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Dairy cattle dictionary

Short, reference-based explanations of 103 terms used in dairy cattle nutrition, each with its Turkish equivalent.

103 terms

A

Abomasum

TR: Abomasum (şirden)

The true, glandular stomach. It secretes hydrochloric acid and pepsin, keeping a pH of about 2–3, and starts the enzymatic digestion of protein, as in single-stomached animals.

Rumen & digestion

Acetate

TR: Asetat

The main VFA from fiber fermentation. The mammary gland uses it to synthesize short- and medium-chain (de novo) milk fatty acids, so it is closely linked to milk fat.

Rumen & digestion

Acid detergent fiber (ADF)

TR: Asit deterjan lif (ADF)

Cellulose and lignin, without hemicellulose. Higher ADF generally means lower digestibility, which is why it is used in some energy equations.

Feed analysis

Aerobic stability

TR: Aerobik stabilite

How long silage stays cool after exposure to air. Poor stability means yeasts and molds heat the silage, causing dry matter and nutrient losses at feed-out.

Forages & silage

Alfalfa (lucerne)

TR: Yonca

A high-protein legume forage, rich in calcium and potassium. Its high potassium makes it a poor choice for close-up dry cow diets.

Forages & silage

aNDFom

TR: aNDFom

NDF measured with heat-stable amylase and corrected for ash. It is the current standard way to report NDF because it removes starch and soil contamination errors.

Feed analysis

Anionic salts

TR: Anyonik tuzlar

Chloride and sulfate sources used to lower DCAD in close-up diets. Commercial anionic products are often formulated to improve palatability.

Minerals & vitamins

Ash

TR: Ham kül

The mineral residue after burning a sample. High ash in forage often indicates soil contamination, which dilutes energy.

Feed analysis

B

Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)

TR: Beta-hidroksibütirat (BHB)

The main ketone body measured in blood or milk. Cow-side meters make it the most practical test for ketosis monitoring.

Transition & metabolic health

Biohydrogenation

TR: Biyohidrojenasyon

The conversion of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated ones by rumen microbes. Under some conditions it produces intermediates, such as trans-10, cis-12 CLA, that depress milk fat.

Rumen & digestion

Body condition score (BCS)

TR: Vücut kondisyon skoru (VKS)

A visual and hands-on score of body fat reserves, usually on a 1–5 scale. Cows calving at about 3.0–3.5 and losing little condition afterwards tend to have fewer problems.

Transition & metabolic health

Buffer

TR: Tampon madde

A compound that resists pH change, such as sodium bicarbonate. Commonly fed at about 0.75% of ration DM in high-starch diets.

Feed additives

Butyrate

TR: Bütirat

A VFA largely converted to beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) by the rumen wall. It is an important energy source for the rumen epithelium and supports papillae development.

Rumen & digestion

C

Close-up period

TR: Doğum öncesi dönem (close-up)

The last about 21 days before calving. It is the usual window for negative-DCAD feeding and for adapting the rumen to the lactation diet.

Transition & metabolic health

Corn silage

TR: Mısır silajı

Whole-plant corn chopped and ensiled. It supplies both fiber and starch and is the main forage in many dairy rations.

Forages & silage

Crude fiber (CF)

TR: Ham selüloz (HS)

The residue after boiling in acid and alkali (Weende system). It loses part of the hemicellulose and lignin, so it underestimates the cell wall and is not suitable for ruminant formulation.

Feed analysis

Crude protein (CP)

TR: Ham protein (HP)

Total nitrogen in a feed multiplied by 6.25. It includes true protein and non-protein nitrogen, so it says nothing about how the protein behaves in the rumen.

Feed analysis

D

Days in milk (DIM)

TR: Laktasyon günü

The number of days since calving. Nutrient needs, intake and expected milk yield all change with DIM.

Milk & performance

DCAD

TR: DCAD (katyon-anyon farkı)

Dietary cation-anion difference, calculated as (Na + K) − (Cl + S) in mEq/kg DM. A negative DCAD before calving helps prevent hypocalcemia; a positive DCAD supports lactating cows.

Minerals & vitamins

De novo fatty acids

TR: De novo yağ asitleri

Milk fatty acids with 4 to 14 carbons, synthesized in the mammary gland from acetate and BHB. They reflect rumen health and fiber fermentation.

Milk & performance

Displaced abomasum (DA)

TR: Abomazum deplasmanı

Displacement of the gas-filled abomasum, usually to the left side. Low intake, hypocalcemia and ketosis around calving are major risk factors.

Transition & metabolic health

Dry matter (DM)

TR: Kuru madde (KM)

What remains of a feed after all water is removed. Rations are formulated and nutrients are expressed on a DM basis because water content varies widely between feeds.

Feed analysis

Dry matter intake (DMI)

TR: Kuru madde tüketimi (KMT)

The amount of feed dry matter a cow eats per day. It is the single biggest driver of nutrient supply and milk production.

Energy & protein

E

Energy-corrected milk (ECM)

TR: Enerjiye göre düzeltilmiş süt (ECM)

Milk yield adjusted to a standard fat and protein content. It allows fair comparison between cows or herds with different milk composition.

Energy & protein

Ensiling

TR: Silolama

Preserving forage by anaerobic fermentation. Lactic acid bacteria lower the pH until the mass is stable, as long as air is kept out.

Forages & silage

Ether extract (crude fat)

TR: Ham yağ (eter ekstraktı)

Material extracted with ether, mostly fat. Total dietary fat is usually kept below about 6–7% of DM because unsaturated fat can disturb rumen fermentation.

Feed analysis

F

Far-off dry period

TR: Erken kuru dönem

The early part of the dry period, from dry-off until about three weeks before calving. Diets aim to control energy intake and keep body condition stable.

Transition & metabolic health

Fat-to-protein ratio

TR: Yağ/protein oranı

Milk fat % divided by protein %. In early lactation, high values (above about 1.4–1.5) suggest ketosis risk, while low values can flag acidosis or milk fat depression.

Milk & performance

Fatty liver

TR: Karaciğer yağlanması

Accumulation of triglyceride in the liver when NEFA uptake exceeds the liver's capacity to oxidize or export fat. It impairs liver function and is linked to ketosis.

Transition & metabolic health

Feed efficiency

TR: Yem verimliliği

Milk produced per kg of dry matter eaten, usually as energy-corrected milk (ECM) divided by DMI. It is best compared within a group and stage of lactation.

Energy & protein

Feed push-up

TR: Yem itme

Pushing feed back within reach of cows between feedings. Frequent push-up keeps feed available and supports intake.

Feeding management

Feed sorting

TR: Seçerek yeme

Cows selectively eating finer particles and leaving long ones. It makes the diet actually eaten different from the one formulated and increases acidosis risk.

Feeding management

Fresh cow

TR: Taze inek

A cow in the first weeks after calving, commonly the first 21–30 days. Fresh cows need close monitoring of intake, temperature and ketones.

Transition & metabolic health

H

Haylage

TR: Haylaj

Grass or legume forage wilted to a higher dry matter before ensiling. It preserves more leaves and nutrients than hay made in poor weather.

Forages & silage

Homofermentative vs. heterofermentative

TR: Homofermentatif ve heterofermentatif

Homofermentative LAB produce mainly lactic acid for a fast pH drop. Heterofermentative LAB also produce acetic acid, which inhibits yeasts and improves stability after opening.

Forages & silage

Hypocalcemia (milk fever)

TR: Hipokalsemi (süt humması)

Low blood calcium around calving. The clinical form causes weakness and recumbency; the subclinical form, without visible signs, is far more common and raises the risk of other diseases.

Transition & metabolic health

I

Ionophores (monensin)

TR: İyonoforlar (monensin)

Compounds that shift rumen fermentation toward propionate and reduce methane and ketosis risk. Whether and how they may be used depends on local regulations.

Feed additives

K

Kernel processing score (KPS)

TR: Tane işleme skoru (KPS)

The percentage of corn silage starch that passes a 4.75 mm sieve. Scores above about 70% indicate optimal kernel processing.

Feeding management

Ketosis

TR: Ketozis

A metabolic disease caused by excessive fat mobilization in early lactation. Subclinical ketosis is commonly defined as blood BHB of 1.2 mmol/L or more.

Transition & metabolic health

L

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB)

TR: Laktik asit bakterileri (LAB)

Bacteria that ferment sugars to lactic acid and other acids. They drive silage fermentation and are the main ingredient of silage inoculants.

Forages & silage

Lactobacillus buchneri

TR: Lactobacillus buchneri

A heterofermentative bacterium widely used in inoculants to improve aerobic stability. It is now classified as Lentilactobacillus buchneri.

Forages & silage

Laminitis

TR: Laminit

Inflammation of the sensitive tissues inside the hoof. Rumen acidosis is a recognized nutritional risk factor, and lesions often appear weeks after the event.

Transition & metabolic health

Lignin (ADL)

TR: Lignin (ADL)

Acid detergent lignin, the indigestible part of the cell wall. It also limits microbial access to the cellulose and hemicellulose bound to it.

Feed analysis

Live yeast

TR: Canlı maya

Live Saccharomyces cerevisiae fed to cows. It uses oxygen in the rumen and supports fiber-digesting bacteria, which can help stabilize rumen pH.

Feed additives

Lysine and methionine

TR: Lizin ve metiyonin

Essential amino acids that are often the first to limit milk protein synthesis in corn-based diets. Balancing them allows lower dietary crude protein.

Energy & protein

M

Macrominerals

TR: Makro mineraller

Minerals required in gram amounts: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride and sulfur.

Minerals & vitamins

Magnesium

TR: Magnezyum

Needed for parathyroid hormone release and action, so it is central to calcium metabolism around calving. Deficiency can also cause grass tetany.

Minerals & vitamins

Metabolizable protein (MP)

TR: Metabolize olabilir protein (MP)

Protein actually absorbed as amino acids from the small intestine: digestible microbial protein, digestible rumen-undegradable protein and a small endogenous part.

Energy & protein

Methane

TR: Metan

A gas produced by rumen archaea from hydrogen and CO2. It removes hydrogen from the rumen but represents a loss of feed energy and a greenhouse gas.

Rumen & digestion

Metritis

TR: Metritis

Infection and inflammation of the uterus in the first weeks after calving. It reduces intake, milk yield and fertility.

Transition & metabolic health

Microbial protein

TR: Mikrobiyal protein

Protein in rumen microbes that flow to the small intestine. It has an excellent amino acid profile and usually supplies the largest share of the cow's metabolizable protein.

Rumen & digestion

Milk fat depression (MFD)

TR: Süt yağı düşüklüğü (SYD)

A drop in milk fat without a similar drop in milk yield. It is mainly caused by specific biohydrogenation intermediates formed under certain diets, not simply by low fiber.

Milk & performance

Milk urea nitrogen (MUN)

TR: Süt üre azotu (MUN)

Urea nitrogen in milk, reflecting the balance between rumen-degradable protein and fermentable energy. Values well above the herd's usual range suggest excess or poorly used protein.

Energy & protein

Mixer wagon

TR: Yem karma makinesi (mikser)

The machine used to load, mix and deliver TMR. Loading order, mixing time and knife condition affect how uniform the ration is.

Feeding management

Mycotoxin binder

TR: Mikotoksin bağlayıcı

An additive, often clay or yeast cell wall based, that binds certain mycotoxins in the gut. Its effectiveness depends on the toxin type.

Feed additives

Mycotoxins

TR: Mikotoksinler

Toxic compounds produced by molds in the field or during storage, such as aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. Aflatoxin B1 in feed can pass into milk as aflatoxin M1.

Forages & silage

N

NDF digestibility (NDFd)

TR: NDF sindirilebilirliği (NDFd)

The percentage of NDF digested in vitro after a set time, commonly 30, 120 or 240 hours. Forages with higher NDFd support higher intake and milk yield.

Feed analysis

Negative energy balance (NEB)

TR: Negatif enerji dengesi (NED)

The state in early lactation when energy output in milk exceeds energy intake. The cow mobilizes body fat, which raises NEFA and BHB in blood.

Energy & protein

Net energy for lactation (NEL)

TR: Laktasyon net enerjisi (NEL)

The energy in a feed available for maintenance and milk production, expressed in Mcal or MJ per kg DM. It is the main energy unit used to balance dairy rations.

Energy & protein

Neutral detergent fiber (NDF)

TR: Nötr deterjan lif (NDF)

The plant cell wall: hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. It is the best single chemical measure of fiber for ruminants and is closely related to rumen fill and intake.

Feed analysis

NIRS

TR: NIRS (yakın kızılötesi spektroskopi)

Near-infrared spectroscopy, a fast analysis method that predicts composition from how a sample reflects light. It is only as accurate as the calibration behind it.

Feed analysis

Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)

TR: Esterleşmemiş yağ asitleri (NEFA)

Fatty acids released from body fat into the blood. High NEFA before or after calving indicates intense fat mobilization and is linked to higher disease risk.

Transition & metabolic health

Non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC)

TR: Lif olmayan karbonhidratlar (NFC)

Carbohydrates that are not part of NDF, mainly starch, sugars and pectin. It is calculated by difference and ferments faster than fiber.

