Category: M

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.

mower: a machine which cuts grass or cereal crops, or cuts them and drops them onto the ground. Proper use and maintenance of mowers can help farmers manage crop and pasture health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

microenvironment: same as microhabitat. Understanding microenvironments can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

metritis: an infection of the lining of the womb in cattle, the symptoms of which are a white discharge and/or a high temperature. Also called whites. Understanding and managing metritis can help farmers ensure the health and productivity of their livestock.

meadow fescue: a perennial grass (Festuca pratensis) which has considerable importance for hay and grazing. It is a highly productive grass which flourishes when sown with Timothy. Growing meadow fescue can provide farmers with a valuable forage crop, improving livestock nutrition and farm sustainability.

manive: cassava meal, used as an animal feedingstuff. Using manive can provide a nutritious and cost-effective feed option for livestock, supporting their growth and health.

microbial protein: a protein source in ruminants from dead rumen microbes, usually forming 70% to 100% of the ruminant’s supply of protein. Understanding the role of microbial protein can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better growth and productivity.

manure: Animal dung used as organic fertilizer. Applying manure enriches soil with nutrients and improves soil structure, promoting healthy crop growth.

meat extender: any foodstuff or mixture of foodstuffs added to meat preparations to increase their bulk. Using meat extenders can help farmers maximize the value of their meat products, leading to better profitability.

Marchigiana: a breed of white beef cattle from Italy, now imported into the UK and used for crossbreeding to improve beef-calf quality in dairy cows. Raising Marchigiana cattle can help farmers improve the quality and yield of their beef production, contributing to better income and farm sustainability.

managed woodland: a woodland which is controlled by felling, coppicing, planting, etc. Managing woodland can provide farmers with sustainable resources and improve biodiversity, leading to better environmental and economic outcomes.

mammary glands: glands in females that produce milk. In cows, sheep and goats, the glands are located in the udder. Understanding the function of mammary glands can help farmers manage dairy production more effectively, ensuring better milk yield and quality.

metabolic size: the size of an animal to which the metabolic rate is proportional. Understanding metabolic size can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better growth and productivity.

minimal disease herd: a herd of livestock with a very low level of infectious diseases. Managing minimal disease herds can help farmers ensure better livestock health and productivity, reducing mortality rates and improving profitability.

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

multigerm seed: a seed that produces more than one seedling. Compare monogerm seed. Understanding the characteristics of multigerm seeds can help farmers manage crop production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

metabolic disease: one of a group of diseases that are caused by animals being called upon to produce an end-product faster than their bodies can process their intake of feed. Understanding and managing metabolic diseases can help farmers ensure the health and productivity of their livestock.

manger: a trough in a stable, from which horses and cattle feed. Proper maintenance and cleanliness of mangers can help ensure that livestock have access to uncontaminated feed, leading to better health and productivity.

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

microbial: referring to microbes. Understanding the role of microbes can help farmers manage soil and livestock health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

metabolisable protein: a type of protein which can be metabolised by an animal, used as a feed supplement to improve lactation. Understanding the role of metabolisable protein can help farmers improve livestock nutrition and productivity.

mashlum: a mixture of oats and barley (and sometimes wheat), sown to provide grain for feeding to livestock. Also called maslin, meslen, meslin. Growing mashlum can provide farmers with a valuable feed source for livestock, improving farm sustainability and reducing feed costs.

microbial ecology: the study of the way in which microbes develop in nature. Understanding microbial ecology can help farmers manage soil health and crop production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

Multiple: multiple meaning that there are more than one. Understanding the implications of multiple factors can help farmers manage their operations and decision-making processes more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

MP: same as member of parliament. Understanding the role and influence of MPs can help farmers navigate political and regulatory changes, ensuring better compliance and advocacy.

milk sinus: the space in each teat into which the milk is secreted. Understanding the function of the milk sinus can help farmers manage dairy production more effectively, ensuring better milk quality and yield.

