牛年的“牛”，英语到底是cow、bull还是ox、cattle ？？ - 知乎

牛年的“牛”，英语到底是cow、bull还是ox、cattle ？？ - 知乎切换模式写文章登录/注册牛年的“牛”，英语到底是cow、bull还是ox、cattle ？？维夕雅思今年是 年，说到“牛”小伙伴们脑海里肯定冒出了很多词，比如ox，bull，cow，cattle，buffalo，calf...有这么多“牛”，那“牛年”的“牛”用哪个呢？是未阉割的公牛，亦指其他雄性动物。西班牙盛行的“斗牛”就是bullfight，而“斗牛士”是bullfighter。（图源：中国日报网）我们常说的“牛市”（多头市场）就是 bull market；而 “熊市”（空头市场）则是 bear market。之所以选择这两种动物，一种说法是在西方古代文明中，牛代表力量、财务和希望，熊则代表抑制狂热、消化自身、见机重生。汉语中有“吹牛”一词，在英语里就可以用bull，表示“假话，瞎话；胡说。例：People are saying that he stole the money, but that's a bunch of bull.人们都说他偷了那笔钱，其实那纯属胡说。指母牛、奶牛，或大型雌性动物（如象或鲸象、鲸、海豹等）。a herd of cows 一群母牛；milk the cows 挤牛奶；（图源：中国日报网） ▶ have a cow说某人 have a cow 的时候，可不是在说他有一头奶牛，而是指他 “暴跳如雷” 或 “焦虑不安”。例句：Don't have a cow—it's no big deal.别发火，没什么大不了。My mother will have a cow if we get a stain on the new sofa.如果我们把新沙发弄脏了，我妈会生气的。▶ till the cows come home这个短语是指 “很长时间” 。例句：My wife was talking on the phone with her sister till the cows came home last night!昨晚我妻子和她姐姐打电话聊得没完没了！You can talk till the cows come home, but you’ll never persuade me to go with you!就算你一直说下去，也永远不能说服我跟你走！指阉割过的公牛（即常用于干农活的阉牛），也可以用来通称牛，复数形式是oxen。“牛年”可以说：Year of the Ox时常有同学把牛年翻译成“Year of the Cow”或是“Year of the Bull”，这样牛年就成了母牛年或公牛年了。所以，翻译成“Year of the Ox”应当说不会引起歧异。（图源：中国日报网）指菜牛或奶牛，本身就是复数名词，一群牛可以说“a herd of cattle”；而养牛的牧场可以说“a cattle ranch”。beef/dairy cattle 肉／奶牛；指小牛、牛犊，也可以指大型动物的仔、幼兽。母牛怀孕可以说a cow in/with calf。kill the fatted calf 设宴庆祝（或欢迎）；给予款待；怎样表达我属牛？在向别人介绍自己的生肖时要注意，表达特定生肖年时，year of the (animal) 的 「the」不可以省略喔！例：I was born in the Year of the Ox.我是在牛年出生的。（图源：中国日报网）▶ like a bull in a china shopbull是公牛的意思，不过，china shop 可不是中国店，这里的china是瓷器的意思。瓷器很容易被弄碎，所以进入瓷器店的人都很小心，但是如果是一头牛进入了瓷器店，可以想像瓷器的命运。所以，like a bull in a china shop（就像是在瓷器店裡的牛）是形容笨手笨脚、鲁莽闯祸的人。例：The new housemaid is like a bull in a China shop.新来的女佣是个毛手毛脚的人。除了说一个人笨手笨脚外，like a bull in a china shop还可以用来指一个人的举止、言谈过于直率，根本不注意是否会冒犯别人！例：She's like a bull in a china shop. She'll storm in there and upset the client.她的个性很鲁莽。她会冲进会议室来，把客户惹翻的。▶ Cock and bull story我们知道cock是公鸡，bull是公牛，公鸡和公牛能有什么故事呢？这个词最早可追溯到1620年，英国有一间酒馆的名字就叫“Cock and bull story”，这里旅客经常聚在一起讲一些旅途中的奇闻轶事。久而久之，cock and bull story就变成了无稽之谈、鬼话连篇的意思，和动物本身没有直接关系。例：He admitted that he had invented a cock and bull story.他承认他编造了一个荒诞不经的故事。Shoot the bull想象一下挤在牛舍里的一群牛，用鼻孔互相喷气并发出哞哞的声音，看起来舒适又惬意，好像我们平时和朋友闲聊的样子，所以shoot the breeze/bull就是“闲聊，瞎扯”的意思，可以理解为友好地谈天说地作为消遣，主要是聊一些无关紧要，不会引发争论的内容。例：You spend too much time shooting the bull.你们花在闲谈上的时间太多了。好啦，看完今天的内容，是不是又涨姿势啦？ 发布于 2021-02-23 18:04英语翻译牛IELTS（雅思）​赞同 9​​7 条评论​分享​喜欢​收藏​申请

