replacement Rate:
The rate at which newly selected individuals replace existing parents in a population. This can be between .1 and .2 for females in beef cattle herds
Replacements:
Cattle that are going into feedlots or breeding herds to replace those being sold or that have died. See also replacement heifers
Replicase:
Enzymes involved in the replication of genetic materials
Replication:
The act of multiplying exact copies. Bacteria, for example, replicate by dividing in half. They can do this every 30 minutes, which helps explain acute onset of BRD
Reproducing:
(see Service)
Reproduction:
The production of live, normal offspring
Reproduction Code:
Codes that indicate the reproductive status of an animal:
1 - 9 - Number of Breedings
N - Confirmed Open
C - Designated Reproductive Cull
H - In Heat
K - Checked OK to Breed
P - Diagnosed Pregnant
Reproductive Efficiency:
Evaluates the reproductive capabilities of the animal. The formula is: [12 + (No. of calvings X 12)] / Age at last calving in months. If the last calving is more than 365 days prior to last test date, age at last calving is calculated as current age minus 12 months
Reproductive Status:
Describes the standing of the animal in respect of its breeding cycle / status
Reproductive Tract (Female):
The reproductive tract of a cow is composed of the vulva, vestibule, vagina, cervix, uterus and ovaries
Reproductive Tract Score:
Numerical score based on palpation of the heifer's reproductive tract (1 = not cycling; 5 = heifer cycling)
Re-ride:
To ride again, such as to check a pasture or allotment for cattle not gathered the first time.
Also with reference to riding a bronc or bull in a rodeo, if the animal does not buck as should be expected, the rider is given a different horse or bull in the hopes they can score their best
Residual Feed Intake:
Difference between an animal's actual feed intake and their predicted feed intake, with the prediction being based on equations for maintenance and growth requirements; an animal with a negative RFI value is more efficient than average
Residual Herbage Mass:
The amount of herbage mass, expressed in kg or dry matter per hectare, remaining in a paddock after a graze event
Residues:
Remnants of the compounds in drugs and other substances found in fluid, tissues and feeds
Resource:
Input or factor used in production, such as cattle, labour, or land
Respiratory:
Pertaining to respiration, the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Respiratory Disease:
Respiratory diseases are common in cattle. A number of factors contribute to an outbreak inadequate nutrition, stress and viral or bacterial infection. Good management and vaccination of cows and calves is the best way to prevent outbreaks of respiratory disease. Your veterinarian can help you develop a program to reduce losses on your ranch and in a feedlot
Respy:
Short for respiratory case or pneumonia
Re-stocker:
A producer or agent who purchases cattle/sheep/lambs and returns them to the farm
Restricted Area Zone:
Area or physical location of livestock, or where they may be held, and where additional procedures to reduce disease transmission are applied, include further restrictions on the movements of people and equipment.
Comparable in context to the production area of a beef cattle operation, although access often cannot be controlled and location is often outside the home quarter and headquarters
Restrictive Enzyme (Endonuclease):
On of over 150 enzymes derived from bacteria that recognises specific DNA sequences and cuts the DNA at those sites. Restriction site – The specific recognition site in DNA at which a specific restriction enzyme cuts the DNA
Resuscitation:
Revival of consciousness, to start to breathe again
Retail Cuts:
Cuts of beef in sizes that are purchased by the consumer
Retained Heterosis:
Hybrid vigour remaining in later generations of hybrids (F2). Retained hybrid vigour is commonly expressed as a proportion of the F1 (maximum) hybrid vigour. This is important in the development of composite breeds
Retained Ownership:
Refers to cow‐calf producers maintaining ownership of their cattle beyond weaning for growing and/or finishing
Retained Placenta:
Placenta remains within the reproductive tract after parturition has occurred
Reticulum:
One of the stomach components of ruminant animals that is lined with small compartments, giving a honeycomb appearance
Retina:
The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. There is a small area, called the macula, in the retina that contains special light-sensitive cells. The macula allows us to see fine details clearly
Return on Total Assets:
Operating profit expressed as a percentage of the value of total farm assets
Returned Alley:
The alley through which cows must pass when moving from the milking parlour back to the cow housing area after milking
RFI:
(see Residual Feed Intake)
RFID:
(see Radio Frequency Identification)
RFQ:
(see Relative Forage Quality)
RFV:
(see Relative Feed Value)
RGS:
Reactor Grant Scheme
RH:
Relative Humidity
Rhinitis:
Inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nasal passages
Rhomboideus:
A muscle that extends the head. It originates near the skull and extends medially to the trapezius. The rhomboideus ends posterior to the scapula
Rib Bones:
Elongated bones that form the lateral walls of the thoracic (chest) cavity; they attach dorsally to the thoracic vertebrae and ventrally to the sternum
Rib Eye Area (REA):
Area in square inches of the longissimus muscle measured at the 12th rib interface on the beef forequarter
Rib Eye Area per Cwt Carcass Wt:
Rib-eye area divided by carcass weight
Rib Eye Cap:
(see spinalis dorsi)
Rib Fat Thickness:
The thickness of fat measured at a location on the live animal using ultrasound. A common site assessed in a number of countries is located 3/4 of the distance from the medial to the dorsal end of the longissimus dorsi at the lateral point between the 12th and 13th rib
Rib Fingers:
A common name for intercostal muscles or meat between the ribs
Ribbing, Rib Down:
A step in cutting beef side into quarters, making a knife cut between the 12th and 13th ribs, across the longissimus dorsi, and usually from the dorsal side to the ventral side. This procedure does not completely separate the forequarter from the hindquarter
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA):
A single – stranded molecule composed of ribonucleotides. RNA differs from DNA in that it contains the base uracil (U) instead of thymine (T). RNA is formed from DNA through transcription. It is involved in transferring and translating the genetic message from a gene into a protein product with a specific physiological function
Ribose:
The sugar present in nucleotides of RNA (the R of RNA)
Ride:
To be transported in a mounted position, as one cow mounted on another during estrus
Rider:
A person hired by a rancher or grazing association who is charged with moving cattle on the range according to a grazing plan and who takes daily care of the needs of the stock. Riders are usually seasonally hired hands or contracted labour and provide their own horses and the equipment needed to do the basic job
Ridge of Blade Bone:
The raised portion of the scapula
Rift Valley Fever:
Rift Valley Fever is an infectious zoonotic disease affecting sheep, goats, and cattle.
First discovered in Kenya in 1931, it is characterised by a short incubation period, fever, hepatitis, high morbidity in lambs less than one week of age, and high abortion rates. The disease is caused by the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) virus, a member of the genus Phlebovirus in the family Bunyaviridae and the disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. Limited to Africa in earlier years, it causes enormous waste of livestock, especially in wet conditions. In 2001 Rift Valley Fever also occurred in Saudi Arabia and the Yemen
Rig:
A male with an undescended testicle or a steer with one testicle still intact
Rigor:
A carcass that exhibits stiffness due to ionic locking of actin and myosin muscle filaments
Rigor Mortis:
(1) Rigor of muscle that occurs soon after death;
(2) stiffness or rigidity of a carcass resulting from the coagulation of cell protoplasm proteins. The condition remains until the muscle tissue begins to deteriorate
Rinderpest:
Cattle plague, also known as Rinderpest, is a contagious disease that principally affects cattle, but occasionally can also affect sheep, goats and camels, certain wild ruminants and pigs
Cattle plague was a major disease of livestock through most of the nineteenth century in Great Britain. It last occurred here in 1877 but it survives in other parts of the world
Ring Feeder:
A steel hoop with individual head gates that may be placed over a large round bale of hay when feeding it
Ring Test:
A test for brucellosis performed by mixing stained Brucella bacteria with raw milk. If antibody to Brucella is present, the stained cells agglutinate (clump) and rise to the surface with the cream to form a blue ring
Ringworm:
Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin. The name is a misnomer since the disease is not caused by a worm
Riparian area:
Land situated along the banks of a creek, river, or body of water. Riparian areas have become a high priority resource for protection and enhancement and are the focus of much time and effort by range managers in many parts of the West
Risk:
The possibility of suffering economic loss. Sources of risk include climate, disease, and changes in the marketplace
