What’s in a name?

DIFFERENT WORD, same meaning.  Many parts of the UK have their own unique dialect, but few other industries can have so many words which mean the same thing.  Here’s a brief rundown of a few livestock terms from around the country.

Teg, hogg, shearling, two tooth, hogget, theave or chilver: A sheep, particularly a ewe, older than 12 months, but less than 24 months.

Gimmer: An untupped female sheep, either a lamb or a shearling.

Dyke: Either a wall or a ditch, depending on area.

Mislaid, couped, cast or belly up: An animal, usually a sheep, stuck on its back.

Jag or jab: An injection.

Flank, race or yards: A handling pen.

Close, yard, faad or court: Enclosed area of hardstanding, commonly used for handling animals in.

Stirk: A six to 12 month old heifer or a yearling heifer or bullock.

Yeld, barren or maid: A female animal which has failed to conceive.

Blades, dagging irons or shears: Hand shears.

Stot: Weaned steer calf.

Quickset, hedge or ditch: Field boundary of shrubby trees.

Crescent, shifter or ‘justie: Adjustable Spanner.

Cornage: Rent payable according to the number of cattle held.

Hagg, moss, carrs or bog: Peaty or boggy ground.

Sheiling: Summer pasture or a shelter connected to the same.

Shippon, byre, barn, shed or house: A building for housing stock in, particularly cattle.

Sock lambs, caid lambs, bottle lambs or orphan lambs: Lambs being reared off their mother.