Category: M

manure cycle: the process by which waste materials from plants, animals and humans are returned to the soil to restore nutrients. Understanding and managing the manure cycle can help farmers maintain soil health and fertility, leading to better crop yields and farm sustainability.

matted: with many fibers woven together. Managing matted fibers in livestock can help farmers maintain the quality of wool and other products, ensuring better marketability.

marsh spot: a disease affecting peas, caused by manganese deficiency. Understanding and managing marsh spot can help farmers protect their pea crops and ensure better yields.

mollusc: a type of animal that has a soft body, sometimes protected by a shell, such as a snail or slug. Understanding the role and management of molluscs can help farmers protect their crops and ensure better productivity.

moisture holding capacity: the amount of water that a soil can hold. Abbr MHC. Understanding moisture holding capacity can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

milker: 1. a cow which is giving milk 2. a cow which is kept for milk 3. a farmworker who supervises the milking of cows 4. the part of the milking machine which is attached to the cow’s teats with teat cups. Proper management of milkers can ensure better milk yield and quality, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.

Manx Loghtan: a rare breed of sheep, which is native to the Isle of Man. The wool is mouse-brown and the animals are multi-horned. Raising Manx Loghtan sheep can provide farmers with a unique and high-value product, particularly for niche markets interested in rare breeds and specialty wool.

male: referring to an animal that produces sperm or a flower that produces pollen. Understanding the role of male plants and animals in reproduction can help farmers manage breeding programs more effectively, leading to better crop and livestock productivity.

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.