The term 'sexed,' in the context of biology and animal husbandry, refers to the process of determining or identifying the biological sex (male or female) of an organism. This can involve visual inspection of external genitalia, internal examination (e.g., laparoscopy), or genetic testing. The primary application lies in livestock management, where knowing the sex is crucial for selective breeding, controlling herd composition (e.g., meat production or dairy), and separating animals for different purposes. Accurate sexing is paramount to optimizing resource allocation and achieving desired outcomes in animal populations. However, outside of biology, the term may have other connotations related to sexual activity.
Sexed meaning with examples
- The farmer needed to know the sex of each chick to decide which ones would be raised for meat and which would be kept as layers. So, the chicks were 'sexed' using visual inspection. This allowed him to efficiently separate the male and female birds, ensuring the farm’s productivity and financial planning.
- Before purchasing the baby goats, the buyer requested that the veterinarian 'sex' the kids. The vet performed a quick external examination of the animals, confirming the sex. Having this confirmation was crucial for the buyer, as it directly affected their future breeding strategy for the herd.
- In order to optimize their research, the scientists needed to 'sex' the juvenile mice. The researchers used a minimally invasive procedure, looking for subtle genital differences, to categorize the mice for the experiments and to ensure the accuracy of their controlled study.
- The hatchery needed to 'sex' the newly hatched ducklings. To do this quickly and efficiently, a trained technician inspected the cloaca for specific characteristics. Then, they could sort the ducks into groups for sale and further care based on their sex.
- The wildlife biologists had to 'sex' the newly captured turtles to identify which individuals were male and which were female. Using the turtles' physical traits, the biologists then knew where to safely and humanely release each turtle to monitor the health and population of the turtles in the local wetlands.