How's your farm animal knowledge?
Know the difference between gelding, filly? How about barrow, boar?

By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | East Texas Edition

July 28, 2005 - Anyone watching a popular TV quiz show, such as "Jeopardy" or "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" will agree that getting the right answer may not depend on intelligence, but rather what all you've been exposed to.

For example, many Country World readers know a variety of things about cattle, sheep, goats, or just about any farm animal.

But what if the $32,000-question on "Millionaire" is "What is the correct name for a castrated bovine?"

A. Bull

B. Pony

C. Steer

D. Sweet Pete

If you answered, "C," then you've probably been around cattle, or you have some education on the subject.

So, ever wonder about the correct identifying names within a species? For example, we all know what a horse is. But what's the difference between a gelding, filly, colt, foal, etc.?

After researching the subject, here's what we found:

HORSES (equine)

Gelding - male horse without testicles (castrated)

Stallion/stud - adult male horse with testicles

Mare - adult female horse that has had an offspring

Colt - a young male horse

Filly - a young female horse

Foal - used to identify newborn horse, male or female

Pony - commonly used to identify any small horse

CATTLE (bovine)

Cow - adult female that has had an offspring

Bull - male with testicles

Calf - commonly used to identify any young bovine; young male often called bull calf, and young female often called heifer calf

Heifer - any female bovine, usually young, that has not produced an offspring

Steer - male without testicles (castrated)

Stocker - commonly used to identify an older calf being grown out for slaughter, or a cow that is used to "re-stock" the herd

Other key points - Most cattle are born with the capability of growing horns, with the exception of "polled" cattle who are genetically born without horns. Cattle are raised primarily for either beef or milk. All cows go through a "dry" period, which is the time between producing milk for a calf and the birth of its next calf.

SWINE (porcine)

Swine - commonly used to identify any member of the porcine family

Pig - most often used in reference to young animals

Hog - nearing market weight or finished for market, male or female

Barrow - castrated male

Gilt - young female that has never produced offspring

Boar - grown male with testicles

Sow - grown female that has produced offspring

Piglet - baby pig

"Shoat" - commonly used to identify pigs between 50 and 100 pounds

GOATS (caprine)

Doe - female goat

Buck - male goat

Wether - male goat without testicles (castrated)

Kid - young goat, male or female

Other key point - There are several breeds of both dairy and meat goats

SHEEP (ovine)

Lamb - baby sheep, less than 12 months

Ram - adult male with testicles

Ewe - adult female sheep that has produced offspring

Mutton - castrated male

Other key points - Breeds are categorized based on their wool or meat production.

RABBITS (lagomorphs)

Buck - male with testicles

Fryer - describes meat-type rabbit, usually around 4 to 6 pounds

Doe - female that has produced offspring

Virgin - may be used to describe a female rabbit that has yet to bear offspring

Kit/kitten - young rabbit (and some folks call them pups)

Bunny - general term to describe rabbits of all ages