写时复制技术详解(COW) - 知乎

写时复制技术详解(COW) - 知乎首发于小梁编程汇切换模式写文章登录/注册写时复制技术详解(COW)小梁编程汇​腾讯 后台开发岗1、写时复制简介写时复制（Copy-on-write，简称COW）是一种计算机程序设计领域的优化策略。其核心思想是，如果有多个调用者（callers）同时请求相同资源（如内存或磁盘上的数据存储），他们会共同获取相同的指针指向相同的资源，直到某个调用者试图修改资源的内容时，系统才会真正复制一份专用副本（private copy）给该调用者，而其他调用者所见到的最初的资源仍然保持不变。这过程对其他的调用者都是透明的。此作法主要的优点是如果调用者没有修改该资源，就不会有副本（private copy）被创建，因此多个调用者只是读取操作时可以共享同一份资源。2、用途:虚拟内存管理中的写时复制一般把这种被共享访问的页面标记为只读。当一个task试图向内存中写入数据时，内存管理单元（MMU）抛出一个异常，内核处理该异常时为该task分配一份物理内存并复制数据到此内存，重新向MMU发出执行该task的写操作。数据存储中的写时复制Linux等的文件管理系统使用了写时复制策略。数据库服务器也一般采用了写时复制策略，为用户提供一份snapshot。软件应用中的写时复制C++标准程序库中的std::string类，在C++98/C++03标准中是允许写时复制策略。但在C++11标准中为了提高并行性取消了这一策略。[1] GCC从版本5开始，std::string不再采用COW策略。3、写时复制详解COW是存储系统中使用的基本更新策略之一(还有就地更新（UIP）)。基本模式永远不会覆盖旧数据。使用COW策略更新数据块时，数据块被读入内存，进行修改，然后写入新位置，而旧数据则保持不变。由于COW永远不会覆盖旧数据，因此通常用于防止由于本地文件系统中的系统崩溃而导致数据丢失,COW更新策略已在存储系统中广泛使用但是COW引入了令人不愉快的递归更新过程。文件系统可以看作是由磁盘块组成的大树，当使用COW策略修改叶块时，还需要修改其父节点以更新修改后的子块的新位置。此更新过程将递归进行，直到到达根块为止，该根块可以在磁盘上的固定位置进行更新。我们将这样的过程定义为递归更新。递归更新可能会导致存储系统出现多种副作用，例如WRITE放大，I / O模式变更和性能下降缺点:写放大：递归更新可能会导致写放大，比如应用程序只需要修改一个叶子数据块F 但是，递归更新导致总共修改了四个父级节点（F->D->A->Root）。实际刷新的数据高达4 × 请求的数据。实际上，由于在这种情况下忽略了由块分配引起的递归更新，因此修改的块数量可能会更高。性能下降： WRITE放大会引入其他数据以进行写入，这最终可能会降低文件系统的性能。优点:保护数据：本地文件系统.由于有备份机制,不会因为文件系统崩溃导致大量甚至全部数据丢失.提高性能：日志结构的文件系统，例如Sprite LFS,使用COW更新策略将访问模式从大量的小随机写入转换为单个大的顺序WRITE，从而利用了磁盘顺序I / O带来的高性能。在特殊介质上更新数据：一次写入多次读取的介质，例如光盘，使用COW实施随机WRITE。闪存文件系统使用COW优化更新过程，这有助于提高WRITE性能并实现损耗均衡。4、fork和cowcow是一种优化策略,fork是linux提供的创建新线程的方法,大多数的fork实现借用了cow策略来节省内存空间.子进程和父进程继续执行fork之后的指令。子进程是父进程的复制品。例如，子进程获得父进程数据空间、堆和栈的复制品。注意，这是子进程所拥有的拷贝。父、子进程并不共享这些存储空间部分。如果正文段是只读的，则父、子进程共享正文段 ,现在很多的实现并不做一个父进程数据段和堆的完全拷贝，因为在fork之后经常跟随着exec。作为替代，使用了在写时复制技术。这些区域由父、子进程共享，而且内核将它们的存取许可权改变为只读的。如果有进程试图修改这些区域，则内核为有关部分，典型的是虚存系统中的“页” .fork细节:一般来说，在fork之后是父进程先执行还是子进程先执行是不确定的。这取决于内核所使用的调度算法。如果要求父、子进程之间相互同步，则要求某种形式的进程间通信总结:所以在使用fork在借用cow策略实现时,其实父子进程会共享数据段、代码段、堆,而栈是父子进程独有的.5、vfork和forkvfork也用于创建一个新进程，而该新进程的目的是调用exec执行一个新程序。但vfork它并不将父进程的地址空间完全复制到子进程中，因为子进程会立即调用 exec(exit)，于是也就不会存访该地址空间。不过在子进程调用 exec或exit之前，它在父进程的空间中运行。这种工作方式在某些 U N I X的页式虚存实现中提高了效率（和fork类似即:在fork之后跟随exec，并采用在写时复制技术相类似） 。vfork和fork之间的另一个区别是:vfork保证子进程先运行，在它调用exec或exit之后父进程才可能被调度运行。 （如果在调用这两个函数之前子进程依赖于父进程的进一步动作，则会导致死锁。子进程在exec和exit之前其实运行在父进程的内存空间,所以子进程的数据操作其实是在修改父进程的对应数据.操作不当有可能导致进程崩溃.所以vfork之后建议立即执行exec或exittips：UIP是将目标块读入内存，进行修改，然后在其原始位置写入磁盘（覆盖旧数据）引用:1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copy-on-write2.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6879362/similar#similar3.《unix环境高级编程第8章》编辑于 2022-01-02 22:48Linux 内核Linux 开发Linux性能优化（书籍）​赞同 15​​1 条评论​分享​喜欢​收藏​申请转载​文章被以下专栏收录小梁编程汇分享C++、Go、分布式、缓存、数据库、

Cow | Description, Heifer, & Facts | Britannica

Cow | Description, Heifer, & Facts | Britannica

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IntroductionDomestic cattleNatural historyDomestication and economic productionDairy cattle breedsBeef cattle breeds

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Brent Huffman is a zoologist from Toronto, Canada, and a lead keeper in the African Savanna at the Toronto Zoo, working with giraffes, river hippos, eland, sable antelope, and Watusi cattle, as well as...

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cow, in common parlance, a domestic bovine, regardless of sex and age, usually of the species Bos taurus. In precise usage, the name is given to mature females of several large mammals, including cattle (bovines), moose, elephants, sea lions, and whales.Domestic cows are one of the most common farm animals around the world, and the English language has several words to describe these animals at various ages. A baby cow is called a calf. A female calf is sometimes called a heifer calf and a male a bull calf. A heifer is a female that has not had any offspring. The term usually refers to immature females; after giving birth to her first calf, however, a heifer becomes a cow. An adult male is known as a bull. Many male cattle are castrated to reduce their aggressive tendencies and make them more tractable. Young neutered males, which are primarily raised for beef, are called steers or bullocks, whereas adult neutered males, which are usually used for draft purposes, are known as oxen. A group of cows, cattle, or kine (an archaic term for more than one cow) constitutes a herd. English lacks a gender-neutral singular form, and so “cow” is used for both female individuals and all domestic bovines.

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Domestic cattle Cows are members of the order Artiodactyla. The order contains even-toed hoofed mammals, and cows have distinctive cloven hooves (derived from the toenails from the middle two digits of each foot). Cows belong to the family Bovidae (hollow-horned ruminants, which also includes antelope, sheep, and goats), subfamily Bovinae (which includes buffaloes and spiral-horned antelope), tribe Bovini (which includes cattle, bison, and yak), and genus Bos—the names of which are all derived from bos, the Latin word for cow. Natural history Hereford cow and calfThe size and weight of a cow is highly dependent on the breed. Mature males weigh 450–1,800 kg (1,000–4,000 pounds) and females weigh 360–1,100 kg (800–2,400 pounds). Both males and females have horns, and although these may be short in many breeds, they can grow to be spectacularly large, such as in Texas longhorns and African Ankole-Watusi cows. Some breeds are genetically polled (hornless), and many other cows may be dehorned (that is, have their horn buds destroyed) at young age to make them easier to transport and safer to work around. Cows are renowned for their large milk-producing (mammary) glands known as udders, which possess four teats (nipples). Cows are well adapted for grazing (feeding on grass), with a wide mouth and specialized teeth for eating tough vegetation. Adults have 32 teeth but lack upper incisors and canines—they have a gummy pad instead that is used to help rip up grass. The molars have moon-shaped ridges that run parallel to the tongue, and thus chewing must be done with a circular motion to be effective. cow and chicken digestive tractsThe most specialized adaptation that cows (Bos taurus) and other ruminants have is their massive four-chambered stomach, which acts as a fermentation vat. The chicken (Gallus gallus), however, has a three-chambered stomach, which includes an organ called the gizzard that is especially modified for grinding food. (more)The most specialized adaptation that cows (and other ruminants) have is their massive four-chambered stomach, which acts as a fermentation vat. Inside the rumen, the largest chamber of the stomach, bacteria and other microorganisms digest tough plant fibres (cellulose). To aid in this process, cows regurgitate and re-chew food multiple times before it passes on to the rest of the digestive system via the other stomach chambers. This process, called “chewing the cud,” helps sort the digesta (the material being digested) and absorb nutrients. By taking time to re-chew their food later, cows avoid the need to chew well when they eat. This enables them to quickly ingest large quantities of grass while in the vulnerable head-down position required for grazing.