Risk Management:
Managing risks in ways that allow the desired outcome to be achieved
RNP:
Ribonucleoprotein. A combination of RNA and protein
Roan:
A close mixture of red and white colours such as is often found in Milking Shorthorn cattle
Robotic Milking:
(see Automatic Milking Installations)
Robotic Parlour:
A completely automated system for milking cows that requires limited human contact
Rodear:
To gather and work cattle out of a herd held by riders, such as in a fence corner where there is no corral
Rodeo:
Roundup, today a contested group of events and associated entertainment
Rolling Yearly Herd Average:
The average production or another variable for the last 365 days. To calculate RHA, total yearly production for the herd and total cow-days for the year are needed. These are accumulated by test intervals to obtain a production year of 365 days. When total yearly production and total cow-days for the year are obtained, total yearly production is divided by total yearly cow-days to yield the average daily production for all cows that were available during the past production year. This average daily production is multiplied by 365 to get the RHA
Room Temperature:
Room temperature, in laboratory reports, is taken to be roughly 21–23 degrees Celsius (70–73 degrees Fahrenheit), or 294–296 kelvins. The "standard" room temperature is 22 °C (72 °F or 295 K)
Rope Muscle:
A common name for the longus colli
Rostrum:
Anterior part of an organ
Rotary Parlour:
A raised, round rotating platform or carousel on which cows ride while being milked
Rotational Crossbreeding:
Systems of crossing two or more breeds where the crossbred females are bred to bulls of the breed contributing the lowest proportion of genes to those females. Rotational crossbreeding systems maintain relatively high levels of heterosis and allow for replacement heifers to be produced from within the system
Rotational Grazing:
The practice of rotating livestock through a series of paddocks
Rotavirus:
A group of viruses, which are a common cause of diarrhoea
Roughage:
A feed which is high in fibre and low in energy. Hay is a form of roughage
Round Dressed:
An unsplit carcass
Roundup:
Times when ranchers will gather cattle for vaccinations wean calves and prepare them to be sold
Roundworm:
A parasitic worm with an elongated round body
Route of Administration (ROA):
The method by which a drug or other substance is given to an animal (oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, topical, etc)
Routine Sampling and Testing:
The sampling and testing defined in the risk management programme that is undertaken by a manufacturer to verify that finished product is safe and truthfully labelled
RPV:
Rinderpest virus
Rugged:
Big and strong in appearance; usually heavy boned
Rule Out:
Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from consideration
Rumen:
Cows have one stomach that is divided into four compartments, the largest being the rumen. The rumen allows cows to regurgitate forage and re-chew their cud for further digestion
Rumen Degradable Protein (RDP):
Dietary protein that is degraded by microbial enzymes into non – protein nitrogen such as ammonia
Ruminant:
Any hooved animal, such as a dairy cow, that digests its food by first eating the raw material and then regurgitating a semi-digested form known as cud. These animals then eat their cud, a process called ruminating. Other ruminants include goats, sheep, camels, llamas, giraffes, bison, buffalo and deer
Ruminate:
To chew cud
Ruminating:
The process whereby ruminants regurgitate feed from the rumen back to the mouth to chew it a second time and mix it further with saliva
Rumination:
The regurgitation of undigested food and chewing it a second time, after which it is again swallowed
Ruminitis:
Inflammation of the ruminal epithelium
Rump Fat Thickness:
An indicator of fatness, it can be used to improve the overall accuracy of external fat measurements, measured using ultrasound
Run Bull:
Non-registered bull used to mate commercial cows
Running Iron:
Ring or flat iron used to draw a brand rather than stamp it on. In the old west, used by rustlers to quickly mark unbranded cattle. In some places it is still illegal to carry a running iron; however, in others, it is a common practice to apply a legal brand with one
Running with Bull (RWB):
Cows that are currently joined with a bull for mating
Runoff:
Water from rain, snowmelt or other sources that flow over the land surface and is a major component of the water cycle. Dairy farms take measures to control the amount of runoff from their farms through the use of drainage systems and retention ponds
Rx (Prescription Drugs):
Drugs that must be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian