Average daily gain (ADG)
The average weight gained by an animal per day over a defined period, used to measure growth performance. Calculated by dividing total weight gain by the number of days in the feeding or grazing period.
Abattoir
A licensed slaughter facility where cattle are processed for beef production. Also referred to as a meatworks or processing plant.
Ad libitum (ad lib)
Feed or water offered in amounts that allow animals to eat or drink as much as they desire without restriction.
Artificial insemination (AI)
The placement of semen into the reproductive tract of a cow by human intervention rather than natural mating, widely used to distribute high-value genetics in beef herds.
Anoestrus
A condition in which a cow is not cycling and does not show normal signs of oestrus, which can delay pregnancy and extend calving intervals.
Background feeding
A nutritional phase where weaned calves or young cattle are grown at moderate rates before entering a feedlot or finishing programme.
Birth weight
The weight of a calf recorded within 24 hours of birth. An important trait influencing calving ease and subsequent growth performance.
Body condition score (BCS)
A standardised numerical assessment of an animal’s body fat reserves used to guide nutrition and reproductive management. In New Zealand beef systems, BCS is typically scored on a 1 to 8 scale.
Brahman cross
Crossbred cattle carrying Brahman genetics, valued for heat tolerance, tick resistance, and hybrid vigour in subtropical or tropical environments.
Breed type
The breed or combination of breeds that characterises a herd, influencing traits such as growth rate, mature size, temperament, and adaptation to local conditions.
Bull battery
The group of bulls used in a herd’s mating programme. Bull-to-cow ratios typically range from 1:25 to 1:40 depending on terrain and mating system.
Bull soundness evaluation (BSE)
A standardised pre-mating assessment including physical examination, semen quality testing, and serving ability, used to confirm a bull’s reproductive fitness.
Calving ease
The degree of difficulty experienced during parturition, scored on a numerical scale. Calving ease is influenced by calf birth weight, cow pelvic dimensions, breed, and body condition.
Calving interval
The number of days between successive calvings for an individual cow. Target: 365 days or less for optimal reproductive efficiency.
Calving pattern
The cumulative distribution of calvings over successive weeks from the planned start of calving, used to assess how compact the calving season is.
Carcase weight
The weight of a beef animal’s dressed carcase after slaughter, hide removal, and evisceration. Used as the primary basis for pricing in beef processing.
Castration
The surgical or non-surgical removal or destruction of the testes in male cattle, producing steers. Castration improves temperament, reduces fighting, and may improve beef quality.
Clean-up bulls
Bulls used for natural mating after the artificial insemination period to impregnate cows that did not conceive to AI.
Creep feeding
Supplementary feeding of young calves through a creep feeder, a structure that allows calves access to feed while excluding adult cattle.
Crossbreeding
The intentional mating of animals from two or more distinct breeds to produce offspring with hybrid vigour (heterosis), improved growth, fertility, and adaptability.
Culling
The planned removal of animals from the herd due to poor reproductive performance, low growth rates, structural unsoundness, age, disease, or welfare concerns.
Drenching
The oral administration of anthelmintic (drench) products to control internal parasites (worms) in cattle.
Dry matter (DM)
The weight of feed excluding water content, used to standardise feed quality and intake measurements across different feed types.
Dystocia
Difficult or prolonged parturition requiring assistance. Dystocia is a significant cause of calf and cow mortality and is monitored as a key calving performance indicator.
Early weaning
The removal of calves from their dams before the typical weaning age, used during drought or nutritional stress to improve cow body condition and subsequent fertility.
Estimated breeding value (EBV)
A statistical estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for a specific trait relative to a breed base population, expressed in the units of that trait.
Eye muscle area (EMA)
The cross-sectional area of the longissimus dorsi (striploin) muscle measured by ultrasound or at slaughter, used as an indicator of carcase muscularity and yield.
Fat score
An assessment of subcutaneous fat cover over specific body sites (P8 rump, 12th rib), used to evaluate finishing level and estimate carcase fat in live animals.
Feedlot
A confined facility where cattle are fed a high-energy total mixed ration to achieve rapid weight gain and reach target carcase specifications for the premium beef market.
Finishing
The final phase of beef production where cattle are fed or grazed to reach target liveweight, fat score, and carcase specifications prior to slaughter.
Frame score
A numerical score derived from hip height measurements that estimates the skeletal size and mature weight potential of an animal.
Gestation length
The period from conception to calving, averaging approximately 283 days in beef cattle, with variation between breeds and individuals.
Grid pricing
A beef pricing system in which payment is based on carcase weight, fat depth, and eye muscle area relative to target specification ranges, with premiums and discounts applied accordingly.
Heifer
A female bovine that has not yet calved, or in some definitions, one that has calved for the first time.