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Domestication and economic production aurochs skeletonSkeleton of an aurochs (Bos primigenius), an extinct wild ox of Europe. (more)Cows are currently the most common domesticated ungulate (hoofed mammal), and they are found wherever humans live. Global stocks of cows were estimated at nearly one billion animals in 2016, with India, Brazil, and China having the largest populations (together maintaining approximately one-third of all cows). Cows were first domesticated between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago from the aurochs (B. taurus primigenius), a wild species of cattle that once ranged across Eurasia. The wild aurochs became extinct in the early 1600s, the result of overhunting and loss of habitat due to the spread of agriculture (and domestic herds). Today, there are two broadly recognized forms of cow: the zebu or humped cattle from eastern Asia (B. taurus indicus) and cattle without humps (B. taurus taurus) from western Eurasia, although the two forms readily interbreed. Genetic studies suggest that both forms descend from the aurochs, but they are the products of independent domestication events. Cows were first domesticated as “all-purpose” animals, used as draft animals and also for their milk and meat products. Regional specializations led to the formation of a range of varieties, or breeds, that were adapted to different climates or that were selectively bred to emphasize valuable characteristics, such as milk or meat production. Cows are used by humans in many other ways, such as a source of leather for clothing and other products and, albeit controversially, as participants in sporting events (e.g., bullfighting, bull riding, and rodeo events). Cows may also serve as a measure of wealth, and they are even worshipped as sacred animals in some religions (see sanctity of the cow). Historically, northern Europeans constructed their dwellings alongside or on top of cow stables, creating “housebarns” warmed by the body heat of cows. Holstein-Friesian cowAll mammals produce milk to feed their young, but dairy cattle, such as the well-known Holstein-Friesian cow, have been specially bred to produce very large quantities of milk. Since only females produce milk, they are far more common in the dairy industry. Dairy bulls are often large, powerful, and aggressive and are more challenging to keep. As a result, most breeding in modern dairy operations occurs through artificial insemination, with bulls living at just a few specialized facilities. Different breeds of dairy cows have been bred for specific milk characteristics, such as to maximize yield or to produce a desired level of fat in the milk. Milk from cows is a significant part of many food items; in addition to its direct consumption as a beverage, it is used to make a wide range of products including butter, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. Dairy cows produce milk for around 10 months following the birth of the calf. A typical western dairy cow is usually milked twice per day and produces on average 30 litres (8 gallons) of milk daily; however, the actual amount produced depends upon the age and breed of the cow. Most modern milking is not done by hand but by machines. Cows usually have their first calf when they are just under two years old—with single calves being typical, although twins sometimes occur—and each cow may have ten or more calves over the course of her life. Even though cows can live for 20 years or more, older dairy cows are often culled from commercial herds and used for meat when their milk yield begins to decline. The meat of adult cows is known as beef; meat from calves (typically slaughtered at three months of age) is known as veal. Beef cattle, such as the common Hereford and Aberdeen-Angus breeds, have been bred to produce muscle, not milk, and tend to be much heftier than dairy cows. Breeds of beef cattle have differing characteristics in regards to growth rate, fat content of the meat, disease resistance, and ability to handle drought. In addition to muscle meat, a variety of organs from cows—including liver, kidney, heart, brains, and various glands—are also consumed by people. Beef cows are typically farmed in less intensive systems than dairy cows, since they are not handled daily for milking. Dairy cattle breeds A comparison of selected breeds of dairy cattle is provided in the table.

Selected breeds of dairy cattle

name

distribution

characteristics

comments

Ayrshire

originally Scotland, now throughout temperate lands

deep, fleshy body; red or brown with white

hardy

Brown Swiss

originally Switzerland, now North and South America, Europe

wedge-shaped body; light to dark brown

hardy

Guernsey

originally island of Guernsey, now United Kingdom, North America, Australia

fawn-coloured with white markings; short horns

excellent milk producer

Holstein-Friesian

originally Netherlands, now North and South America, Australia, South Africa

black and white; horned or hornless

large production of milk

Jersey

originally island of Jersey, now every cattle-raising country

small, short-horned; varies in colour, often fawn

docile; uses feed efficiently

Milking Shorthorn

originally England, now also United States, Australia

red, red and white, white, or roan

highly versatile

Red Poll

originally England, now also North America

red with some white; hornless

dual-purpose breed

Beef cattle breeds A comparison of selected breeds of beef cattle is provided in the table.

