GoatDairyLibrary.org          A database of materials for the commercial goat milk producer
Table of contents 

Bibliography

Building/Planning  A-L

Building/Planning M

Building/Planning N-Z

Conformation  

Conversions

Definitions

Diseases A-B

Diseases C-E

Diseases F-K

Diseases L-O

Diseases P-Q

Diseases R-Z

Diseases Misc.

Forms

Grazing

Medical A-D

Medical E-M

Medical N-R

Medical S-Z

Milk Production  

Nutrition Categories

Nutrition General

Nutrition Grouping

Nutrition Links

Nutrition Rations

Plans

Producers Tips  

Reference

Reproduction 

Seminar Notes

Settng Up

Value Added.

Definitions

Abortion The expulsion of the fetus prior to the end of pregnancy
Abortion storm An abortion rate in excess of 10%
Abscess A localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by disintegration of tissues
Acid A compound with a positive or negative charge, that breaks apart in water to form a hydrogen ion (H+).  0-6 on the pH scale. The more H+ the stronger the acid, so 1 is the weakest acid and 6 is the strongest acid.  A one number change means the solution is ten times weaker or stronger than the previous measure.  Solutions containing acids are called “acidic” solutions.  Acids are sour, react strongly with metals, are very dangerous and can burn your skin. Examples of acids: vinegar, citrus fruits and stomach acid.   
Abomasum 
(the "true" stomach)
The fourth stomach compartment of a ruminant.
Abortion Premature expulsion of the fetus
Acetonemia (ketosis) An abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the blood.
Acute  Short, severe course of a disease, having a rapid onset with pronounced symptoms
ADGA The American Dairy Goat Association.
Aerobic Growing best in the presence of free (available) oxygen
Afterbirth The placenta and other membranes connecting the fetus to the mother.  They are expelled after birthing.
Agalactia Absence of milk production
Alopecia Hair loss
American breed An American breed is the result of three successive generations of breeding to purebred bucks of one breed. ("grading up")
Anaphylactic shock A violent attack of allergic symptoms produced in an animal sensitive to a specific drug.
Anemia A condition in which the blood is deficient either in quantity or quality of red blood cells
Anaerobic  Any microorganism which can live without either air or free oxygen
Anthelmintics Drugs that kill parasites (intestinal worms)
Antibiotic A drug that kills bacteria.  Doesn't work against viruses. 
Antibody a substance produced in the body which reacts to antigens (any foreign protein from a bacteria) usually in order to protect the animal from a disease
Antidote A substance used to counteract the effects of a poison
Antigen A substance that has the power of inducing the formation of antibodies in an animal or organism under suitable conditions; used to enhance immunity
Antiseptic a substance that will inhibit the growth of microorganisms; the substance is usually applied to living tissue
Antiserum the serum obtained from an animal which has been immunized against a disease, therefore containing specific antibodies produced by the animal to combat a specific disease
Antitoxin  antiserum from an animal immunized against a toxin
Artificial insemination Placement of semen into the doe without normal sexual contact. 
Atrophy A wasting away of a cell, tissue, organ, or body part.  Example: The leg muscles atrophy (get smaller) after paralysis. of the leg.
Automatic take-off A mechanical device that senses that the goat is done milking.  It automatically shuts off the milking vacuum and takes the milking unit off the goat's udder.
Average daily gain (ADG) The average amount of weight an animal gains each day.  
Bacteriostatic A substance that retards or prevents the growth of bacteria, but does not kill them. 
Balanced ration The daily food allowance of an animal, formulated to provide exactly what the animal needs for health, growth, production, and well-being.
Baleage Hay that is cut, baled and wrapped, then allowed to ferment. 
Barren Not able to produce young
Base A compound with a positive or negative charge, that breaks apart in water to form hydroxide ions (OH-). 8-14 on the pH scale. The greater the concentration of OH- ions the stronger the base, so 8 is the weakest base and 14 is the strongest base. A one number change in pH means the solution is ten times weaker or stronger than the previous measure.  Solutions containing bases are called “alkaline” solutions.  Bases taste bitter, are slippery, are very dangerous and can burn your skin.  Examples of bases: lye and ammonia.
Biotype Classification of the goat as a meat or dairy animal
Bloat Excessive gas buildup in the rumen
Blood plasma The liquid part of blood, which carries the red blood cells. 
Body condition score A scoring system, which assigns a number to a certain levels of muscle and fat on the goat.  It indicates the general health status of the goat.
Bolus 2 meanings: 1) Regurgitated food that has been chewed and is ready to be swallowed. 2) a large pill or capsule. 
Bow-legged Knees bowed out
Bred Doe A doe that has been inseminated by the buck, or artificially inseminated.  A pregnant doe
Browse Leaves from woody plants. 
Buck A male goat
Buck Effect When the females that aren't in heat, are stimulated to go into heat (ovulate) by the sudden introduction of a male, or teaser buck.
Buck-Kneed Knees bent forward
Buckling A young buck kid
Cabrito A young goat.  Sometimes also used as a name for the meat of a young goat
Capillaries Tiny vessels connecting the smallest arteries to the smallest veins
Cardio- or cardiac Pertaining to the heart
Castrate To remove the testes of male goat, creating a whether.
