In this article about one of the most domesticated animals in the world, we will discover some fascinating facts.Typically, one may not be unfamiliar with the term ‘cow’. We even start learning alphabets by memorizing the alphabet C for a cow.So what makes a cow such a familiar animal to us, or what makes a cow such a sought-after animal around the world? Did you know that the term ‘cow’ refers to female cattle? Isn’t that a fantastic piece of cow fact to ponder? There are more than 1,000 breeds or varieties of cattle we can seek and find around the world. Cows are quite essential for the dairy industry and also for consumption in the meat industry. Their leather is also quite sought after too.These herbivores belong to the class Mammalia in the animal kingdom. Cows go by the binomial names of Bos taurus or Bos longifrons. Cows are members of the family Bovidae. Cows are animals that hold an important position in the lives of farmers who raise them as livestock. The livestock industry is a thriving industry and has been part of human lives from time immemorial. Livestock rearing can date back to ancient history when humans shifted their free will from hunting to farming. Farmers reared the cattle, using them for farming and also as food for consumption. The digital space has many posts related to subjects on how to raise farm animals. The posts and comments on such forums may give us many insights into raising our cattle better. Generally, by doing this, one can tell the latest developments in farming practices and methodologies from around the globe and also be able to decipher the related cattle terminology in a better manner.Do you want to take a call and tell the difference between a cow and a bull in a blink of an eye? Well, read on as we tell you the differences from the time a calf is born. Do you want to raise your IQ levels with these interesting facts? In this article, we will be learning something unique about cows and cattle terminology. So let us steer through the facts about these animals and tell all the characteristics and differences with ease.If these facts have intrigued you more, discover more fun articles from our recent posts on goat bloat and goat hair here at Kidadl.What is a heifer?Did you know that a domestic cow or cattle can be referred to with different names for different stages of its life? Yes, you read that right. Generally, we are often used to hearing the term ‘cow’ alone, but typically, there is more than just one terminology to describe this bovine. A young one of our favorite bovines, the cow, is called a calf. So, the young calf may be differentiated based on its gender and called a ‘heifer calf’ for a female calf and a ‘bull calf’ for a young male calf. ‘Heifer’ is the term assigned to young or immature female cows that have not given birth to a calf yet. So, a heifer can be a young female falling into the age group of 6-36 months of age. Once they go past the immature state and when the cows have given birth, the adult female is termed as a cow.We have now learned the difference between a cow and a heifer. These inputs will help us know more about this bovine (a cow or a heifer), beyond its usage in dairy production and meat production. Let us tell the differences between the cattle terminology at different stages of life.Young castrated male cattle are referred to as a steer. The castrated males or steers have their testicles removed and are induced into the market for beef production. The castrated males or steers get their testicles removed as early as six months of age.The removal of testicles ensures the castrated male becomes tamed or very docile. Farmers get the testicles removed from a male bovine by surgical methods before they secure sexual maturity. The castrated males are bred, particularly for meat production.Mature male animals of cattle are termed ‘bulls’. Once a mature male is castrated, it is referred to by the term ‘ox’. The ox is inducted into the draft purpose, which is nothing but load carrying or plowing a field to assist a farmer. The ox may be observed to be more muscular than a steer.Would you want to know the difference between a steer and a heifer? Well, given the fact that the steers are males and the heifer is a female, we can observe their physical appearance and gauge their gender apart. The heifers have teats instead of a significant udder. The steers do not have testes like the mature males. If you observe the hind parts of a cow, you may observe a vulva in a heifer, but the same will be missing in a steer.Heifers can be bred once they attain the age of sexual maturity, which is typically around 12-14 months. Heifers cannot produce milk, as milk is produced in mammals only when the young one is born. Farmers use heifers for breeding, assisting in furthering milk production or contributing to the beef market. A heifer that has had only one calf may be addressed as a ‘first calf heifer’.What is a cow?Cattle, or cows, are vital livestock animals domesticated on the farm by farmers for dairy or milk production and meat production. Now let us learn more about female cattle.A heifer or a female cow attains the position of a cow after it gives birth to its first calf or baby. Generally, a female cow can be differentiated from other bovine mates by just looking at her udders. The udders are the mammary glands of cattle that produce milk for the baby calf. Cows are prolifically used in breeding to increase milk production. Cows can churn out milk for three to four years easily.Breeding can happen as often as three months after the cows or the female cattle have delivered a calf. The breeding ensures that the female cattle have a continuous supply of milk. The calf delivered may be separated from the mother even before it has been weaned off to get the breeding process rolling. The calf which has not been weaned off is made free from its mother as early as one week post-birth. The cruelty of this process has led to many people turning into vegans, as these procedures enforce animal cruelty. It is gruesome to see an animal bred in such a manner and suffer such a fate.It is a myth that only male cattle have horns. Some female cattle may develop horns depending on the breed. Cattle are born with horns, and later the farmers may get these horns removed for ease of maintenance. Steers may be spotted with a horn, but they might be too small. Steers may weigh anywhere between 1000-3000 lb (450-1360 kg). Did you know that a group of steers can be called a drove?Steers contribute greatly to the world’s beef consumption throughout. Body parts of the steers like kidneys, hearts, livers, or even brains are in high demand in the beef market. Steers also provide the leather used in the clothing industry. Steer roping or steer wrestling are also some areas where steers are often seen.Cows play a very vital role in our environment. Cattle providing us with meat for consumption has helped mankind survive since the stone age era. The byproducts from cattle, like dung, can be very useful for our environment in the form of organic manures. These organic manures can replace the harmful chemicals that are used in fertilizers. The cattle graze on the grass, thereby reducing the risk of range fires. Once the grass dries off, if it is not mowed or cut, it may become a threat as they are highly vulnerable to catching fire from a stray matchstick or even a small spark from vehicles moving nearby. These unstoppable fires are known to destroy the habitats of many innocent animals. Cattle protect our ecosystem in unique ways.What is the difference between cow and heifer?We have explored in length what the terms ‘heifer’ and ‘cow’ mean. Let us now learn to call out the difference between the two when spotted in a herd and become experts like a farmer. We know that a heifer is a young female bovine animal at her maturity age that has yet to produce a calf. The cow, on the other hand, is a mature female that has just given birth to a calf. We would now learn the differences between the two and pick them out quickly in a herd.By looking at their physical appearance, the females can be told apart as heifers or cows. The heifers have a leaner look than the cows. Heifers can be noticed with hips that are not as imminent as in cows. The cows sport thicker middles than heifers. The heifers also have teats, whereas the cows have an udder that can be easily noted for its abundant presence. The udder is the ultimate differentiator between these females.Now, if you wish to differentiate between the bulls in a herd, you may have to look for the largest of the lot. The bull may show a hump on the shoulder. These massive animals can weigh as much as 2,000 lb (907 kg). Bulls are preferred for their fertility and ability to sire offspring. A bull becomes mature enough to reproduce by the age of two years. Did you know a young bull can weigh half as much as a mature bull at just the age of 14–15 months?Now that we have explored how to call out the difference between the gender in cattle, we are free to explore more possible differences in the cattle breed. Let us do some fact exploration and learn if we make a better choice by consuming meat from grass-fed cattle or grain-fed cattle.Grass-fed cattle have more Omega-three fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and antioxidants in their meat compared to the meat of cattle that are grain-fed. Hence, the meat from grain-fed cattle will prove to have more health benefits.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for heifer vs. cow, then why not take a look at what do baby birds eat or cow facts?
In this article about one of the most domesticated animals in the world, we will discover some fascinating facts.