Selected breeds of beef cattle

name

distribution

characteristics

comments

Angus, or Aberdeen-Angus

originally Scotland, now also United States, United Kingdom

hornless, black, compact, low-set

adapts well to varied climates

Beefmaster

developed in Texas, 1908

red, usually with white spots

breed trademarked Lasater Beefmaster

Belgian Blue

originally Belgium, now also United States

large with prominent muscles; straight back

hardy

Belted Galloway

originally Galloway, southwest Scotland

usually black; distinctive white belt encircling body between shoulders and hooks

hardy; thrives in rigorous climate

Brahman, or Zebu

originally India, now widespread

gray with large shoulder hump

extensively crossbred

Brangus

developed in United States, 1930s

large, black, hornless; straight back

3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus

Charolais

originally France, now also Mexico, United States

unusually large and white

much used for crossbreeding

Chianina

originally Italy, now also North America

white; heavily muscled long legs

largest breed of cattle

Hereford, whiteface

originally England, now also United Kingdom, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand

red and white; low-set and compact

popular beef breed

Limousin

originally France, now also North America

red-gold; long-bodied; horned

uses feed efficiently

Normande

originally France, now also South America

medium-sized; small head; coloured patches around eyes

dual-purpose breed

Polled Hereford

originally United States, now widespread

muscular; hornless

mutation of the Hereford

Santa Gertrudis

originally United States, now also Cuba, South America, Australia

deep red colour; horned

3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Shorthorn

Shorthorn, or Durham

originally England, now almost every cattle-raising area

horned or hornless; red or roan

calves mature rapidly for market

Simmental

originally Switzerland, now widespread

red and white; large; horned

extensively crossbred

Brent Huffman

cow是什么意思_cow的翻译_音标_读音_用法_例句_爱词霸在线词典

COW中文(简体)翻译：剑桥词典

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cow 在英语-中文（简体）词典中的翻译

cownoun uk

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/kaʊ/ us

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/kaʊ/

cow noun

(ANIMAL)

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A1 [ C ] a large female farm animal kept to produce meat and milk

母牛，奶牛

a dairy cow

奶牛

[ C ] a large female adult mammal such as an elephant, a whale, or a seal

（象、鲸、海豹等）雌性动物

a cow elephant

母象

更多范例减少例句The farmer called the vet out to treat a sick cow.We watched the cow suckling her calves.The cows were grazing in the meadow.We visited a dairy farm and saw the cows being milked.A cow goes 'moo' and a dog goes 'bow-wow'.

cow noun

(WOMAN)

[ C ] UK offensive an unkind or unpleasant woman

蠢婆娘；泼妇

You stupid cow!

你这个蠢婆娘！

cow noun

(UNPLEASANT THING)

[ S ] Australian English informal something difficult or unpleasant

难办的事；讨厌的事情

It's been a cow of a day.

真是令人难受的一天。

习语

have a cow

till/until the cows come home

cowverb [ T usually passive ] uk

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/kaʊ/ us

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/kaʊ/

to frighten someone into doing something, using threats or violence

（以威胁或暴力）使害怕，吓唬，恐吓

The protesters refused to be cowed into submission by the army.

抗议者拒绝向军队低头。

(cow在剑桥英语-中文（简体）词典的翻译 © Cambridge University Press)

A1

cow的翻译

中文（繁体）

動物, 母牛，奶牛, （象、鯨、海豹等）雌性動物…

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西班牙语

vaca, hembra, bruja…

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vaca, fêmea, vaca [feminine]…

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（雌）牛, 女（嫌いな女性を指すときに使う失礼な表現）, 乳牛（にゅうぎゅう）…

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inek, kancık, şirret karı…

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vache [feminine], vache, femelle…

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koe, wijfje, intimideren…

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இறைச்சி மற்றும் பால் உற்பத்தி செய்ய வளர்க்கப்படும் ஒரு பெரிய பெண் பண்ணை விலங்கு, யானை, திமிங்கலம் அல்லது நீர் நாய் போன்ற ஒரு பெரிய பெண் வயது வந்த பாலூட்டி…

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ગાય, હાથી, વહેલ…

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ko, hun-, kue…

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ko, skrämma, kuscha…

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lembu betina, betina binatang, menakutkan…

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die Kuh, einschüchtern…

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ku [masculine-feminine], ku, hunn(-)…

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گائے…

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корова, самиця, залякувати…

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корова…

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ఆవు, వ్యవసాయ క్షేత్రంలో మాంసము, పాల కోసం పెంచే పెద్ద జాతి ఆడ పశువు…

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بَقَرة…

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গরু, বড় প্রজাতির স্তন্যপায়ী প্রাণী যেমন হাতি, তিমি অথবা সীল মাছের স্ত্রী জাতি…

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kráva, samice, vyděsit…

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sapi, binatang betina, menakut-nakuti…

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วัวตัวเมีย, ตัวเมีย, ขู่…

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bò cái, chỉ giống cái của một số động vật, dọa nạt…