Cellulytic bacteria Rumen bacteria that dissolve or digest plant cell wall material
CIP
(clean-in-place)
Equipment that is cleaned without moving it or taking it apart.
CP (crude protein) See crude protein and intake protein. 
California Mastitis Test (CMT) A mastitis-screening test.  Determines the somatic cell content in milk.
Capriculture The study of goat keeping. 
Caprine Bucket A bucket fitted with nipples, usually ten per bucket.  Milk is placed in the bucket, or in small jars in the bucket, and kids suck the milk through the nipples, attached to plastic tubes immersed in the milk.  
Carrier An animal or person in apparent good health who harbors a pathogenic microorganism
Carrying capacity The number of animals that a pasture can feed for a specific length of time. 
Casein The major protein in milk 
Caudal Toward the tail
Cellulose The principal carbohydrate part of plant cell membranes. which is dissolved by cellulytic bacteria in the rumen.
Chevon Goat meat.
Chronic Disease Disease which develops and progresses slowly (contrast to acute)
Coliform bacteria Bacteria from the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals. If you have coliform bacteria in a test result you can assume you have fecal contamination.
Colostrum The first milk produced by the doe after giving birth.  Loaded with antibodies.
Communicable Capable of being transmitted from one individual to another
Compaction Feed packed into the stomach and intestines, causing stomach upset and constipation.
Complete ration A blend of all feedstuffs (forages and grains) into one feed. Sometimes called total mixed ration or TMR.
Components  The nutritional solids in milk (fat, protein, lactose, and minerals).
Concentrate (also called "supplement".  Sometimes mistakenly called "ration") A feed high in total digestible nutrients (TDN) and low in crude fiber (CF) (less than 18 percent). (Examples: cereal grains, soybean oil meal, cottonseed meal and industrial by-products. Not necessarily high in protein.
Conception The time when the sperm cell penetrates the wall of the ovum. 
Conception rate Total number of conceptions, divided by the total number of buck services. 
Condition
(body condition)
The state of the animal's health as reflected in the amount of muscle and fat on the body, hair quality and quantity, and the general alertness and energy level of the animal.
Confinement Livestock kept in buildings all the time. 
Conformation The shape and design of the body
Conjunctiva  The tissue covering the front part of the eye.
Contagious the degree of power of a disease to spread from one individual to another
Conjunctivitis An inflammation of the eye.  Pink eye. 
Cotyledon One of the lobules which make up the uterine side of the placenta
Cow-hocked When the ankle joints (hocks) are angled in toward each other
Cranial Toward the head
Crimped feed Grains that are rolled with corrugated rollers to make them easier to digest.  Used in kid feed.
Crossbreed An animal produced by mating purebred goats of different breeds
Crude fiber (CF) The structural part of the plant: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.   Forages are high in crude fiber and grains are low. 
Crude protein (CP) This is the total amount of protein in a feed, expressed as a percentage,  6.25 times the nitrogen content of a forage and 5.7 times the nitrogen content of a grain.
Cud The regurgitated feed or "bolus" from the stomach
Cull To remove a goat from the herd
Curd The coagulated part of milk.
CWT see hundredweight
Cyanotic Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to lack of oxygen in the red blood cells
Degradable intake protein (DIP). The protein (nitrogen) degraded (digested) in the rumen by bacteria, also called "microbes."  It becomes microbial protein or is freed as ammonia.
Dairy character Feminine physical traits that suggest high milking ability. Important indications of this include an alert, feminine head; long thin neck; openness and sharpness throughout the body; prominent hips and pins; sharp withers; thin thighs; flat flinty bone; and thin, pliable skin with a soft silky hair coat.
Dairy goat Any goat which produces milk for human consumption, or who is kept for raising replacement dairy kids.
Dairy goat breed A group of dairy goats having a common origin and identifiable traits (frequently color). The major U.S. breeds are Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen and Toggenburg.
Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) An organization whose goal is to improve milk production, increase farm profitability and promote recordkeeping..
DATCP The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Dehorn Remove horns on an older animal
Dermatitis Inflammation of the skin
Diarrhea Watery feces resulting from gastro-intestinal (gi) disorders, often related to bacterial infections
Dilate To expand an opening.  (The cervix dilates to allow birthing)
Direct microscopic somatic cell count (DMSCC) (green stain) Microscopic count of the actual number of somatic cells in milk, through the use of microscope. . (This system is used to check and verify electronic cell count machines used in DHI laboratories.)
Disbud Remove hornbuds from a very young kid
Disinfectant Agent that kills microorganisms
Distal Away from the body (the hand is distal to the elbow.)
Diuresis Increased production and excretion of urine
DMSCC see Direct Microscopic Somatic Cell Count
Doe A female goat.
Doeling  A female goat kid
Dorsal In the back (he tail is dorsal to the body.)
Dressing weight Chilled carcass weight divided by live weight, expressed as a percentage. 
Dressing Weight  x 100= Dressing %
Live Weight
Dry Not milking
Dry goat An adult doe that is not milking
Dry matter (DM) The moisture-free content of feeds. 
Dry off To change a lactating animal to a nonlactating one, by milking her less and less frequently until she stops milking altogether. This is usually done 6 to 8 weeks prior to freshening so the mammary gland can heal and the goat can rest..
Dry period The time period when a goat is not milking, usually because it is in the 4thand 5th month of pregnancy.  The dry period allows the mammary glands to heal, and the mother to rest before she gives birth.   Nutritionally, it is a critical period, which determines the year's level of milk production and the health of the mother and offspring.
Dyspnea Difficulty breathing. 
Dystocia Abnormal labor and delivery.
Ear tag A tag that is attached to the ear of a dairy goat for identification purposes.. 
Edema Swelling due to the presence of a lot of fluid in the body tissues.
Emaciation A wasting away of the goat.  Loss of body weight and body condition, due to malnutrition or illness. 
Embryo recipient A goat that carries the embryo and delivers the offspring of another goat
Embryo transfer Technology whereby fertilized eggs (ova), are flushed from the donor's uterus, and are transferred to another animal, who serves as a surrogate mother, or are frozen for later use.
Endocrine Secreting internally
Ensilage (silage) Fresh forage, cut and then preserved by fermentation in a silo, pit, or stack.
Enteritis An irritation of the small intestine
Epidemic The rapid spreading of a disease so that many animals or people have it concurrently. See epizootic. 
Epizootic Designating a widely diffused disease of animals spreading rapidly and affecting many individuals of a kind concurrently in any region, thus corresponding to an epidemic in man.
Eructation  Burping
Escutcheon The part of a goat that extends upward just above and back of the udder where the hair turns upward in contrast to the normal downward direction of hair. Also called milk mirror.
Estrus (oestrus, estrous) The period when the goat is in heat, and is able to conceive
Exocrine Secreting to the outside
Extra label use drug An antibiotic or other chemical used on the advice of a veterinarian in a dosage, route of administration, for a disease, or in some other manner not included on the approved printed package label.
Extroversion The process of exposure of tissues inside the streak canal of goats' teats. It is usually caused by prolonged milking and excessive milking vacuum or inadequate pulsation.
False heat The display of estrus by a female animal when she is already pregnant. 
Fecal coliform bacteria See coliform bacteria. 
Feed efficiency (feed conversion) The units of feed consumed per unit of weight increase or per unit of production  of milk or meat
Fetus (or foetus) The unborn young of an animal
Fiber The cellulose part of roughages (forages) which is low in TDN. 
Fibrotic (fibrosis) Of a condition marked by the presence of interstitial fibrous tissue, especially in the mammary gland resulting from mastitis.
Flat barn milking area An area for milking cattle where the person milking cattle is on the same level or floor as the cattle. May be used with pipeline or bucket milking systems.
Fluid milk (market milk) Milk commonly marketed as fresh liquid milks and creams. It is the most perishable form of milk and commands the highest price per unit
Fomite Inanimate objects that carry agents from one animal to another.
Foot rot An inflammation occurring between the toes and in the hooves of sheep and cattle. It is caused by a combination of fungus and bacteria.
Forage Roughage of high feeding value. Grasses and legumes cut at the proper stage of maturity and stored to preserve quality are forage. A crop that is high in fiber and grown especially to feed ruminant animals.
Forbes Weeds and wildflowers
Fore stripping Expressing streams of milk from the teat prior to machine milking to determine visual quality and to stimulate "letdown."
Founder (laminitis) Inflammation of foot and lower leg of ruminant animals caused by overeating grain or green grass. 
Free-choice A feeding system that allows animals to eat at will. See self-feeder. 
Freemartin Female born twin to a bull calf (about 9 out of 10 of these will not conceive). A sterile heifer born twin with a bull.
Free stalls Resting cubicles or "beds" in which dairy animals are free to enter and leave, as opposed to being confined in stanchions.
Fresh A goat that has recently given birth to a calf. Also refers to dairy products having original qualities unimpaired and those recently produced or processed.
Freshen To start milking after giving birth.
First Freshener
(also called a "first time freshener")
A doe that had her first baby and has begun milking for the first time.
Gastroenteritis  Chemical, bacterial, or viral inflammation of the mucosa of the stomach and intestines.
Gender Sex: doe, buck or whether
Genotype Breed: Alpine, Toggenburg, LaMancha, Oberhasli, Saanen, Boer, Spanish, Kiko etc.
Gestation The period when the animal is pregnant
Giving milk Lactating, or the act of yielding milk by a mammal. 
Grade Goat A goat that shows a lot of breed characteristics, but has only one purebred parent.
Grade A milk Milk produced and processed under rigid sanitary regulations established by the federal and state governments.   Milking and processing facilities are licensed and inspected. Fluid milk has to be grade A milk.
Grading up The continued use of purebred bucks with grade does. 
Grass tetany A magnesium-deficiency disease of cattle characterized by hyperirritability, muscular spasms of legs, and convulsions.
Graze  To eat vegetation in fields and pastures.
Green chop
 
