crias

Cría, plural crías, is the Spanish term for the young offspring of an animal. In agricultural, veterinary, and wildlife contexts, cría refers to the juvenile stage from birth to weaning, though the exact age varies by species. The word also denotes the act of rearing or breeding young animals, such as in cría de ganado (livestock rearing). The term is used across livestock and wildlife populations and can denote either an individual offspring or the broader process of rearing.

Common terms by species include calf for bovines, lamb for sheep, kid for goats, foal for horses, and cria for llamas and alpacas; camels also have calves. The generic term cría is widely used to refer to the next generation in farming, breeding programs, and conservation efforts.

Newborn crías typically rely on their dam’s milk soon after birth, and colostrum provides important immunological protection in the first hours or days. Growth rates and weaning ages are species dependent, and health monitoring is important to detect illness, dehydration, or poor weight gain.

In farming contexts, the survival and growth of crías are central to production, with management focusing on clean housing, warmth for neonates, adequate nutrition, and timely weaning. In wild populations, crias face predation, disease, and environmental pressures, which influence population dynamics and ecosystem interactions.