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dairy breed

C1
UK/ˈdeə.ri ˌbriːd/US/ˈder.i ˌbriːd/

Technical / Agricultural

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A breed of cattle specifically developed and raised for milk production.

Any domesticated animal breed selectively bred for optimal milk yield and composition, though primarily refers to cattle. Can also refer to the practice or industry of breeding such animals.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

A compound noun where 'dairy' functions as a classifier, specifying the purpose of the 'breed'. It is a hyponym (specific type) of 'breed' and is typically used in contrast to 'beef breed'.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related terms follows regional conventions (e.g., 'rumour' vs. 'rumor').

Connotations

Neutral and technical in both varieties. Associated with farming, agriculture, and animal husbandry.

Frequency

Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard within agricultural and farming contexts in both regions.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Holstein FriesianJerseyGuernseyAyrshireselectdeveloppurebred
medium
commonpopularefficienthigh-yieldingimprovemaintain
weak
specificcertaintraditionalmodernraisekeep

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The [ADJECTIVE] dairy breedA dairy breed of [ORIGIN]To specialise in a [PARTICULAR] dairy breed

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Neutral

milking breedmilk breed

Weak

milk-producing breedlactating breed

Vocabulary

Antonyms

beef breeddraft breeddual-purpose breed

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used in agricultural business plans, livestock trading, and farm management discussions.

Academic

Found in animal science, genetics, agricultural economics, and veterinary research papers.

Everyday

Rare in casual conversation unless discussing farming, food production, or visiting a farm.

Technical

Core terminology in animal husbandry, livestock judging, breeding programmes, and dairy science.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

  • The dairy-breed stock was auctioned at the show.

American English

  • The dairy-breed heifers were vaccinated.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • This is a dairy cow. It is a special breed.
B1
  • Farmers often choose a dairy breed like the Holstein for milk production.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: DAIRY (milk, cheese) + BREED (type of animal) = the type of cow bred for your dairy products.

Conceptual Metaphor

ANIMAL AS PRODUCTION UNIT (The breed is conceptualised for its functional output, i.e., milk).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Avoid direct calque 'молочная порода' if context is overly general; it is specifically agricultural. Do not confuse with 'молочная ферма' (dairy farm).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'dairy breed' to refer to the farm itself (a 'dairy farm'). Confusing it with 'daily bread'. Pluralising 'breed' incorrectly as 'breads'.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The farmer decided to switch from a dual-purpose herd to a specialised to increase milk output.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of a 'dairy breed'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Primarily yes, it refers to cattle. However, it can be extended to goats, sheep, or other animals bred for milk, though 'dairy goat breed' or 'dairy sheep breed' is more precise.

A dairy breed is optimised for milk yield and composition, often with a different body shape (e.g., angular for milk production). A beef breed is optimised for muscle growth and meat quality.

Yes, in hyphenated form (e.g., 'dairy-breed cattle'). It functions as a compound modifier.

It is a standard, low-frequency term within its specific domain of agriculture and animal science. It is not common in everyday general English.