Cows

Cattle Facts

Cattle Terminology:

• All "cows" are female.

• Male cattle are bulls or steers.

• Baby cattle are called calves.

• Cattle normally stay in groups called herds.

• Newborn calves are normally up and walking within 30 minutes of birth.

Cattle Population and Distribution:

• There are over 800 recognized breeds of cattle worldwide.

• There are over 1 billion cattle in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica.

• In India, cattle are considered sacred and allowed to roam freely. There are over 300 million cattle in India.

• Around 9.2 million dairy cows being milked at 110,000 dairy farms in the United States. 99% of these dairy farms are family-owned and operated.

Cattle Milk Production:

• Dairy cows produce more than 90% of the world's milk supply.

• Cow milk is used to make butter, cream, ice cream, and cheese.

Physical Characteristics and Adaptations:

• Cattle are large mammals with two-toed or cloven hooves.

• Depending on the breed of cattle, both males and females can have horns.

• Cattle have naturally thick skin and hair to protect them from the cold in winter months.

• Cattle have 32 teeth but no upper front teeth.

• Cattle can see color.

• Cattle have an excellent sense of smell.

• Cattle can run up to 35 miles per hour.

Digestive System and Eating Habits:

• Cattle are herbivores. Their diet consists of grass, hay, plants, and grain.

• Cattle have one stomach with four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and the abomasum.

• Cattle are ruminants, which means they are cud-chewing mammals. They spend up to eight hours each day chewing cud.

• Cattle don't bite grass; instead, they use their long tongues to rip it off, ball it up into bolus, and swallow it nearly whole. Enzymes and bacteria in the rumen compartment of their stomach break down the bolus to be regurgitated as cud.

Other Interesting Facts:

• Cattle can go up stairs but not down.

• Cows will use their tongues to lick their newborn calf dry, helping with circulation and respiration in the new calf.

• Cattle drink approximately 35 gallons of water each day.