Heterosis (hybrid vigour)
The improved performance of crossbred offspring relative to the average of their purebred parents, most evident in traits with low heritability such as fertility and survival.
Hip height
The height measured at the hook bones (hooks) of the pelvis, used to calculate frame score and assess skeletal development.
In-calf rate
The percentage of cows and heifers that become pregnant during the mating period. A key reproductive KPI for beef herds. Target: >95% for spring-mated herds on an 84-day joining.
Inter-calving interval
See Calving interval.
Joining
The mating period during which bulls are joined with cows or heifers, or artificial insemination is performed. Typical joining periods in New Zealand range from 63 to 84 days.
Liveweight (LW)
The total body weight of a live animal measured on a scale, including gut fill. Liveweight is used to monitor growth, guide management decisions, and calculate selling weights.
Liveweight gain (LWG)
The increase in liveweight over a defined period. A primary measure of production efficiency in beef cattle.
Marbling
Intramuscular fat dispersed within the muscle tissue of beef, associated with eating quality attributes such as flavour, juiciness, and tenderness. Assessed by visual score or grading at slaughter.
Mob
A defined group of cattle managed together as a unit for grazing, feeding, movement, or husbandry.
Mob stocking
A grazing system in which a large group of animals graze a paddock intensively for a short period before being moved to the next paddock, allowing extended pasture recovery.
Navel ill (omphalophlebitis)
An infection of the navel cord stump in newborn calves, which can lead to systemic infection (joint ill) if untreated. Prevented by prompt navel dipping with iodine at birth.
Not in-calf rate
The percentage of eligible cows that fail to become pregnant over the entire mating period.
Targets depend on mating length:
Oestrus
The period of sexual receptivity in a cow or heifer (commonly called heat), during which she will stand to be mounted. Oestrus recurs approximately every 21 days if the animal does not conceive.
Pelvic area
The internal dimensions of the pelvic canal measured in heifers before mating, used to predict calving ease and identify animals at high risk of dystocia.
Planned start of mating (PSM)
The date on which a herd’s mating period is scheduled to begin, chosen to align calving with optimal seasonal feed supply.
Polled
An animal that is naturally without horns.
Pregnancy testing (PREG testing)
The rectal palpation or ultrasonographic examination of cows to confirm pregnancy and estimate stage of gestation, carried out 6–8 weeks after the end of mating.
Residual feed intake (RFI)
A measure of feed efficiency defined as the difference between an animal’s actual feed intake and its expected intake based on body weight and growth rate. Animals with lower (more negative) RFI are more feed efficient.
Retained placenta
Failure of the placenta (afterbirth) to be expelled within 12 hours of calving. Associated with difficult calvings, twin births, and nutritional deficiencies.
R1 cattle
Rising one-year-old cattle, typically aged 3 to 12 months.
R2 cattle
Rising two-year-old cattle, typically aged 12 to 24 months.
Scours (neonatal diarrhoea)
A common condition in young calves characterised by profuse diarrhoea, dehydration, and weakness. Caused by infectious agents (E. coli, rotavirus, Cryptosporidium) or nutritional factors.
Scurs
Horn-like growths formed from skin tissue rather than bone, sometimes present in polled or dehorned cattle. Unlike true horns, scurs are not firmly attached to the skull.
Steer
A castrated male bovine. Steers are commonly used in finishing programmes for beef production due to their improved temperament and feed efficiency.
Supplementary feed
Additional feed provided to cattle beyond what is available from pasture, including hay, silage, grain, and by-products, used during feed deficits or to meet increased nutritional demands.
Tagging
The application of an ear tag for individual animal identification. NAIT-compliant visual and RFID tags are compulsory in New Zealand beef operations.
Tick fever
A group of haemoparasitic diseases (babesiosis and anaplasmosis) transmitted by cattle ticks, causing fever, anaemia, and significant production losses.
Ute
A utility vehicle commonly used in New Zealand farming, similar to a small pick-up truck and typically fitted with an open rear tray.
Ultrasound scanning
Real-time ultrasound imaging used to measure subcutaneous fat, eye muscle area, and intramuscular fat (marbling) in live cattle, and to detect pregnancy.
Weaning
The separation of calves from their dams, typically carried out at 5–8 months of age in New Zealand beef systems. Weaning weight is a key production benchmark.
Weaning weight
The liveweight of a calf recorded at weaning, adjusted to a standard age (typically 200 days) for comparisons within and between herds.
Withholding period
The minimum time that must pass after an animal is treated with a veterinary product before its meat can be supplied for human consumption.
Works (meatworks)
A colloquial New Zealand term for an abattoir or slaughterhouse where cattle are processed for beef.
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