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krowa, samica, zastraszyć…

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암소, 젖소, (여자를 욕할 때 쓰는 말) 년…

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mucca, strega, cretina…

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sea cow

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have a cow idiom

have a cow, at have kittens idiom

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“每日一词”

healthspan

UK

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/ˈhelθ.spæn/

US

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/ˈhelθ.spæn/

the number of years that someone lives or can expect to live in reasonably good health

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英语-中文（简体） 

Noun 

cow (ANIMAL)

cow (WOMAN)

cow (UNPLEASANT THING)

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Cow - Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts

Cow - Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts

HomeAnimal IndexComplete List of AnimalsA – GAnimals that start with AAnimals that start with BAnimals that start with CAnimals that start with DAnimals that start with EAnimals that start with FAnimals that start with GH – NAnimals that start with HAnimals that start with IAnimals that start with JAnimals that start with KAnimals that start with LAnimals that start with MAnimals that start with NO – TAnimals that start with OAnimals that start with PAnimals that start with QAnimals that start with RAnimals that start with SAnimals that start with TU – ZAnimals that start with UAnimals that start with VAnimals that start with WAnimals that start with XAnimals that start with YAnimals that start with ZDogsParks and ZoosCitationContact Us Search HomeAnimal IndexComplete List of AnimalsA – GAnimals that start with AAnimals that start with BAnimals that start with CAnimals that start with DAnimals that start with EAnimals that start with FAnimals that start with GH – NAnimals that start with HAnimals that start with IAnimals that start with JAnimals that start with KAnimals that start with LAnimals that start with MAnimals that start with NO – TAnimals that start with OAnimals that start with PAnimals that start with QAnimals that start with RAnimals that start with SAnimals that start with TU – ZAnimals that start with UAnimals that start with VAnimals that start with WAnimals that start with XAnimals that start with YAnimals that start with ZDogsParks and ZoosCitationContact Us Animals Network HomeAnimal IndexComplete List of AnimalsA – GAnimals that start with AAnimals that start with BAnimals that start with CAnimals that start with DAnimals that start with EAnimals that start with FAnimals that start with GH – NAnimals that start with HAnimals that start with IAnimals that start with JAnimals that start with KAnimals that start with LAnimals that start with MAnimals that start with NO – TAnimals that start with OAnimals that start with PAnimals that start with QAnimals that start with RAnimals that start with SAnimals that start with TU – ZAnimals that start with UAnimals that start with VAnimals that start with WAnimals that start with XAnimals that start with YAnimals that start with ZDogsParks and ZoosCitationContact Us MammaliaArtiodactylaBovidaeBosBos taurusChordataCowBy  Animals Network TeamThe Cow, known in the plural as cattle, are large members of the Bovidae family. Their closest relatives are bison, buffalo, antelopes, sheep, impala, and more.Researchers believe that our domestic cattle descended from the wild aurochs, which are now extinct. Scientists believe that cattle domestication occurred about 10,500 years ago. Read on to learn about the Cow. Description of the Cow Nowadays, Cows come in many shapes and sizes. They are large, hoofed mammals, though people have bred “dwarf” breeds in smaller sizes. These bovines range in size from the tiny Vechur, which stands just three feet tall, to the massive Chianina from Italy. This enormous breed grows over five feet tall, and weighs several thousand pounds!Interesting Facts About the CowAll of the different breeds of Cow are actually the same species. Learn a little more about a few fun breeds of these animals below.Chianina – This breed is just too interesting to only mention once! Originally bred to pull plows and carts, this breed is now used for meat production and for show. Farmers often cross breed this Cow with other breeds to change the meat quality.Holstein Friesian – The Holstein Friesian, also known simply as “Holstein,” is the stereotypical “milk cow.” This is the black and white version that you picture when you think of milk, and that graces nearly every milk carton. Humans originally bred this variety in Friesland, in the Netherlands, and in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.Texas Longhorn – Drawn to notoriety, this breed is best known for its massive headgear. Whether it’s a football mascot or a chain restaurant, longhorns make big impressions. The Texas longhorn bull can sport a pair of horns up to seven feet across!American Brahma – This dopey-looking breed is downright adorable. American brahma cattle have long, floppy ears, and a large hump on their shoulders. To top it all off, their neck and chest feature a large flap of loose skin, known as a dewlap.Habitat of the CowResearchers aren’t quite sure what the exact original habitat of the aurochs was, though it was likely open grazing land. Nowadays, cattle live in pastures and ranges of open area.Some of the different types of habitats they utilize include savannas, scrub forests, and even desert edges. As long as they have lots of space and plenty of grass, Cows are happy.Distribution of the CowThese are not wild animals, and thus do not have a wild distribution. However, they live virtually worldwide. Every inhabitable region, with the exception of Antarctica (we’re not sure if this counts as inhabitable in the first place) contains cattle.Cows have worldwide distribution, thanks to the people that breed them. Different breeds of cattle are more common than others, particularly in different regions of the world.Diet of the CowCattle are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. As herbivores, they primarily graze for grass, rather than browse on plants and shrubs. A single Cow can eat over a hundred pounds of grass in a day!These prodigious eaters spend half their days grazing, and the other half chewing the food they just ate. While cattle rest, they regurgitate their food and chew it to aid digestion. This is called “chewing their cud.” It takes an incredibly long time for cattle to fully digest meals of grass.Cow and Human InteractionHumans and Cows interact quite frequently, primarily because they are domestic animals. People rely quite heavily on cattle for several different purposes, including meat, milk, labor, and companionship.They are incredibly common animals, though different breeds are rarer than others. The species as a whole is in no danger of extinction, but some breeds have lower numbers than others because of disuse.DomesticationHumans have fully domesticated cattle. People breed them for several different purposes, including meat, milk, dairy products, and pulling plows or carts. Their domestication occurred about 10,500 years ago.Does the Cow Make a Good PetCows do make good pets in an agricultural setting. Some breeds are friendlier than others, while others can be quite aggressive. It is important to do all your research before purchasing any animal to ensure you can properly care for them.Cow CareThese animals require extensive care and space, because they are quite large. Cows are social, so must live in groups, and those groups must have lots of acreage to roam. They need lots of grass to eat, and additional hay to supplement their diet if the grass is not optimal, especially in winter.You must also milk dairy Cows daily while they are producing milk. Care of cattle varies slightly based on the use and the number of cattle.Behavior of the CowThese mammals are diurnal, and mostly active during the day. They are social, and live in herds. Within herds, cattle have social hierarchies, or more dominant and less dominant animals. Cows at the top of the “totem pole” hierarchy vary based on age, size, and gender.They usually do not fight very frequently, but maintain bonds between individuals and use mock fights to settle disputes. Less dominant animals lick those higher in the pecking order. Herds of cattle spend much of their time foraging for food, and then resting while they chew that food a second time as cud.Reproduction of the CowCattle are polygamous, and a single male breeds with many different females in his herd. After breeding, females have a nine-month gestation period before giving birth to a single calf or a pair of calves. The calf can stand soon after birth, and quickly begins walking and following its mother.The mother weans the calf off her milk when it is about six months old. By the time calves are a year old, they are fully independent from their mothers. At a year old, Cows reach sexual maturity and can reproduce.Beliefs, Superstitions, and Phobias About the CowCattle are important animals in human culture. Their importance and symbolism vary based on the region, people, and the religion at hand. Those in the Hindu religion revere cattle, and in some areas killing cattle or eating beef is prohibited.Cattle are also present in many other religions, artwork, and pop culture media, they appear in paintings and statues, television shows, the Chinese Zodiac, and more.TAGSAmerican BrahmacattleChianinaCowHolstein FriesianTexas LonghornCydni Oldham RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR ArtiodactylaRed Angus ChordataPaint Horse ActinopterygiiBlack Sole Expert Recommendations Dog CareBest Dog Ear Cleaner Dog CareBest Raw Dog Food Dog CareBest Wireless Dog Fences Dog CareBest Dog Beds for Large Dogs Dog CareBest Smelling Dog Shampoo Dog CareBest Dog Backpack Dog CareBest Dog Puzzle Toys Expert RecommendationBest Outdoor Cat Houses Expert RecommendationBest Self Cleaning Litter Box Dog CareBest Dog BootsAnimals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection. 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Cattle | Description, Breeds, & Facts | Britannica