Feed analysis

O

Omasum

TR: Omasum (kırkbayır)

The third stomach compartment, made of many leaf-like folds. It absorbs water, volatile fatty acids and minerals before digesta reaches the abomasum.

Rumen & digestion

Organic trace minerals

TR: Organik iz mineraller

Trace minerals bound to amino acids, peptides or other organic molecules, or supplied in hydroxy form. They are used for potentially better availability; the size of the benefit varies between studies.

Minerals & vitamins

P

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

TR: Paratiroid hormonu (PTH)

The hormone that raises blood calcium by releasing it from bone, increasing kidney reabsorption and activating vitamin D. Metabolic alkalosis reduces tissue response to it.

Minerals & vitamins

Partial mixed ration (PMR)

TR: Kısmi karışık rasyon (PMR)

A mixed ration fed at the bunk, balanced for lower production, with extra concentrate given separately, for example in the milking robot or parlor.

Feeding management

Passage rate

TR: Geçiş hızı

How fast digesta leaves the rumen. Higher intake increases passage rate, which shortens the time microbes have to digest feed and can lower digestibility.

Rumen & digestion

Peak milk

TR: Pik süt verimi

The highest daily milk yield of a lactation, usually reached around 40–60 days in milk. Each extra kg at peak adds substantially to whole-lactation yield.

Milk & performance

Penn State Particle Separator (PSPS)

TR: Penn State Partikül Ayırıcı (PSPS)

A set of stacked sieves (19, 8 and 4 mm plus a pan) used on farm to measure the particle size distribution of forages and TMR.

Feeding management

Physically effective NDF (peNDF)

TR: Fiziksel efektif NDF (peNDF)

The part of NDF long enough to stimulate chewing and rumination. It is often estimated as NDF multiplied by the fraction of particles retained above the 4 mm or 8 mm sieve.

Feed analysis

Preformed fatty acids

TR: Hazır (preformed) yağ asitleri

Milk fatty acids with 18 or more carbons, taken up from blood. They come from dietary fat and from body fat mobilization, so they rise in early lactation.

Milk & performance

Premix

TR: Premiks

A uniform blend of vitamins, trace minerals and sometimes additives, designed to be mixed into feed at a small, defined inclusion rate.

Feed additives

Propionate

TR: Propiyonat

A VFA produced mainly from starch fermentation. It is the liver's main substrate for glucose synthesis (gluconeogenesis), which drives lactose and milk volume.

Rumen & digestion

R

Redox potential (Eh)

TR: Redoks potansiyeli (Eh)

A measure, in millivolts, of how reducing the rumen environment is. Rumen fluid is strongly reducing, with published values of roughly −90 to −220 mV, reflecting its oxygen-free state.

Rumen & digestion

Refusals (orts)

TR: Artık yem

Feed left in the bunk before the next feeding. For lactating cows a small amount, often around 3–5%, shows that feed was available all day.

Feeding management

Relative feed value (RFV)

TR: Nispi yem değeri (RFV)

An index for ranking hay and haylage, calculated from ADF and NDF. It does not account for fiber digestibility, which is why relative forage quality (RFQ) was developed.

Feed analysis

Retained placenta

TR: Plasenta retansiyonu

Fetal membranes not expelled within about 24 hours after calving. It is associated with hypocalcemia, poor antioxidant status and later metritis.

Transition & metabolic health

Reticulum

TR: Retikulum (börkenek)

The forestomach compartment in front of the rumen, with a honeycomb lining. It moves digesta between the rumen and omasum and traps heavy foreign objects such as wire.

Rumen & digestion

Rumen

TR: Rumen (işkembe)

The largest compartment of the forestomach. It works as a warm, anaerobic fermentation vat where microbes break down feed into volatile fatty acids, microbial protein and gases.

Rumen & digestion

Rumen pH

TR: Rumen pH'ı

The acidity of rumen fluid. It normally moves between about 5.8 and 6.8 over the day, dropping after meals. Long periods below about 5.6 impair fiber digestion.

Rumen & digestion

Rumen-degradable protein (RDP)

TR: Rumende yıkılabilir protein (RDP)

The part of dietary protein broken down in the rumen. Microbes need it as ammonia, peptides and amino acids to grow and produce microbial protein.

Energy & protein

Rumen-protected amino acids

TR: Rumen korumalı amino asitler

Amino acids, typically methionine or lysine, formulated to pass the rumen intact and be absorbed in the small intestine.