MCPA: a herbicide that kills the most persistent broad-leaved weeds, such as nettles, buttercups, charlock, dock seedlings, plantains and thistles. Understanding the application and effects of MCPA can help farmers manage weed infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.

magnesium: a light, silvery-white metallic element that burns with a brilliant white flame. The addition of magnesium to soil may prevent deficiency diseases in crops or in livestock, such as interveinal yellowing of leaves in potatoes and sugar beet, and hypomagnesaemia or ‘grass staggers’ in grazing animals. Ensuring adequate magnesium in soil and livestock diets is crucial for healthy crop and livestock growth, leading to better yields and farm sustainability.

mill: a factory where a substance is crushed to make a powder, especially one for making flour from the dried grains of cereals. Proper management of mills can help farmers process their crops more effectively, ensuring better quality and marketability.

Meatlinc: a new breed of sheep used as a terminal sire. Only the rams are sold. Understanding the characteristics and uses of Meatlinc sheep can help farmers improve their breeding programs and meat production, leading to better yields and profitability.

Merinolandschaf: a breed of sheep found in South Germany. Large traveling flocks are common. Raising Merinolandschaf sheep can provide farmers with a versatile and productive breed, contributing to better income and farm sustainability.

maltster: a person who makes malt for sale to breweries. Understanding the role of a maltster can help farmers connect with potential buyers and improve the marketability of their barley.

marginal: referring to areas of land such as field edges or banks beside roads which are at the edge of cultivated land. Cultivating marginal areas can help farmers utilize all available land resources, potentially increasing productivity and income.

metamorphosis: a process of change into a different form, especially the change of a larva into an adult insect. Understanding metamorphosis can help farmers manage insect life cycles more effectively, ensuring better pest control and crop protection.

minimal cultivation: a system of cultivation which subjects the land to shallow working and minimises the number of passes of machinery. No ploughing is needed. Although suitable for cereal production, minimal cultivation is not suitable for all crops or soil conditions. Crops like sugar beet and potatoes need a deeper tilth than that obtained by minimal cultivation. Understanding minimal cultivation can help farmers optimize their soil and crop management practices, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

microclimate: The climate of a small, specific area that may differ from the surrounding general climate. Understanding microclimates helps farmers optimize growing conditions for different crops.

milk producer: a farmer who is registered with Defra, and produces milk in compliance with the regulations concerning clean milk production. Understanding the regulations and requirements for milk producers can help farmers ensure better quality and marketability of their milk products.

mosquito: a flying insect, some species of which feed on the blood of mammals, and may carry diseases such as malaria. Understanding and managing mosquito infestations can help farmers protect their livestock and crops, ensuring better health and productivity.

marl: a fine soil formed of a mixture of clay and lime, used for making bricks. Marl can be an important resource for farmers engaged in building or improving farm infrastructure.

metabolised energy: the proportion of energy from feed which is used by an animal through its metabolism. Abbr ME. Understanding metabolised energy can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better growth and productivity.

metabolise: to break down or build up organic compounds by metabolism. Understanding the metabolic processes can help farmers manage livestock nutrition and health more effectively, ensuring better growth and productivity.

maize gluten: a type of animal feedingstuff obtained after maize has been milled. It is high in protein. Using maize gluten can provide a high-protein feed option for livestock, supporting their growth and health, leading to better meat and milk production.

myxomatosis: a viral disease of rabbits which causes tumours on the skin, and usually kills the animal. It is spread by mosquitoes and fleas. Managing and preventing myxomatosis is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of rabbit populations.

malting: the process by which barley grain is soaked in water, then sprouted on a floor to produce an enzyme. It is then dried in a kiln and the roots and shoots are removed to leave the malt grains. Understanding the malting process can help farmers produce high-quality barley, leading to better marketability and income.

midden: a heap of dung. Understanding the role and management of middens can help farmers improve soil fertility and waste management.

Mn: symbol manganese. Understanding the role of manganese in soil and livestock nutrition can help farmers prevent deficiencies and ensure better crop and animal health and productivity.

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.