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What are cattle?Cattle are domesticated bovine farm animals raised for their meat, milk, or hides or for draft purposes.What animals are considered cattle?Animals included under the term cattle are the Western or European domesticated cattle and the Indian and African domesticated cattle. Other bovids such as the Asian water buffalo, the Tibetan yak, the gayal and banteng of Southeast Asia, and the plains bison of North America have also been domesticated or semi-domesticated and are sometimes considered to be cattle.What species do modern domestic cattle belong to?All modern domestic cattle belong to the species Bos taurus (European breeds such as Shorthorn and Jersey) or Bos indicus (Zebu breeds such as Brahman) or to crosses of these two (such as Santa Gertrudis).Ankole-Watusi cattlecattle, domesticated bovine farm animals that are raised for their meat, milk, or hides or for draft purposes. The animals most often included under the term are the Western or European domesticated cattle as well as the Indian and African domesticated cattle. However, certain other bovids such as the Asian water buffalo, the Tibetan yak, the gayal and banteng of Southeast Asia, and the plains bison of North America have also been domesticated or semidomesticated and are sometimes considered to be cattle.Hereford cow and calfMurray GreyMurray Grey heifer.(more)In the terminology used to describe the sex and age of cattle, the male is first a bull calf and if left intact becomes a bull; if castrated he becomes a steer and in about two or three years grows to an ox. The female is first a heifer calf, growing into a heifer and becoming a cow. Depending on the breed, mature bulls weigh 450–1,800 kg (1,000–4,000 pounds) and cows 360–1,100 kg (800–2,400 pounds). Males retained for beef production are usually castrated to make them more docile on the range or in feedlots; with males intended for use as working oxen or bullocks, castration is practiced to make them more tractable at work. The use of cattle as commodities has been a point of philosophical contention throughout history, particularly regarding the raising of animals for food. Such issues are compounded by modern concerns about the ethics of industrial factory farming and the contribution of commercial meat production to global warming. (See also livestock farming: Cattle; vegetarianism.)

