Animal Science Lesson Plan

Colorado Agriscience Curriculum

Section

Animal Science

Unit

Unit 1: Introduction to Animal Science

Lesson Title

Lesson 5: Livestock Breed Classification and Terminology

Science Standards
Standard SCI3.1: Students know and understand the characteristics of living things, the
diversity of life, and how living things interact with each other and within the environment
Student Learning Objectives
As a result of this lesson, the student will:
1. Know and understand terms used to describe mature and immature males and females,
and the effect giving birth and castration have on what we call cattle, sheep, swine,
poultry and horses.
2. Briefly review major breeds in cattle, sheep and swine.
Time: Instruction time for this lesson: 50 minutes.
Resources
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/classes/ASC106/INDEX.asp
Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert E. Taylor, 4th edition
Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
PowerPoint Presentations on terms and breeds
Livestock Terms papers (cut up)
Worksheets

Interest Approach
This activity is modified from the Go Get It e-moment. Before class begins, print off the
page of terms at the end of the lesson and cut them apart. Tape one on the bottom of each
chair, scatter them around the room, or if time is short, just hand them out. Also, draw a
large version of the empty terminology chart on the board.
Welcome, under your seat, youll find a piece of paper containing a term. Get that piece
of paper now and get ready with a pen or pencil and your terminology worksheet.
Here in a minute, we will need to see how much you know about livestock terminology.
Unit 1, Lesson 5: Livestock Breed Classification & Terminology
1

Animal Science Lesson Plan

Many of you may find this to be review or common sense and thats great! You will serve
as our experts today. For a minute, ignore the term you found under your seat and focus
on your worksheet. You have one minute to fill in as much of the table as you can. Dont
worry if you have to guess. Well check the answers. Go.
After one minute, ask students to put their pencils down and to raise their hands if they
believe they have 100% correct; decrease the amount think they are correct in increments
of 10% until all students have raised their hands. Explain that no matter where they
raised their hand, today is about giving them all 100%.

Summary of Content and Teaching Strategies

Objective 1

Know and understand terms used to describe mature and immature males
and females, and the effect giving birth and castration have on what we call
cattle, sheep, swine, poultry and horses.

Each of you has one term that belongs on the chart I have put on the board. So we are
going to go through them, one species at a time, and make sure we all know the correct
terms to use as we study animal science. Lets start with cattle. If you have a term that
applies to cattle, bring it up and tape it in the correct spot. (After they are put on board,
check with master copy to see that they are correct. Continue this process until the chart
is complete. Remind students to fill in their own charts or correct them as they go.)

TERM
S

Giving
Birth

Newborn

Young
Male

Young Mature Mature Castrated

Female Male Female
Male

Cattle

Calving

Calf

Bull

Heifer

Bull

Cow

Steer

Sheep

Lambing

Lamb

Ram

Ewe

Ram

Ewe

Wether

Swine

Farrowing Piglet

Boar

Gilt

Boar

Sow

Barrow

Horses

Foaling

Foal

Colt

Filly

Stallion Mare

Gelding

Chickens

Laying

Chicks

Cockerel Pullet

Rooster Hen

Capon

Cattle

Young Male: bull

Giving Birth: calving
Young Female: heifer
Newly Born: calf
Mature Male: bull
Unit 1, Lesson 5: Livestock Breed Classification & Terminology

Animal Science Lesson Plan

Castrated Male: barrow

Mature Female: cow

Castrated Male: steer
Horses
Sheep
Giving Birth: lambing
Newly Born: lamb
Young Male: ram
Young Female: ewe
Mature Male: ram
Mature Female: ewe
Castrated Male: wether
Swine
Giving Birth: farrowing
Newly Born: piglet
Young Male: boar
Young Female: gilt
Swine Continued
Mature Male: boar
Mature Female: sow

Giving Birth: foaling

Newly Born: foal
Young Male: colt
Young Female: filly
Mature Male: mare
Mature Female: stallion
Castrated Male: gelding
Chickens
Giving Birth: laying
Newly Born: chick
Young Male: cockerel
Young Female: pullet
Mature Male: rooster
Mature Female: hen
Castrated Male: capon

Source: http://ffa.cccs.edu/colorado-plant-and-animal-science-curriculum/#08500d578d841e42d
Unit 1: Intro to Animal Science
Lesson 5: Livestock Breed Classification and Terminology

Unit 1, Lesson 5: Livestock Breed Classification & Terminology