Fresh forage cut and chopped in the field and hauled to livestock to minimize the loss of moisture and nutrients due to storage.
Green stain See Direct Microscopic Somatic Cell Count. 
Haylage  (also called low moisture silage) Grass and legume crops are cut and dried in the field, until they reach a moisture level between 35 and 55 percent.  Then it is placed in a airtight storage system. 
Heart girth The circumference of the body, just behind the shoulders of an animal. Heart girth can be converted to body weight. 
Heat See estrus. 
Heat period That period of time when a female will accept a male for mating.
Hemorrhage The escape of blood
Herd A group of animals. 
Herd average  Average milk and component production per goat for all goats in the herd for 12 months.
Hermaphrodite see intersex
Herringbone milking parlor A milking parlor that has the headstall units on the milking stand arranged at an angle.  The goats can be milked either from behind or from the side.
High-moisture silage Silage that has 70 percent or more moisture. 
Hocks The ankle joints of a goat.
Holding area (holding pen) An area to keep goats as they wait to enter the milking parlor.
Homogenized milk Milk that has been treated to break up milk fat.
Host Any animal (or plant) harboring parasites that live at its expense
Hundredweight (cwt.) 100 lbs. of milk
Hydro- A prefix referring to a fluid such as water
Hydrometria An accumulation of thin mucous or other watery fluid in the uterus
Hypocalcemia See parturient paresis. 
Hypoglycemia Below normal blood sugar.  Low glucose level.
International Unit (IU)  or USP Unit A unit of measurement for vitamins, hormones, antibiotics or antitoxins, as defined by the International Conference for Unification of Formulae.
Immunity The power an animal has, to resist an infection to which most of its species is susceptible.
Incubation period The period of time between the time infection occurs and the time when symptoms first appear
Induced lactation Lactation that is artificially started by the use of hormones, instead of by birthing. 
Infection Invasion of pathogenic organisms into body tissue
Inflammation A local reaction of the body against an irritant; characterized by redness, swelling, pain and heat
Inflations see liners
"In milk"  Describes a doe that is lactating.
Intake protein (IP) Total protein or nitrogen consumed without regard to quality.   Simply what protein the goat takes in. 
Integumentary Of the covering layer of an animal; the skin
Intersex An animal or person having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs
Intradermal Between skin layers
Intramuscular In the muscle
Intraperitoneal Within the body cavity
Intravenous Within a vein
In Utero Within the uterus
In vitro Within an artificial environment, such as a test tube. 
In vivo Within a living body. 
Involution A decrease in the size of an organ.  Examples: decrease in size of the uterus after giving birth, or the decrease in size of mammary gland tissue when goat is drying off.
Ketonuria  The presence of ketone bodies in the urine.  Can be found by dipping diabetic ketone strips in urine.
Ketosis An abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the blood. 
Kid A young male or female goat up to one year old. 
Kidding Giving birth
Kid holding box A wooden box that holds kids still for disbudding, vaccinating, tattooing and treatments..
Knock-kneed Knees together, feet wide apart
Lachrymation Making tears.   
Lactate To produce milk. 
Lactating Producing milk
Lactation average Actual average milk and component production for all goats in the herd,  that was completed during a 12-month period. (Since dry days are not included, lactation averages usually are higher than rolling herd averages.)
Lactation period  The period of time in which the goat gives milk.
Lactation record The total milk and components produced by the goat, beginning on the day she kidded, and ending on the day she goes dry.
Lactation totals to date The production totals for milk and components through the current test date. 
Lactose A 12-carbon sugar which is unique to milk.  It is composed of glucose and galactose.
Lactose intolerance A condition in which someone cannot digest lactose due to a lack of lactase enzyme.
Lamb bucket Grey bucket with three pink rubber nipples on it.  Each nipple has a one-way valve that prevents milk from flowing back into, and contaminating, the milk in the bucket.
