About
The cow is one of the most familiar farm animals in the world, a large, sturdy grazer kept for its calm temperament and its long, close relationship with agricultural life.
Livestock
Cow
Bos taurus
Cows are part of the everyday rhythm of the ranch, right alongside the working dates farm.
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
At a Glance
Quick Facts
- Life Span
- 18 - 22 years
- Size
- Adults typically weigh 500 - 800 kg
- Diet
- Herbivore - grasses and forage, chewed as cud
- Habitat
- Pasture and open farmland
- Native Range
- Domesticated worldwide from wild aurochs ancestors
- Trivia
- Cows have an almost 360-degree field of vision.
A Familiar Farm Animal
Cows are large, sturdy grazers recognized by their broad bodies, cloven hooves, and calm temperament. Most domestic cattle breeds have been shaped over thousands of years for docility around people, which is part of why cattle remain one of the most widely kept farm animals in the world.
Diet and Daily Life
Cows are ruminants, meaning they have a four-chambered stomach built to break down tough, fibrous grass. After a first quick swallow, a cow brings the food back up as cud to chew again more thoroughly — a behavior that can take up a large part of a cow's day, alongside active grazing.
Social and Family Life
Cattle are social herd animals that form close bonds with familiar herd mates and can become stressed when separated from them for long. A calf stays near its mother for much of its first year, and cows will often form small, consistent friend groups within a larger herd.
Mini Zoo
