Glossary
| Term | Explanation | Synonym / Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inbreeding | Reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents is referred to as inbreeding. Inbreeding increases the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits, and decreases fitness of a population, which is called inbreeding depression. (Source – Wikipedia) | |
| Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) | Also known as prion (an infectious agent composed of mis-folded proteins in contrast to all other known infectious agents like virus, bacteria, fungus etc.) diseases, are a group of progressive conditions that affect the brain and nervous system of many animals, including humans. Mental and physical abilities deteriorate and myriad tiny holes appear in the cortex causing it to appear like a sponge (hence the term 'spongiform') when brain tissue obtained at autopsy is examined under a microscope. The disorders cause impairment of brain function, including memory changes, personality changes and problems with movement that worsen over time. (Source – Wikipedia) | |
| Cryoconservation/cryopreservation | This is a process where cells or whole tissues (frozen semen or embryos) are preserved by cooling to sub-zero temperatures (typically 77 K or −196 °C (the boiling point of liquid nitrogen). At these low temperatures, any biological activity, including bio-chemical reactions that would lead to cell death, are effectively stopped. (Source – Wikipedia) | |
| Bushveld | Pronounced as bushfelt, this term originates from the Afrikaans word ‘bosveld’, which is composed of the words ‘bos’ meaning ‘bush’, and 'veld’ meaning ‘field’. It has become a generic term to refer to the wild, open and unpopulated spaces of Sub-Saharan Africa, though nowadays it is more specifically used to refer to game reserves. (Source – The Safari Guide) | |
| Trypanotolerance | The ability of a few livestock breeds to survive, produce and reproduce in tsetse-trypanosome infected areas where other breeds cannot, without recourse to the use of chemical drugs.(Source - International Trypanotolerance Centre, The Gambia, West Africa) | |
| Hogget | A young sheep of either sex from about 9 to 18 months of age (until it cuts two teeth). | |
| Nucleus flock | It is not cost effective to include all animals in a breeding programme, on account of measurement and recording costs, and the difficulties of proper control. The solution is to concentrate effort on a few elite breeding animals, referred to as a nucleus flock. Nucleus flocks are ‘closed’ if only animals from the nucleus flock can contribute to genetic improvement of the nucleus population, and, are ‘open’ if sufficiently competitive animals from the general population are introduced into the nucleus. Open nucleus flocks have less inbreeding, and can benefit from the superior genetic potential of animals from the larger population, thereby yielding faster genetic progress. | |
| OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) | The World Organisation for Animal Health is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide and was created by an international agreement as the International Office of Epizootics (still known by its French acronym Office International des Epizooties - OIE) on 25 January 1924. | |
| Sustainable output management | In sheep rearing, this refers to the system of maintaining an optimal flock size over the years, through retention of female lambs born of ewes in the flock, and the sale of male lambs for cash returns. | |
| Enterotoxemia (ET) | Also known as overeating or pulpy kidney disease this is a condition caused by the absorption of a large amount of toxins from the intestines. The toxins cause enterocolitis (inflammation of the intestine), increase the permeability of the blood vessels, and become absorbed in the blood. They circulate in the bloodstream, promoting swelling in the lungs and kidneys, giving the condition the name pulpy kidney disease. Young animals are most susceptible. Sudden and high mortality rates are concentrated in lambs and kids. |
