Maharashtra HSC Animal Science & Technology flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Rumen

The largest compartment of the ruminant stomach, where microbes ferment fibrous feed to volatile fatty acids and microbial protein; pH is normally 6.0-7.0 on forage diets.

Roughage

Feed high in crude fibre and low in energy, such as green fodder, hay, straw, and silage. It maintains rumen function and is the basal diet of ruminants.

Concentrate

Feed low in fibre and high in digestible energy or protein, such as cereal grains, oil cakes, and bran. It supplements roughage for high-producing animals.

Heterosis

The superior performance of crossbred offspring over the average of their parents, called hybrid vigour. It is greatest for lowly heritable traits such as fertility and viability.

Heritability

The proportion of total phenotypic variation in a trait that is due to genetic differences. It guides selection: high heritability traits respond quickly to mass selection.

Artificial insemination

Deposition of collected, diluted, and preserved semen into the female reproductive tract without natural mating. It controls disease spread and enables wide use of superior sires.

Dry period

The non-lactating interval of about 60 days before calving, during which the udder regresses and regenerates. It is essential for high yield in the next lactation.

Colostrum

The first milk secreted after calving, rich in immunoglobulins, fat, and vitamins. Calves must receive about 10% of body weight within the first two hours of life.

Mastitis

Inflammation of the mammary gland, usually caused by bacterial infection. Subclinical cases raise somatic cell count and reduce milk yield without visible signs.

California Mastitis Test

A rapid cow-side test that mixes milk with a detergent reagent. Gel formation indicates increased somatic cells and probable subclinical mastitis in that quarter.

Feed conversion ratio

The ratio of feed consumed to product output, such as milk, meat, or eggs. A lower value indicates better biological and economic efficiency.

Total digestible nutrients

A measure of feed energy calculated from digestible protein, fibre, nitrogen-free extract, and fat multiplied by 2.25. It is expressed as a percentage of dry matter.

Silage

Fermented high-moisture forage preserved under anaerobic conditions. Lactic acid lowers pH to about 4, preventing spoilage and retaining feed value.

Non-protein nitrogen

Nitrogen compounds such as urea that rumen microbes convert into microbial protein. Urea is limited to about 1% of concentrate and never given in water.

Progeny testing

Evaluation of a sire by the performance of his daughters or sons. It is the most reliable method for selecting sires for lowly heritable traits such as milk yield.

Gestation period

The duration of pregnancy from conception to birth. It is about 280 days in cattle, 310 in buffalo, 150 in sheep and goats, and 114 in pigs.

Estrous cycle

The recurring reproductive cycle in non-pregnant females, about 21 days in cattle and buffalo, 17 in sheep, and 21 in pigs, ending in estrus and ovulation.

Foot and mouth disease

A highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals causing vesicles on the mouth and feet, lameness, and milk drop. It is controlled by vaccination and movement restriction.

Ranikhet disease

Newcastle disease of poultry, caused by a paramyxovirus. It causes respiratory and nervous signs and high mortality; vaccination at day 7 and 28 is standard.

Haugh unit

A measure of egg albumen quality based on albumen height and egg weight. Higher values indicate fresher eggs, and values above 70 are considered good.

Incubation

The artificial or natural process of hatching eggs under controlled temperature and humidity. Chicken eggs hatch in 21 days at about 37.5 C and 55-60% humidity.

Brooding

The management of young chicks with supplementary heat during their first weeks. Starting temperature is about 32-35 C, reduced by about 3 C weekly.

Deep litter system

A poultry housing method where birds are kept on a thick absorbent litter of husk or sawdust. Litter is turned regularly to keep it dry and prevent coccidiosis.

Dressing percentage

Carcass weight divided by live weight, multiplied by 100. Typical values are 50-55% in cattle, 45-50% in buffalo, and 65-75% in pigs.

Pasteurization

Heat treatment of milk to kill pathogens while retaining quality. Methods are LTLT at 63 C for 30 minutes and HTST at 72 C for 15 seconds.

Gerber method

A rapid test for milk fat using sulphuric acid and amyl alcohol in a butyrometer. The separated fat column is read directly as a percentage.

Wool micron

The fibre diameter of wool measured in micrometres. Finer wool below about 25 microns is softer and more valuable, while medullated kemp fibre lowers quality.

PPR

Peste des petits ruminants, a viral disease of sheep and goats causing fever, diarrhoea, and pneumonia. It is controlled by vaccination and is a notifiable disease.

Gross margin

Gross income minus variable costs for an enterprise. It measures the contribution of an enterprise to fixed costs and profit, excluding fixed costs.

Benefit-cost ratio

Total discounted benefits divided by total discounted costs of a project. A ratio above 1 means the project is financially viable.

Biosecurity

Measures that prevent the introduction and spread of disease on a farm, including footbaths, quarantine of new animals, and control of visitors, rodents, and birds.

Quarantine

Isolation of newly purchased or sick animals, typically for 30 days, before mixing them with the herd. It prevents introduction of infectious disease.

Somatic cell count

The number of white blood cells and epithelial cells per millilitre of milk. It rises with mastitis and is a key indicator of udder health and milk quality.