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Animal Group Names

Jersey cowBrahman bullSanta Gertrudis bullAll modern domestic cattle are believed to belong to the species Bos taurus (European breeds such as Shorthorn and Jersey) or Bos indicus (Zebu breeds such as Brahman) or to be crosses of these two (such as Santa Gertrudis). Breeds as they are known today did not always exist, and many are of recent origin. The definition of a breed is difficult and inexplicit, although the term is commonly used and, in practice, well understood. It may be used generally to connote animals that have been selectively bred for a long time so as to possess distinctive identity in colour, size, conformation, and function, and these or other distinguishing characteristics are perpetuated in their progeny. Breeds have been established by generations of breeders aiming at the attainment and preservation of a particular type with its identifying characteristics. This is accomplished by working on the principle of “like begets like.” It is only in relatively recent times that the science of genetics, and particularly population genetics, has contributed to breeding. (See also animal breeding.)There are many old established breeds in continental Europe—for example, the Charolais and Normande of France, the Holstein-Friesian of the Netherlands, and many others—but British breeds are of particular interest because of their influence in building up the vast herds that supply so much beef and dairy in other countries around the world. Beef cattle breeds A comparison of selected breeds of beef cattle is provided in the table.

Selected breeds of beef cattle

name

distribution

characteristics

comments

Angus, or Aberdeen-Angus

originally Scotland, now also United States, United Kingdom

hornless, black, compact, low-set

adapts well to varied climates

Beefmaster

developed in Texas, 1908

red, usually with white spots

breed trademarked Lasater Beefmaster

Belgian Blue

originally Belgium, now also United States

large with prominent muscles; straight back

hardy

Belted Galloway

originally Galloway, southwest Scotland

usually black; distinctive white belt encircling body between shoulders and hooks

hardy; thrives in rigorous climate

Brahman, or Zebu

originally India, now widespread

gray with large shoulder hump

extensively crossbred

Brangus

developed in United States, 1930s

large, black, hornless; straight back

3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus

Charolais

originally France, now also Mexico, United States

unusually large and white

much used for crossbreeding

Chianina

originally Italy, now also North America

white; heavily muscled long legs

largest breed of cattle

Hereford, whiteface

originally England, now also United Kingdom, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand

red and white; low-set and compact

popular beef breed

Limousin

originally France, now also North America

red-gold; long-bodied; horned

uses feed efficiently

Normande

originally France, now also South America

medium-sized; small head; coloured patches around eyes

dual-purpose breed

Polled Hereford

originally United States, now widespread

muscular; hornless

mutation of the Hereford

Santa Gertrudis

originally United States, now also Cuba, South America, Australia

deep red colour; horned

3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Shorthorn

Shorthorn, or Durham

originally England, now almost every cattle-raising area

horned or hornless; red or roan

calves mature rapidly for market

Simmental

originally Switzerland, now widespread

red and white; large; horned

extensively crossbred

Dairy cattle breeds A comparison of selected breeds of dairy cattle is provided in the table.

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Selected breeds of dairy cattle

name

distribution

characteristics

comments

Ayrshire

originally Scotland, now throughout temperate lands

deep, fleshy body; red or brown with white

hardy

Brown Swiss

originally Switzerland, now North and South America, Europe

wedge-shaped body; light to dark brown

hardy

Guernsey

originally island of Guernsey, now United Kingdom, North America, Australia

fawn-coloured with white markings; short horns

excellent milk producer

Holstein-Friesian

originally Netherlands, now North and South America, Australia, South Africa

black and white; horned or hornless

large production of milk

Jersey

originally island of Jersey, now every cattle-raising country

small, short-horned; varies in colour, often fawn

docile; uses feed efficiently

Milking Shorthorn

originally England, now also United States, Australia

red, red and white, white, or roan

highly versatile

Red Poll

originally England, now also North America

red with some white; hornless

dual-purpose breed

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.

Cows - Information & Facts on Cows,Bulls & Calves