M

ME See mature equivalent or metabolizable energy. 
MF (milk fat) The lipid or fatty acid components of milk. 
Manufactured milk products These include cheeses, butter, evaporated whole milk, condensed whole and skim milks, whole milk powder, nonfat dry milk, ice cream, frozen desserts, aerated cream, frozen and plastic creams, and milk used in candy, soup, bakery products, and animal feeds.
Manufacturing grade milk Milk produced under regulations less strict than those for grade A milk production. 
Manufacturing milk Milk for the manufacture of dairy products. 
Manure The fecal and urinary excretions of livestock. 
Market milk Milk produced and handled under conditions that qualify it for use as fluid milk in an organized marketing area. Grade A milk meets this requirement. See fluid milk.
Marketing order see Federal Milk Market Order. 
Mastectomy Removal of the mammary glands. 
Mastitis An inflammation of the mammary gland (or glands), usually caused by bacteria. 
Mature equivalency (ME) Age-conversion formulas (provided by the USDA and dairy breed associations) applied to milk production records of young cows to predict their expected milk production potential as mature cows.
Mature equivalent (ME) lactation average ME average milk and component production per cow for all cows in the herd for the previous 365 days. ME lactation averages are updated with each new test. Since ME represents an estimate of mature production, an ME lactation average usually is 5 to
10 percent higher than the rolling herd average.
Megacalorie (Mcal) Equivalent to 1000 kcal or 1,000,000 cal. A megacalorie is equivalent to a therm.  
Metabolic weight The weight of an animal raised to threequarter power (W0.75). 
Metabolizable energy (ME) Food-intake gross energy minus fecal energy, energy in the gaseous products of digestion (mostly methane), and urinary energy.
Metritis An inflammation of the uterus. 
Milk composition Average composition of dairy cow milk includes the following constituents: 87% water, 3.25% protein, 2.5% casein, 5% sugar (lactose), 3.7% fat and 0.8% minerals and vitamins.
Milk equivalent The quantity of milk, as produced, required to furnish the milk solids in manufactured dairy products. For example, approximately 10 and 20 pounds of milk are required
to manufacture 1 pound of Cheddar cheese and butter, respectively.
Milk fat A complex mixture of triglycerides containing numerous fatty acids. DHI laboratories use electronic photometry and infrared absorption for rapid milkfat tests. Milk fat also is referred to as butterfat or fat.
Milk fever See parturient paresis. 
Milk meter A device between the cluster or milking unit and the milkline for measuring a cow's milk yield in either mass or volume.
Milk only (MO) record Type of testing plan where only milk weights are recorded and no milk samples are collected for component sampling. This plan is intended for management use only. The records made are not official and DHI rules need not be followed.
Milk preservative A compound used to stabilize and to prevent decomposition of milk samples sent to DHI laboratories for component analysis. See bronopol.
Milk serum The nonfat components of milk. 
Milk shed A geographical area in which milk is produced for a given milk-marketing area. 
Milk soil Residue on equipment, utensils, or containers after emptying. 
Milk Solids-not-fat (SNF) The solids portion of the milk minus the fat component represents about 8.5 to 9.2 percent of the total milk solids.
Milkstone Residue on equipment, utensils, or containers used for handling milk. It is characterized by a high mineral content, especially calcium. It is normally soluble in acid.
Milk well The opening in the abdominal wall through which milk veins (subcutaneous abdominal veins) enter to join the vena cava and return blood from udder to heart.
Minnesota-Wisconsin price The average price paid for manufacturing grade milk in about 400 plants in Minnesota and Wisconsin, an area in which about 50 percent of the U.S. manufacturing grade milk is produced. The price often used as the basis for classified pricing in Federal Milk Marketing orders.
Monogastric Having only one stomach or stomach compartment, as does man, dogs, and swine. 
Mount To climb onto, as demonstrated by females in heat and by males in natural service. 
Muley A polled cow. 
Mummified fetus A shriveled fetus that has remained in the uterus instead of being aborted or expelled. Fluids from the fetus have been partially reabsorbed by the mother.