Lateral Away from the midline of the body
Legumes Alfalfas and clovers that can absorb nitrogen directly from the air due to small nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the roots.
Letdown The process where stimulating the udder causes a release of oxytocin, and the contraction of smooth muscles which surround milk alveoli.  This results in pressure in the udder that starts milk flow. This process takes less than a minute in a goat.
Lifetime production totals The production totals for milk and components since the first kidding (or first time on DHI test).
Lignin An indigestible compound in the cell walls of plants. 
Liner (inflation) A flexible "sleeve" inside the milking "teat cup" or "liner holder".  In response to vacuum pressure, the liner alternately squeezes and lets go of the udder.
Liner slip Slippage of the inflation and teat cup during milking. Makes a "slurping" sound. Slipping can cause fluctuations in vacuum pressure which affect milk output and may cause mastitis from the irritation.  Slippage is common where farmers use converted cow equipment to milk goats.  Vacuum pressure fluctuations can be decreased through the use of a pulsator board.
Loafing shed or area or pen A building or pen where goats can rest.  Provides shade and shelter from the weather.
Loose housing (free housing) Facilities which allow goats free access to a large, open bedded area.
Low-moisture silage See Haylage.
Manure The fecal and urinary excretions of livestock. 
Mastitis  An inflammation of the mammary glands (udder). 
Medical Toward the midline of the body
Metritis An inflammation of the uterus. 
Milk fat
(butterfat or fat)
Triglycerides found in milk.  Contain many fatty acids.
Milk fever Low calcium. See parturient paresis. 
Milk meter A device, which measures the amount of milk a goat  gives.  It is placed between the milking cluster and the milk line.
Milkstone A mineral residue, which deposits on milking equipment. Equipment should be rinsed with a warm, not hot, rinse before washing to avoid the formation of milkstone.  It is soluble in acid.
Morbidity rate of illness within a population (group) of animals
Mortality rate death rate within a population (group) of animals
Mount  When an animal climbs onto another animal when in heat.
Mummified fetus A dead fetus that has remained in the uterus. It becomes very dry, as the fluids in it's body are absorbed by the mother, shrivels and looks like a mummy.
National Research Council (NRC) A division of the National Academy of Sciences established in 1916 to promote the effective use of scientific and technical resources. This private, nonprofit organization of scientists publishes bulletins periodically giving nutrient requirements of domestic animals.
Natural service Natural mating.
Necrosis Death of a tissue
Neonatal Pertaining to the first four weeks after birth
Nitrogen balance This is the amount of nitrogen eaten, minus the nitrogen expelled in the feces and urine.  In other words, the nitrogen that is retained by the body.  
Nodule Small, solid, lump
Nursing Kids drinking from a doe's udder
Oestrus See estrus. 
"Off feed" Not eating 
Omasum The third part of the ruminant stomach. 
Open Not pregnant
OSSC Somatic cell count test done by the Foss-a-matic machine.  Not accurate for goats.  (See Seminar Notes: Haskell, Milk Quality)
Overconditioned A fat animal
Oxytocin A hormone that is important for milk letdown.  Also affects contraction of the uterus during birthing.
Papule a pimple, or circumscribed, sold mass, less than 1 cm in diameter, that is usually raised and red.  Papules with hair (follicular papules) suggest fungal, bacterial or parasitic infection.  Papules with hair (non0follicular papules) suggest allergy and ectoparasites.
Parasite animals that live in the body of another, usually larger animals (hosts), for the purpose of food, shelter, and reproduction.
Parallel milking parlor
(side-by-side)
A parlor where the headstalls on the milking stands are placed side-by-side, so that the goats are at a ninety degree angle to the farmer when he or she is milking.  The milking units are attached between the rear legs.
Parrot-mouthed The lower jaw is shorter than the upper jaw, making the upper dental pad extend over the teeth of the lower jaw
