the cow

cow facts

"… there is approximately one cow for every seven people on Earth…"

Cows are animals found all over the world. They were domesticated by humans over 10,000 years ago for work, dairy, meat and more. Yet scientists are still gaining insight into their complex brains and emotions. These suave giants range in weight from 700 pounds to the size of a car, and some have long horns, humps on their backs, colorful patterns, or other incredible features! While "cow" technically refers only to females, the term is generally used to describe any animal of the species, regardless of sex. The technically correct term for a group of animals in this species is "cattle".

cow facts

• The largest cows grow to nearly two tons and are as big as a car!
• By number, dairy cows are the second largest livestock in the world!
• A single cow can produce over seven gallons of milk per day!
• Cows are sacred in parts of India, where their slaughter is generally prohibited.

Check out more incredible facts about cows.

Scientific name, history and evolution

The scientific name of the cow is Bos taurus . Bos Taurus is the largest of the bovids . The two main subspecies of dairy cows are the Indian ox and the golden ox (or Bos taurus taurus). Indicus' roots can be traced back to South Asia, especially modern India. Meanwhile, the origin of Taurus can be traced back to Europe.

The predecessor of the modern dairy cow was the bison. The bison is an undomesticated cattle that lived in what is now Turkey and Pakistan. As cows were domesticated, they were crossbred and soon began spreading to different civilizations. Genetics of cattle brought to the Americas during Spanish colonial times bear traces of different bovine lineages, showing a historical mixing of African and European dairy breeds, researchers have found.

appearance and behavior

A herd of cattle is called a cow. A herd of cattle is a herd. Check out this article to learn more about herd names and how they work.

Types of cows and cattle

There are more than 250 different types of dairy cows worldwide, with approximately 80 breeds available to US ranchers alone.

Here are some of the top dairy cow breeds:

• Angus – Angus cattle, also known as "Aberdeen Angus," are the most common breed of beef cattle in the United States. There are over 330,000 registered Black Angus cows. One reason the breed is so popular is its meaty characteristics, which have a full-bodied flavor and lots of marbling. Another positive aspect of this breed is that they are very self-sufficient like calves. These cows are also very good at being mothers.
• Belted Galloway – The Belted Galloway, also known as the "Oreo", is named for its white stripes surrounded by a black head and rump. While most look for their color, they do produce excellent lean beef.
• Brahman – The Brahman comes from India and is actually the most abundant breed of dairy cow in the world. They stand out by the prominent hump on their shoulders. They also have extra skin under their throat area to keep them warm.
• Charolais – Charolais cow is originally from France. They have a light colored coat and are bred for plotting purposes such as field work but also for milk and beef. They are known for being hardy and hardy.
• Dexter – The Dexter cow comes from Ireland and is one of the smaller versions of the cow. Valued for their gentle nature and size, they require less acreage to manage. Additionally, they provide the most milk per pound compared to other cattle breeds.
• English Longhorn – The English Longhorn is a versatile cattle breed known for being easy to keep and used as a working animal as well as for beef and dairy. Also known as the English Longhorn. The breed originated in Craven, England in the 1700's and was primarily used as a draft animal (or working animal). The breed can now be found almost anywhere on Earth and is known for its long horns on either side of its head.
• Fleckvieh – Fleckvieh cattle are dual purpose and are raised for meat and milk production. They became popular in the ^1800s and originated in Austria, but are now found in parts of Europe, the United States, and South America. These cattle were crossed from local livestock with Simmental cattle native to Switzerland around the 1830s. Simmental cattle are known for producing high-quality milk and meat. Plus, they are highly immune to disease, making them an ideal breed.
• Gelbvieh – Gelbvieh cows come from Bavaria, Germany and are used for various purposes. Through artificial insemination, they were introduced into the American cattle herd in the 1970's for their strong farrowing and maternal qualities.
• Hereford – Hereford cows can be found in a variety of climates around the world, making them a popular breed. After all, they are an extremely adaptable dairy breed. Herefords are popular in the United States because of their early maturity and good fattening. It is not uncommon for Herefords to be docile, easy to breed, good milk producers, and very reliable mothers.
• Holstein – Holstein cows are black and white and when you think of stereotypical cows they probably come to mind. This breed is called Holstein Friesian. The reason this breed is so popular is that it is often used in advertisements for dairy products. These cows consistently produce large quantities of high-quality milk. Therefore, they are often raised as dairy cows in order to continue to produce milk.
• Limousin – The Limousin is an ancient breed of cattle that can even be seen in cave paintings tens of thousands of years old. Originally from France, these cows have reddish and golden coats. They are now abundant on ranches in the United States and Canada.
• Linebacker – Named for the line down the middle of its back, the Linebacker or Randall's Linebacker is a critically endangered rare breed of cattle that is currently protected from extinction in the United States. Like most other cattle breeds, they are used for dairy and beef and are generally low maintenance. Linebacker cattle are easy to spot because of a thick white line on their back.
• Nelore – The Nelore cattle breed originated from the Ongole cattle breed in India. Their main uses are to produce meat and milk, as well as to ride animals and draft water. The Nelore is a widespread breed that accounts for more than half of the world's total beef producing population. The breed is sought after not only for its tasty beef, but also for its toughness, tolerance to heat, insects, swelling, and prolific reproductive life.
• Nguni – The Nguni cattle are native to the southern regions of Africa. They are widely known and admired for their eye-catching speckled and multi-patterned leathers. This cattle breed is also known for its good temperament and ability to withstand harsh weather conditions. The Nguni cattle originated from the crossing of various Indian and European breeds. They are sought after for their excellent natural immunity to tick-borne diseases.
• Piedmont Cattle – Piedmont cattle are known for their superior muscle genetics. They build muscle mass faster than other breeds. They are also hardy and resistant to many diseases. They originated thousands of years ago in Italy, the product of breeding two ancient breeds of cattle: the Pakistani zebu and the European bison. They were later incorporated into American ranches and are an important source of many Italian cheeses.
• Red Angus – Originally a Scottish breed, the Red Angus is a cross between a red English Longhorn and a Black Angus. The goal is to create working animals. Only a few of the resulting offspring are red. Eventually, American ranchers managed to breed red offspring together to strengthen the Red Angus breed into what it is today.
• Scottish Highlands – Scottish Highland cattle originally hail from the high altitudes of the scenic Scottish Highlands, and the breed is now bred worldwide for meat production. From its behavior and physical characteristics, it is very typical of the cattle breed. But the Highland cattle also have many distinctive traits, including a powerful physique and incredibly long coat.
• Shorthorn – The shorthorn comes from the British Isles and is also known as the Durham cattle. This was a popular breed with early American settlers because they were known to be easy to manage, long-lived, and easy to reproduce. All of these qualities helped them become the cattle of choice for early Americans, who needed cows as working animals as well as for dairy and meat production. Some are naturally polled, some are angular.
• Simmental – Simmental cattle. Of all the cattle breeds, the Simmental is one of the oldest and most widespread. American beef cattle farmers have benefited from the introduction of these red and white cattle since the late 19th century. Due to their large size, they need little help during the calving season and gain weight rapidly.
• Senepol – Senepol cows are a specialty breed from St. Croix, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Breeders created them by selectively breeding N'Dama cattle from Senegal and English redhead cattle from the island. Identifying these animals is not difficult. Their distinctive red color and lack of horns, among many other desirable qualities. Breeders raise Senepol cattle to produce first-class milk and meat. They happen to be one of the most popular breeds of cattle.
• Texas Longhorn – The Texas Longhorn is one of America's most iconic animals. In the western United States, these mammoths became hardy, hardy, parasite and disease resistant, able to sustain themselves in a rougher vegetative life than many other breeds of cattle. They were nearly wiped out by ranchers in the early 20th century through overhybridization, but the longhorn population has recovered.
• Watusi – Watusi cows, known as "African Ankole-Watusi", come from the Nile Valley and can be traced back more than 5,000 years. These are known for their amazingly large horns, which can be seen on ancient drawings from Egypt. Naturally, the Watusi breed can thrive in warmer environments, and their horns actually help cool the blood of the cow by increasing circulation.
• Welsh Black – Welsh Black is one of the oldest breeds in England, existing in pre-Roman England. Welsh black cattle have been raised in England and Wales for around 1,000 years for dairy and beef production. There are two main types of the breed: the northern breed, known for its beef, and the southern breed, known for its dairy products. Welsh black cattle as they are known today are a combination of northern and southern breeds, best suited for beef production.
• Wagyu – Possibly the most valuable cow today is Wagyu. Their beef has a unique flavor and unparalleled marbling. It is sought after in fine dining restaurants all over the world. There are four types of Wagyu breeds: Japanese pollen, Japanese shorthorn, Japanese brown, and finally Japanese black, which is most common in Japan. What do wagyu eat? They eat more than 15 types of food

intelligence and emotion

Habitat

Cows are animals that can survive in many climates and places. The Indian subspecies are better suited to tropical environments, while Taurus cows can easily survive winter climates. In general, cows need access to wide open spaces so they can graze. Whether in the mountains, the jungle, or the open plains, cows can adapt to many different environments.

diet

Cows are herbivores, which means they eat grass and other plants. Because of their very unique feeding style, cows can eat a variety of tough grasses. Cows will first bite a plant or grass and then swallow it whole. This unchewed food does not enter its first stomach until later. When the cow finds a quiet place, it will start spitting the plants back into its mouth. This vomit is called "rumination," and the cows chew the cud into smaller pieces for further digestion.

Predators and Threats

Reproduction, Babies and Longevity

Cows start their lives after nine months of pregnancy. After live birth, the babies, known as calves, will nurse for several months before being weaned. Babies are usually able to walk shortly after birth. It takes about one to two years for a cow to grow old enough to start bearing her own young. Cows usually give birth one calf at a time.

Most farm cows are captive-bred—that is, with sperm implanted into the cow. This helps farmers avoid certain genetic problems.

Adult cows give birth to a calf every two years or so. While the natural lifespan of a cow can exceed twenty years, most do not live beyond ten years. This is because most dairy cows are part of a farm operation, and after a few years of milking, the cows are usually processed for meat.

population

Numbering over 1.4 billion, there is roughly one cow for every seven people on Earth. This makes cows and cattle the second most numerous farm animals in the world. While there are bison in some areas, most cattle are domesticated. This means they were raised on a farm.

While dairy cows are generally not at risk, some breeds are significantly less affected than others. Various conservation groups work to preserve rare breeds of dairy cattle, such as Dexter.

See all 228 animals that start with C

how do cows say in