Cattle
Cattle or cows (commonly called cows), are among humankind's most important domesticated animals for several purposes such as providing food,industrial
raw materials, fuel, by products etc. They are r hoofed mammals, of the species Bos taurus. Through history, they have had a tremendous effect on human culture, economy, social economy and religion.Cattle were identification by Mr. Carolus Linnaeus as three separate species.
These were,
Bos taurus - European cattle, including similar types from Africa and Asia.
Bos indicus- Zebu or humped cattle found in India.
Bos primigenius- Aurochs.
Scientific Classification of Cattle.
Binomial Name : Bos taurus
English Terminology.
Cow-An adult female over two years of age
Bull-An adult, intact (not castrated) Male
Calves-Young Cattles
Bull Calf-Young Male
Heifer -Young female before she has calved
Bullock or steer - The castrated male
External Appearance of Cattle.
The external body parts from the head region of a cow – in this head region,
identify the mouth, lip, cheek, chin,
muzzle, forehead, poll, ear, eye, nostril, and other.
Different parts from the neck region of a cow – here, find the neck crest, dewlap,
brisket, and jugular groove.
The external parts from the body or barrel of a cow – in this region, find many
external features. The most important features are – hump, wither, loin, rump,
pin bone, heart girth, flank, and others.
Different parts from the forelimb of a cow –the shoulder, point of shoulder, arm,
forearm, knee joint, cannon bone, fetlock, pastern, and coffin joints.
The external features of the hindlimb of a cow – here in this region, can find a
point of the hipbone, thigh bone, leg bone, stifle joint, hock joint, Achilles’
tendon, and more.
The cow’s mouth consists of lips, teeth, tongue, jaw, and dental pad. There is a
well-developed cornual process present in a cow. This process may be back at a
young age and yellowish black at an older age. But in some breeds of cow, the
pinkish-yellow cornual process.
You will also find the head crest in between the base of the cornual-process of a
cow. Below the head crest and above the level of two eyes of a cow, there is a
flat forehead. The poll of a cow is a bulging portion that lies at the top
middle center of the forehead.
The chin of a cow lies below the lower lip, and it is fleshy and pinkish. Again,
the muzzle is the projecting part of the head, including the mouth, nose, and
jaw of a cow.
You will find a neck crest that lies between the head crest and hump. In addition,
the hump is the bulging fleshy portion between the neck crest and back.
There is a well-developed dewlap in a tropical breed of cow. But you will find less
developed dewlap in European cows.
There is a fleshy bulging brisket present between and in front of the forelimb of a
cow.
You will find the wither of the cow just behind the hump and in between two
shoulders. The back of a cow is the part between the wither and the last rib.
You will find a well-developed flank region in a cow. This is a part of thick skin
that hangs from the hindlimb and abdomen.
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