Parturient paresis A reduction in plasma calcium, which interferes with nerve transmission, causing partial or total paralysis.  Often occurs at or after birthing.
Parturition Birthing
Pasteurization The process of heating milk to kill pathogens.  5 methods:
1) heating milk to at least 145 degrees F. (62.8 degrees C) and holding it at there at least 30 minutes.
    (holding method)
2) Heating milk to at least 161 degrees F (71.7 degrees C) for 15 seconds (HTST)
3) Heating milk to at least 191 degrees F (88.3 degrees C) for 1 second
4) Heating milk to 203.9 degrees F (95.5 degrees C) for 0.05 of a second
5) Heating milk to 212 degrees F (100 degrees C) for 0.01 of a second (ultrapasteurization).
Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) (FDA) Food and Drug Agency regulations governing the design and maintenance of dairy farms and food processing plants, which attempt to make sanitation and milk quality regulations uniform nationwide.
Pathogen A microorganism such as a yeast, mold, virus or bacteria that creates disease. 
Pedigree A written statement giving the record of an animal's ancestry.
Peracute extremely fast progression of a disease; very sharp pain
Periparturient During pregnancy
pH The measure of acidity or alkalinity.  pH ranges from 0 to 14, with 0-6 being an acid, 7 neutral,  and 8-14 being a base.  1 is the strongest acid.  6 is the weakest acid.  14 is the strongest base. 8 is the weakest base. A one number change means the solution is ten times weaker or stronger than the previous measure.
Pigeon-toed The toes are pointed in
Pink eye See conjunctivitis
Pipeline A glass or stainless steel pipe that can be placed in one of three locations: high above (high line), just above (midline) or below (low line) the level of the milking units.  This pipe allows the milk to flow by gravity to a storage unit.
Placenta The tissue attaching the fetus to the mother.
Polled Goat A goat born without horns.
Post-legged Hind legs are too straight
Postpartum After birthing. 
Post mortem An autopsy.  Examination of the body after death to determine the cause of death.
Prepartum Before birthing 
Pritchard Nipple A nipple used for kids that have trouble sucking
Prolapse To fall or slip out of place
Proximal Directed toward the body (opposite of distal)
Pruritis Intense itching
Purebred An goat whose father and mother are registered with the registry association (ADGA)
Pustule A pus-filled pimple.
Pyometra An accumulation of pus in the uterus. 
Rate of passage The time it takes for food to pass through the digestive system and become feces.
Ration All of the feed (forages, supplements, minerals, vitamins and buffers) given to an animal during a 24 hour period. 
Raw milk Fresh milk as it comes from the goat naturally.
Recorded Grade Goats registered as "experimental." Doe kids which are the product of parents from two different registered breeds.
Registered An animal that is listed with the registry association (ADGA)
Regurgitate To push undigested food from the stomach, into the mouth. 
Rennet An extract containing rennin. It is used to coagulate milk protein to make cheese.
Repell To push away from you (as in "repelling the fetus" by pushing it away from you in the birth canal to gain room to rearrange it in order to ease birthing.)
Replacement An animal selected to be a future member of a milking herd.
Retained placenta A placenta that doesn't come out on it's own after birthing. 
Reticulum The second stomach compartment of a ruminant. Has a honeycomb appearance. 
Rolled feed Feed that has been put under heavy rollers, to break down the structure of the feed and make it easier to digest.
Rolling herd average (RHA) The average milk production per herd, per year, based on last 12 months
Rotary milking parlor A raised, rotating milking platform. 
Roughage Pasture, silage, hay.  Roughage is high in fiber and low in total digestible nutrients (TDN).
Rumen The first and largest stomach compartment of a ruminant
Ruminant Animals having a stomach with four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum.
Rumination The casting up or regurgitation of food (cud) to be chewed a second time.
Scours Diarrhea.  Loose, runny manure.
Scur horns (scurs) Thin, curling horn shells that grow when the disbudding iron is not left on long enough, or the entire horn bud is not burned.  Can be removed with a wire saw.
Serum That part of the blood that is clear (the red blood cells have been removed
