Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
maiden
English answer:
A heifer pregnant for the first time or calving for the first time
Added to glossary by
Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Oct 9, 2007 15:52
16 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
New Caledonia
Professional, reliable and confidential
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France) 
, English (Variants: British, US)
Works in: English to French, French to English, English, and 1 more.
maiden
English
Other
Livestock / Animal Husbandry
AUSTRALIAN terminology - cattle
1. Size
There is a huge variation in the size of the tract - especially the cervix and uterine horns. Normal uterine horn size can vary from being as small as 1 cm in diameter and less than 10 cm length in fertile ///maiden/// heifers to as large as 10 cm across and more then 40 cm in length in multiparous animals (i.e. those which have had it number of calves) - especially in bos indicus cross and derived animals.
Cattle fertility study from Australia.
I'd appreciate a clear explanation of the use of "maiden" here since in all the other related and translated documents from the UK or the U.S or other English speaking countries the word maiden is used meaning a virgin heifer when in fact it is pregnant in this particular document.
There are 4 instances of the word all used in relation to a pregnant heifer.
Thanks for your help.
There is a huge variation in the size of the tract - especially the cervix and uterine horns. Normal uterine horn size can vary from being as small as 1 cm in diameter and less than 10 cm length in fertile ///maiden/// heifers to as large as 10 cm across and more then 40 cm in length in multiparous animals (i.e. those which have had it number of calves) - especially in bos indicus cross and derived animals.
Cattle fertility study from Australia.
I'd appreciate a clear explanation of the use of "maiden" here since in all the other related and translated documents from the UK or the U.S or other English speaking countries the word maiden is used meaning a virgin heifer when in fact it is pregnant in this particular document.
There are 4 instances of the word all used in relation to a pregnant heifer.
Thanks for your help.
Responses
| 4 +2 | one who has not yet had a calf |
Claire Chapman
|
| 2 +1 | pregnant maiden heifers |
Jack Doughty
|
| 3 | first |
JohnGBell
|
Change log
Oct 9, 2007 16:45: Peter Shortall changed "Field (specific)" from "Linguistics" to "Livestock / Animal Husbandry"
Oct 14, 2007 06:10: Ghyslaine LE NAGARD Created KOG entry
Responses
+1
12 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
pregnant maiden heifers
This isn't really an answer explaining what they are, but it does confirm that the term is used in Australia.
CSIRO PUBLISHING - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
Pregnant maiden heifers weighed 13 kg more than non-pregnant ones at the end of mating, after allowing for the weight of the fetus and gravid uterus. ...
www.publish.csiro.au/nid/72/paper/EA9910001.htm
CSIRO PUBLISHING - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
Pregnant maiden heifers weighed 13 kg more than non-pregnant ones at the end of mating, after allowing for the weight of the fetus and gravid uterus. ...
www.publish.csiro.au/nid/72/paper/EA9910001.htm
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
writeaway
: and once she gives birth, the heifer is a cow.
28 mins
|
|
Thank you.
|
6 mins
first
First pregnancy?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2007-10-10 18:20:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The OED gives a number of definitions for maiden. 2 in particular are relevant here
1) Virgin... not likely in this context
2) First c.f maiden voyage, maiden race for horses who have not yet won a race. (this includes the wonderful quote "he was a maiden")
So, in this context, it would seem to mean heifers who have not yet given birth
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2007-10-10 18:20:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The OED gives a number of definitions for maiden. 2 in particular are relevant here
1) Virgin... not likely in this context
2) First c.f maiden voyage, maiden race for horses who have not yet won a race. (this includes the wonderful quote "he was a maiden")
So, in this context, it would seem to mean heifers who have not yet given birth
+2
50 mins
Claire Chapman
Native in English
&
English
All things textile
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French, English
one who has not yet had a calf
A heifer is a young cow, and often, one that has not born a calf. In this case, I don't see a conflict between maiden heifer and this text because they are comparing the size of certain reproductive organs between a normal, fertile, heifers who haven't yet delivered a calf and those of cows that have had multiple pregnancies. If this doesn't clear up the problem, you may wish to show the other texts in question.
Rewritten text:
There is a huge variation in the size of the tract – especially the cervix and uterine horns. In heifers that are fertile, but which have not yet had a calf, the normal uterine size can vary from being as small as 1cm in diameter and less than 10 cm in length. In multiparous animals (i.e. cows which have had a number of calves), the normal uterine size can be as large as 10 cm across and more than 40 cm in length, especially in bos indicus cross and derived animals.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2007-10-10 20:48:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
As I stated, it is a cow "that has not yet had a calf." And this is supported by the glossary entry for heifer that Clare Barnes posted in the agree below, which says, "A maiden heifer has not yet had a calf." Webster's supports this explanation with 2 b {of a female animal} (1): never yet mated [OR - emphasis mine] (2) : never having borne young.
Rewritten text:
There is a huge variation in the size of the tract – especially the cervix and uterine horns. In heifers that are fertile, but which have not yet had a calf, the normal uterine size can vary from being as small as 1cm in diameter and less than 10 cm in length. In multiparous animals (i.e. cows which have had a number of calves), the normal uterine size can be as large as 10 cm across and more than 40 cm in length, especially in bos indicus cross and derived animals.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2007-10-10 20:48:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
As I stated, it is a cow "that has not yet had a calf." And this is supported by the glossary entry for heifer that Clare Barnes posted in the agree below, which says, "A maiden heifer has not yet had a calf." Webster's supports this explanation with 2 b {of a female animal} (1): never yet mated [OR - emphasis mine] (2) : never having borne young.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Clare Barnes
: http://www.farm-direct.co.uk/shared/glossary.html#H. I think this is a commonly used term in the UK too. Not all maiden cows are virgins, but all virgin cows are maidens...!
2 hrs
|
|
Thank you, Clare! :-)
|
|
| agree |
orientalhorizon
10 hrs
|
|
Thank you, orientalhorizon :-)
|
Discussion