Fawn
Fawn: A young deer. Understanding the needs and behavior of fawns helps farmers manage wildlife and livestock interactions.
Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
parasiticide: A substance that kills parasites. Using parasiticides helps maintain the health and productivity of crops and livestock.
guaranteed prices: Guaranteed prices are a feature of national agricultural policy where producers are guaranteed a minimum price for their produce. Understanding guaranteed prices helps farmers plan production and ensure economic stability.
Coppice: Coppice /k?pis/ noun an area of trees which have been cut down to near the ground to allow shoots to grow which are then harvested. The shoots may be used as fuel or for making products such as baskets or fencing. verb to cut trees down to near the ground to produce strong straight shoots Coppiced wood can be dried for use in wood-burning stoves. Compare pollard COMMENT: The best trees for coppicing are those which naturally send up several tall straight stems from a bole, such as hazel and sweet chestnut. In coppice management, the normal cycle is about five to ten years of growth, after which the stems are cut back. Thick stems are dried and used as fuel, or for making charcoal. Thin stems are used for fencing. Cash aid under the set-aside scheme could be used for short-rotation energy coppicing. Implementing coppicing practices provides sustainable wood production and enhances forest management.
Contamination: Contamination /k?ntmin ei?(?)n/ noun 1. the action of making something impure the contamination of the water supply by runoff from the fields 2. The state of something such as water or food which has been contaminated and so is harmful to living organisms The level of contamination is dropping. Preventing contamination ensures product safety and protects consumer health.
The methods and technologies used to store grain, including silos, bins, and warehouses, to prevent spoilage and maintain quality. For example, adopting grain storage techniques to protect harvested grain and ensure food security.
killing out percentage: Killing out percentage – the deadweight of an animal expressed as a percentage of its live weight. Helps farmers assess meat yield from livestock.
mammalian meat and bone meal: same as meat and bone meal. Understanding the nutritional value and uses of mammalian meat and bone meal can help farmers provide balanced diets for their livestock, leading to better growth and productivity.
disclimax: The most stable community of plants and animals that an area can support, occurring as a result of disturbance. Understanding disclimax is important for managing ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity. Farmers should implement sustainable land management practices to support stable and resilient plant and animal communities. Understanding the factors contributing to disclimax will aid in developing effective conservation and management strategies.
Land Manager: A land manager is someone responsible for the condition of land, e.g., a farmer or landowner. Land managers play a crucial role in maintaining farm productivity and environmental health.
sweeper bull: a bull used to serve cows that have not been artificially inseminated. Properly managing sweeper bulls ensures efficient breeding programs and livestock productivity, supporting farm profitability.
Invertebrate animals, such as insects and spiders, that live in the soil and contribute to soil health. Soil arthropods play a role in decomposing organic matter, cycling nutrients, and improving soil structure. For example, promoting the presence of soil arthropods to enhance soil biodiversity and support sustainable farming practices.
mecoprop: a commonly used herbicide, mostly used to control weeds in cereal and grass crops, that is found as a contaminant of water. Abbr MCPP, CMPP. Understanding the application and effects of mecoprop can help farmers manage weed infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.
Advisory Committee on Pesticides: A statutory body set up under the UK Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to advise on all matters relating to the control of pesticides. Abbr ACP. Farmers benefit from ACP advice on safe and effective pesticide use.
The parathyroid gland of cattle, often used for medicinal purposes. For example, producing beef parathyroid for pharmaceutical and health applications.
viviparous: Referring to an animal such as a mammal or some fish that give birth to live young. Understanding viviparous reproduction can improve livestock breeding and productivity.
studded roller feed drill: a type of external force feed seed drill in which fluted rollers are replaced by rolls with studs or pegs. It is suitable for drilling most types of seed. Using studded roller feed drills ensures accurate seed placement and optimal crop establishment, supporting productive agriculture.
bedded set: A young hop plant rooted from a cutting. Using bedded sets ensures a healthy start for hop cultivation.
Coniferous: Coniferous /k? nif(?)r?s/ adjective referring to conifers. Managing coniferous forests involves sustainable forestry practices and timber production.
sward height record pad: a notebook in which the height of a sward is recorded. Properly managing sward height records ensures efficient pasture management and livestock productivity.
metabolism: the chemical processes of breaking down or building up organic compounds in organisms. Metabolism covers all changes which take place in the body: the building of tissue (anabolism), the breaking down of tissue (catabolism), the conversion of nutrients into tissue, the elimination of waste matter and the action of hormones. Understanding metabolism can help farmers manage livestock nutrition and health more effectively, ensuring better growth and productivity.
breeding stock: Animals selected for breeding purposes. Using high-quality breeding stock improves herd genetics and overall farm productivity.
porcine spongiform encephalopathy: A brain disease which has been induced in pigs experimentally. Abbr PSE. Helpful content: Understanding and preventing PSE is important for maintaining pig health and ensuring food safety. Research and biosecurity measures can help mitigate the risk of this disease in pig populations.
Controlled Dumping: Controlled dumping noun the disposal of waste on special sites. Implementing controlled dumping practices ensures safe waste disposal and environmental protection.
oestrous cycle: The pattern of reproductive activity shown by most female animals, except most primates. Understanding the oestrous cycle is crucial for effective livestock breeding. Farmers can benefit from monitoring and managing the oestrous cycle to improve reproductive success and increase herd productivity.
guard cell: A guard cell is either of a pair of cells that border a leaf pore and control its size. Understanding guard cells helps farmers manage plant water use and optimize irrigation practices.
outfall: A pipe from which sewage, either raw or treated, flows into a river, lake, or the sea. Also called outfall sewer. Managing outfalls is crucial for preventing water pollution and protecting environmental health. Farmers can benefit from implementing proper waste management practices to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
pomegranate: A semi-tropical tree (Punica granatum) native to Asia, but now cultivated widely. The fruit are round and yellow, with masses of seeds surrounded by sweet red flesh. Helpful content: Pomegranates are valued for their health benefits and market potential. Farmers can benefit from growing this crop by implementing best practices for cultivation, pest control, and post-harvest handling to ensure high-quality fruit.
genetic information: Same as genetic code. Genetic information is crucial for understanding inheritance patterns and implementing selective breeding programs.
gluten: Gluten is a protein found in some cereals which makes a sticky paste when water is added. It affects the quality of the bread made from it. The gluten content of flour influences dough elasticity and bread softness. Knowing the gluten content can help farmers grow suitable cereal varieties for specific baking needs, improving marketability.
genetic selection: The process of choosing animals or plants with desirable traits for breeding. Genetic selection can improve the productivity and resilience of crops and livestock.
eviscerate: To remove the intestines and offal from a carcass. Understanding evisceration practices helps farmers process livestock efficiently and ensure food safety.
precision drill: A seed drill which sows the seed separately at set intervals in the soil. Helpful content: Precision drills ensure accurate seed placement, leading to uniform crop stands and efficient use of resources. This technology can enhance yields and reduce seed wastage, benefiting overall farm productivity.
Technical Committee: A committee appointed by the UK government in 1965, which reviewed the welfare of animals kept under intensive livestock husbandry systems. Understanding the recommendations of such committees can help farmers implement best practices for animal welfare.
Wiltshire horn: The Wiltshire horn is a breed of sheep known for its hardy nature and rapid-growing lambs. Farmers can benefit from raising this breed due to its resilience and productivity.