)Sickle-hocked The angle of the back leg joint is too small, so the goat can't fully extend the leg
Somatic cell count A measurement of the number of somatic cells present in a sample of milk.
Somatic cells Leukocytes (white blood cells) from the blood, indicating an infection or injury.
Splay-footed The toes of both feet are pointed out to the side
Standing heat That point in a doe's heat cycle when she is stands still to be mated.  
Stomatitis Sores in the mouth
Subcutaneous Under the skin; a shot given between the skin and the muscle
Take-off See Automatic Take-off. 
Tattoo Applying ink to the surface of the goat's ear, or in the tail for LaMancha goats, to mark them so you can identify them.
TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients) A measure of digested energy.
1 lb. of digested carbohydrates = 1 lb. TDN = 2000 Calories (kilocalories)
Teaser Buck A sterile male that has been vasectomized or epididectomized, that is placed with the does two weeks prior to breeding, so that the does come into heat and are receptive when the bucks are put in with the does to breed.
Teat A "nipple" on the udder, through which milk flows. 
Teat meatus
(streak canal)
The small opening in the end of each teat.
Term The gestation (pregnancy) period.   When they "come to term" it means they should be ready
Test To evaluate the producing ability of a lactating animal; to determine the percentages of various components of milk, such as milk fat; to examine the blood of an animal for specific pathogens.
Tetany A condition in an animal in which there are localized, spasmodic muscular contractions. 
Tether To tie an animal with a rope or chain to allow grazing but prevent straying. 
Therieogenologist A veterinarian who specializes in reproduction
TMR (total mixed ration) Where the grains and forages are chopped or ground together and are fed to livestock.
Toe out To walk with the feet pointed outward. Also called splay-footed. 
Toxins The poisons produced by certain microorganisms. Symptoms of some bacterial diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, botulism, and staphylococcal food poisoning, are caused by toxins.
Toxoid A toxin that has been altered, but is still capable of causing the formation of antitodies in the animals to protect them from disease.
Type The physical conformation of an animal. 
Type classification A breed association program where a registered animal's conformation may be compared with the "ideal" or "true" type animal of that breed.
UIP (Undegraded intake protein) . The portion of protein escaping breakdown by rumen microorganisms.  Other names: (RUP) rumen undegraded protein,  (RBP) rumen bypass protein, (REP) rumen escape protein
Udder
(bag)
The mammary or milk producing glands of the doe, encased in a fleshy bag, divided in half, and with a teat on each half.  The udder should be full, free of lumps, with a tight attachment, two symmetrical halves, and the nipples arranged toward the outside of the doe.
Unthriftiness A term that describes an animal that is in poor health.  It lacks energy, may have stunted growth or slow development. Generally a goat that isn't doing well. 
Urea A compound (NH2CONH2) made by combining ammonia and carbon dioxide.
Vaccination The process of stimulating the immune response in an animal, by exposing it to altered biological material, thereby giving the animal resistance to an infectious disease.
Vaccine Any material, usually a preparation of microorganisms, for preventative inoculation to produce active immunity by the formation of antibodies
Vector an organism which transmits disease from one animal to another
Ventral in the front part (opposite of dorsal)
Vesicle a pimple-shaped elevation on the skin that contains serum
Virulence the capacity of a microorganism to produce the disease; strength of the disease
Weak pastern The lower part of the leg is bent in
Wean To take a kid off a milk diet
Weanling A kid that has just been weaned
Wether A castrated male goat.
WDGA Wisconsin Dairy Goat Association
Wing shoulder The shoulder joint sticks out from the rib structure.
Wry tail The tail head is either to the right or left of center.
Yearling A goat from one to two years old, or from one year old until it's first birthing
Zero Grazing Where the freshly cut forage is brought to confined animals instead of having them go out and graze.