Category: M

maw: a stomach, especially the last of a ruminant’s four stomachs. Understanding the function of the maw can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better digestion and health.

monophyletic: derived from a single ancestral type. Understanding monophyletic relationships can help farmers improve their breeding programs and ensure better genetic diversity and productivity.

mulch: A layer of material applied to the surface of soil to conserve moisture, improve fertility, and reduce weed growth. Using mulch can enhance soil health and crop yields.

management practice: practical ways of using management decisions to organise the use of resources or materials. ‘Vaccination of ewes and lambs is one of the more common management practices performed by sheep producers each and every year. Some producers will vaccinate their flock for “everything”, while others choose a more conservative approach.’ [Farmers Guardian]. Understanding and implementing effective management practices can help farmers improve productivity and sustainability.

monera: same as prokaryote. Understanding the role and characteristics of prokaryotes can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

mycelium: the main part of a fungus, a mass of hyphae that grows underground or in wood. Understanding the role of mycelium can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

mastitis-metritis-agalactia: full form of MMA. Understanding and managing mastitis-metritis-agalactia is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of livestock, reducing mortality rates and ensuring better economic outcomes for farmers.

maltose: a sugar formed by digesting starch or glycogen. Understanding the role of maltose in livestock nutrition can help farmers manage animal diets more effectively, leading to better growth and productivity.

moisture content: the percentage of water contained in something such as the soil, hay or straw. Understanding moisture content can help farmers manage irrigation, crop storage, and livestock feed more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

malt culms: roots and shoots of partly germinated malting barley. A by-product of the malting process, the culms are used as a feedingstuff for livestock. Utilizing malt culms can provide an additional feed source for livestock, reducing feed costs and improving farm sustainability.

miscarry: same as abort. Understanding and managing miscarriage can help farmers ensure the health and productivity of their livestock.

ME: abbreviation 1. metabolisable energy levels in concentrates 2. metabolised energy. Understanding metabolisable energy can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better growth and productivity.

milking parlour: a building in which cows are milked, and often are also fed, washed and cleaned. There are four basic designs of parlour: the herringbone parlour, where the cow stands at an angle of 45° to the milker, is commonest for large herds; the abreast parlour, where the cows stand side by side with their backs to the milker; the tandem parlour where they stand in line with their sides to the milker; the most expensive and complex of the four systems is the rotary parlour, where the cows stand on a rotating platform with the milker in the middle. Proper management of milking parlours can ensure better milk quality and yield, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.

mixed grazing: a grazing system where more than one type of animal grazes the same pasture at the same time. Mixed grazing regimes provide a range of sward lengths which are attractive areas for birds to nest and feed and encourage regeneration of grassland and moorland areas. Understanding mixed grazing can help farmers optimize their livestock management practices, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

milk sugar: same as lactose. Understanding the role of lactose in milk can help farmers manage dairy production more effectively, ensuring better quality and marketability.

marine flora: the plants that live in the sea. Understanding marine flora can help farmers engaged in mariculture manage their resources more effectively, ensuring better productivity and environmental sustainability.

mealworm: the larva of various beetles of the genus Tenebrio that infests and pollutes grain products. Managing mealworm infestations can help farmers protect their grain products and ensure better storage and marketability.

metaldehyde: a substance used in the form of pellets to kill slugs and snails, or in the form of small blocks to light fires. Understanding the application and effects of metaldehyde can help farmers manage pest infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.

milch cow: a cow which gives milk or is kept for milk production. Proper care and management of milch cows can ensure better milk yield and quality, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.

mildew: a disease caused by a fungus which produces a fine powdery film on the surface of an organism. Understanding and managing mildew can help farmers protect their crops and ensure better yields.

malted meal: a brown wheat flour mixed with flour made from barley. Understanding the uses of malted meal can help farmers diversify their products and find new market opportunities.

milking machine: a machine which imitates the sucking action of a calf, used to extract milk from the cow’s udder. It uses a pulsator mechanism to apply pressure to the teats, causing the release of the milk. The milk is then passed into a collecting jar or may pass by pipeline to a large tank. Proper use and maintenance of milking machines can ensure better milk quality and yield, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.

multipurpose breed: a breed of animal such as the Large White pig which can be used for various purposes, e.g. milk production, draught or meat production. Understanding the characteristics and uses of multipurpose breeds can help farmers optimize their livestock production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.

mull: neutral humus. Compare moder, mor. Understanding the role of mull in soil health can help farmers manage soil fertility more effectively, ensuring better crop yields.

Moiled: Irish Moiled. Understanding the characteristics and uses of Irish Moiled cattle can help farmers optimize their livestock production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.

Masham: a crossbred type of sheep which results from a Wensleydale or Teeswater ram mated with a hill ewe of the Swaledale type and has black markings on the face and legs. The breed is an economical ewe with a good lambing average and a useful fleece. Raising Masham sheep can provide farmers with a versatile and productive breed, contributing to better income and farm sustainability.

mattock: a heavy hoe. Using a mattock can help farmers manage soil and crop cultivation more effectively, leading to better farm productivity.

multicell: referring to crops that are planted in clusters of seeds, which are thinned to allow the strongest plants to develop. Understanding multicell planting can help farmers optimize their crop production and improve yields and sustainability.

margin over purchased feed: the amount of money received for produce such as per litre of milk, shown as a percentage above the amount spent in purchasing feed for the animals. Abbr MOPF. Understanding margin over purchased feed can help farmers manage their costs and improve profitability.

