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Older English sources such as the King James Version of the Bible refer to livestock in general as cattle. Additionally other species of the genus Bos are often called cattle or wild cattle. This article refers to the common modern meaning of cattle, European cattle.
Young cattle are called calves. Young males are called bullocks or bull-calves; young females are called heifers. Male cattle bred for meat are castrated unless needed for breeding. The castrated male is then called a steer, unless kept for draft purposes, in which case it is called an ox (not to be confused with the related wild musk ox). Intact males are called bulls. Adult females over two years of age (approximately) are called cows. The adjective applying to cattle is bovine.
There is no singular equivalent to "cattle" other than the various gender and age-specific terms (though "catron" is occasionally seen as a half-serious proposal). "Cow" is probably the closest to being gender-neutral, although it is usually understood to mean female (females of other animals, such as whales or elephants, are also called cows.) Some Canadian, Scottish, Australian and New Zealand farmers use the term "cattlebeast". "Neat" (horned oxen, from which we get " neatsfoot oil"), "beef" (young ox) and "beefing" (young animal fit for slaughter) are obsolete terms. Cattle raised for human consumption are called beef cattle. Cows of certain breeds that are kept for the milk they give are called dairy cows. Herds are counted as, for example, "one hundred head".
The terms bull and cow are also used for the male and female of some other species, including other bovids such as American bison, but also less closely related species such as moose, elephants, whales, and sea lions. The terms are used primarily to refer to animals that have polygynous or harem mating systems, though "bull" in particular may be used because humans find the male of a species daunting.
Cattle are ruminants, meaning that they have a unique digestive system that allows them to synthesize amino acids. This allows them to thrive on grasses and other vegetation.
The aurochs was originally spread throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. In historical times, its range was restricted to Europe and the last animals were killed by poachers in Masovia, Poland, in 1627, though some breeders have attempted to recreate the original gene pool of the aurochs by careful crossing of commercial breeds, creating the Heck cattle breed.
A popular misconception about cattle (primarily bulls) is that they will become extremely enraged upon seeing the colour red. This is incorrect; cattle are totally colour blind, and can only see in greyscale. The main source of this rumour is the fact that Matadors traditionally use red coloured capes to provoke bulls into attacking. In fact red is merely a tradition, the movement of the cape is the attractant.
Cattle occupy a unique role in human history. Some consider them the oldest form of wealth. Their ability to provide meat, dairy and draft while reproducing themselves and eating nothing but grass has furthered human interests dramatically through the millennia.
In Hinduism, the cow is said to be holy (and thus should not be eaten); "The cow is our Mother, for she gives us her milk."
In Latin America, Australia and the western North America cattle are grazed on large tracts of rangeland called ranchos or ranches.
In Portugal, Spain and some Latin American countries, bulls are used for the sport of bullfighting; in many other countries this is illegal.
The recent outbreaks of mad cow disease have reduced or prevented some traditional uses of cattle for food, for example the eating of brains or spinal cords.
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