Energy & protein

Rumen-protected choline

TR: Rumen korumalı kolin

Choline protected from rumen degradation, used around calving. It helps the liver export fat and is associated with better transition performance.

Feed additives

Rumen-protected fat

TR: Rumen korumalı (by-pass) yağ

Fat supplements, such as calcium soaps or saturated palmitic acid products, that are largely inert in the rumen. They raise energy density without disturbing fermentation.

Feed additives

Rumen-undegradable protein (RUP)

TR: Rumende yıkılmayan protein (RUP, by-pass protein)

Protein that escapes rumen degradation and can be digested in the small intestine. It supplements microbial protein when the cow's amino acid needs are high.

Energy & protein

Rumination

TR: Geviş getirme

Regurgitating, rechewing and reswallowing feed. It reduces particle size and produces saliva that buffers the rumen. Healthy lactating cows typically ruminate for roughly 7–10 hours a day.

Rumen & digestion

S

Saliva

TR: Tükürük

Produced in large volumes, often more than 150 L a day in lactating cows. Its bicarbonate and phosphate are the rumen's main natural buffer, which is why chewing time matters.

Rumen & digestion

Silage shrink (DM loss)

TR: Silaj kaybı (KM kaybı)

Dry matter lost between harvest and feeding through respiration, fermentation, seepage and spoilage. Good packing, sealing and face management reduce it.

Forages & silage

Slug feeding

TR: Toplu (slug) yeme

Eating a few large meals instead of many small ones, often after empty-bunk periods. It causes sharp drops in rumen pH.

Feeding management

Somatic cell count (SCC)

TR: Somatik hücre sayısı (SHS)

The number of cells, mostly white blood cells, per mL of milk. It is the main indicator of udder health; EU rules set a bulk tank limit of 400,000 cells/mL.

Milk & performance

Starch

TR: Nişasta

The main energy store in cereal grains and corn silage. Its rumen fermentability depends on grain type, processing and ensiling time, not only on the amount.

Feed analysis

Stocking density

TR: Hayvan yoğunluğu

The number of cows relative to stalls or feed bunk space. Overcrowding reduces lying time and feeding time, especially for subordinate cows and heifers.

Feeding management

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA)

TR: Subakut rumen asidozu (SARA)

A herd-level condition in which rumen pH stays below about 5.6 for more than 3 hours a day. It reduces fiber digestion and is linked to intake swings, milk fat depression and laminitis.

Rumen & digestion

T

Total digestible nutrients (TDN)

TR: Toplam sindirilebilir besin maddeleri (TSBM)

An older energy measure: the sum of digestible protein, fiber, non-fiber carbohydrates and 2.25 times digestible fat. It is still used to estimate NEL.

Energy & protein

Total mixed ration (TMR)

TR: Toplam karışık rasyon (TKR / TMR)

All forages, concentrates and supplements mixed together and fed as one ration, so that each bite has a similar composition.

Feeding management

Trace minerals

TR: İz mineraller

Minerals required in milligram amounts, such as zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, cobalt and iodine. They are essential for immunity, hoof health and fertility.

Minerals & vitamins

Transition period

TR: Geçiş dönemi

Roughly the three weeks before to three weeks after calving. Most metabolic and infectious diseases of the lactation start in this window.

Transition & metabolic health

U

uNDF240

TR: uNDF240

NDF that remains undigested after 240 hours of in vitro fermentation. It estimates the indigestible fiber fraction and helps predict rumen fill.

Feed analysis

Urine pH

TR: İdrar pH'ı

A simple on-farm check of whether a negative-DCAD diet is working. For close-up Holsteins, a group average of about 5.5–6.0 indicates full acidification.

Minerals & vitamins

V

Vitamin E and selenium

TR: E vitamini ve selenyum

Antioxidant nutrients that support immune function around calving. Low status is associated with more retained placenta and mastitis.

Minerals & vitamins

Volatile fatty acids (VFA)

TR: Uçucu yağ asitleri (UYA)

Short-chain fatty acids produced by rumen fermentation, mainly acetate, propionate and butyrate. They are absorbed through the rumen wall and supply most of the cow's energy.

Rumen & digestion

W

Wet chemistry

TR: Yaş kimyasal analiz

Laboratory analysis with chemical reagents rather than prediction. It is the reference method and is preferred for minerals such as K and Cl used in DCAD.

Feed analysis