Master of Foxhounds Association: a group which provides information to foxhunters and hunt leaders. Abbr MFHA. Understanding the role of the Master of Foxhounds Association can help farmers engaged in foxhunting activities manage their operations more effectively.

mottle: a pattern of irregular marks on leaves, usually caused by disease. Understanding and managing mottle can help farmers protect their crops and ensure better yields.

milk: an opaque white liquid secreted by female mammals during lactation. Proper management of milk production can ensure better quality and yield, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.

milk quota: a system by which farmers are only allowed to produce certain amounts of milk, introduced to restrict the overproduction of milk in member states of the EU. Abbr MQ. Quotas were introduced in 1984, and were based on each state’s 1981 production, plus 1%. A further 1% was allowed in the first year. A supplementary levy or superlevy, was introduced to penalise milk production over the quota level. In the UK, milk quotas can be bought and sold, either together with or separate from farmland, and are a valuable asset. The government is responsible for the setting of quotas for milk production, according to the directives of the EU commission. Understanding the regulations and market dynamics of milk quotas can help farmers optimize their dairy production and profitability.

mould: a type of microscopic fungus which grows on decaying organic matter. Understanding the role and management of mould can help farmers protect their crops and livestock, ensuring better health and productivity.

Maedi-Visna: a virus disease of sheep, which causes breathing difficulties. Abbr MV. Managing and preventing Maedi-Visna is essential for maintaining flock health and productivity, reducing mortality rates, and ensuring the economic viability of sheep farming.

market town: a town with a permanent or regular market, which serves as a trading centre for the surrounding area. Some markets specialise in certain types of livestock or produce. Understanding the dynamics of market towns can help farmers find reliable outlets for their products, improving marketability and income.

MGA: abbreviation 1. Maize Growers Association 2. Mushroom Growers’ Association. Understanding the role of grower associations can help farmers access resources and support for improving their crop production and marketability.

Milk Marque: the name of a national cooperative which replaced the Milk Marketing Board, with the aim of liberalising the milk market. It was split into 3 regional companies in 1999. Understanding the role and history of Milk Marque can help farmers adapt to changes in the dairy industry and improve marketability.

mangel fly: a fly whose yellow-white legless larvae cause blistering of the leaves of mangels and sugar beet. This holds back plant growth and in severe cases can kill the plant. Also called mangold fly. Controlling mangel fly infestations is important to protect crops and ensure healthy growth, leading to better yields and farm sustainability.

magnetic resonance imaging: a technique that uses electromagnetic radiation to obtain images of invisible parts of a structure or the body’s soft tissues. Abbr MRI. MRI can be useful in veterinary diagnostics, allowing for detailed examination of livestock health issues, leading to accurate diagnoses and effective treatments.

MMA: same as farrowing fever. Understanding and managing farrowing fever can help farmers ensure the health and productivity of their livestock.

millstone: a heavy round slab of stone, used to grind corn. Proper management and maintenance of millstones can help farmers process their grain more effectively, ensuring better quality and marketability.

MBM: abbreviation meat and bone meal. Understanding the uses and nutritional value of MBM can help farmers provide balanced diets for their livestock, leading to better growth and productivity.

methanol: an alcohol manufactured from coal, natural gas or waste wood, which is used as a fuel or solvent. Formula: CH3OH. Also called methyl alcohol, wood alcohol. Biodiesel is made by mixing vegetable oil with methanol, giving glycerine as a by-product. Its source is natural and renewable and it dramatically reduces exhaust emissions of smoke and soot, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide, the cause of acid rain. Methanol can be used as a fuel in any type of burner. Its main disadvantage is that it is less efficient than petrol and can cause pollution if it escapes into the environment, as it mixes easily with water. Production of methanol from coal or natural gas does not help fuel conservation, since it depletes Earth’s fossil fuel resources. Understanding the production and uses of methanol can help farmers utilize alternative fuels more effectively, contributing to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

mulefooted hog: a breed of pig which has solid hooves rather than cloven hooves. Raising mulefooted hogs can provide farmers with a unique and high-value product, particularly for niche markets interested in specialty breeds.

mechanization: The use of machinery in agriculture to increase efficiency and productivity. Mechanization can reduce labor costs and improve farm operations.

manganese: a metallic trace element. It is essential for biological life and is also used in making steel. Manganese deficiency is associated with high pH and soils that are rich in organic matter. It can cause grey leaf of cereals, marsh spot in peas and speckled yellowing of leaves of sugar beet. It is usually cured by applying manganese sulfate as foliar spray. Ensuring adequate manganese levels in soil can prevent these deficiencies and support healthy crop growth, leading to better yields and farm sustainability.

multigrain: foodstuffs containing more than one type of grain. Understanding the market dynamics and nutritional value of multigrain products can help farmers optimize their crop production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.

mash: a mixture of feeding meals combined to provide all the necessary elements for a balanced diet. Using mash can help farmers provide balanced nutrition for their livestock, ensuring better health and productivity.

maiden: a tree in its first year after grafting or budding, when it is formed of a single stem. Understanding the growth stages of trees can help farmers manage orchards more effectively, ensuring healthy tree development and better fruit yields.