Cull

Cull

Definition: Cull

Cull: Cull noun 1. killing a certain number of living animals to keep the population under control or to remove excess animals from a herd or flock deer cull, dairy cow cull the act of killing a certain number of deer or dairy cows 2. an animal that has been separated from the herd or flock and killed, usually because it is old or of poor quality verb to reduce the numbers of wild animals by killing them in a controlled way Deer may have to be culled each year to control the numbers on the hills. COMMENT: In the management of large wild animals without predators, such as herds of deer in Europe, it is usual to kill some mature animals each year to prevent a large population forming and overgrazing the pasture. Without culling, the population would seriously damage their environment and in the end die back from starvation. In the management of dairy cattle, animals are culled from herds to eradicate disease. Managing culls supports livestock health and population control.