cattle

For general information about the genus, including other species of cattle, see Bos.
"Cow" redirects here. For other uses, see Cow (disambiguation).
For the mythology and lore connected with the bull, see Bull (mythology).

Cattle

A Swiss Braunvieh cow wearing a cowbell
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Family:
Bovidae
Subfamily:
Bovinae
Genus:
Bos
Species:
Bos primigenius
Subspecies:
B. p. taurus
Binomial name
Bos primigenius taurusLinnaeus, 1758
Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. They are raised as livestock for meat (called beef and veal), dairy products (milk), leather and as draft animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). In some countries, such as India, they are honored in religious ceremonies and revered. It is estimated that there are 1.3 billion cattle in the world today.[1] In 2009 the cattle became the first livestock animal to have its genome mapped.[2]