# Cow (*Bos taurus*)

> Domestic cattle descend from the aurochs and number over one billion worldwide, providing milk, meat, leather, and draft power. Dairy and beef breeds vary enormously — from 400 kg Jerseys to massive Chianina bulls — and cattle farming shapes landscapes, economies, and climate debates globally.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Domesticated
- **Range:** Domesticated from the aurochs in the Middle East and South Asia; over one billion cattle on farms and rangelands on every inhabited continent.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cow/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Bovidae
- **Genus:** Bos

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Bos taurus |
| Diet | Herbivore — grass, hay, silage, and grain supplement |
| Habitat | Farms and rangelands on every inhabited continent |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years (dairy cows often culled earlier) |
| Weight | 400–1,200 kg (880–2,650 lb) depending on breed |
| Top speed | Up to 35 km/h (22 mph) when frightened |
| Conservation status | Domesticated (IUCN) |

## Domestication from aurochs

Cattle were domesticated from wild aurochs in the Middle East and South Asia roughly 10,000 years ago, independently in some regions. Selective breeding produced dairy breeds optimised for milk, beef breeds for muscle, and draught breeds for pulling ploughs and carts.

## Ruminant digestion

Cattle are ruminants with four-chambered stomachs that ferment tough plant fibre through regurgitation and re-chewing ('chewing the cud'). Microbes in the rumen break down cellulose humans cannot digest — but also produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

## Dairy and beef systems

Modern dairy cows may produce 30+ litres of milk daily through selective breeding and nutrition. Beef cattle graze rangelands from the American West to the Brazilian cerrado. Welfare debates focus on feedlots, calf separation, and slaughter practices.

## Environmental footprint

Cattle farming uses more land and water than most crops and contributes significantly to methane emissions. Sustainable grazing can sequester carbon on some grasslands, but rainforest clearing for beef pasture remains a major conservation issue in the Amazon.

## Frequently asked questions

### Cow vs bull vs steer?

Cow is an adult female; bull is an intact adult male; steer is a castrated male raised for beef. Heifer is a young female that has not calved.

### How much milk does a cow produce?

Modern dairy breeds average 25–35 litres per day at peak lactation, far more than a calf needs — the result of centuries of selective breeding.

### Are cows intelligent?

Cattle show learning, memory, social bonds, and emotional responses. They recognise individual herd mates and humans and prefer familiar companions.

### How many cows are there?

Over one billion domestic cattle worldwide — among the most numerous large mammals on Earth.

### What did cows evolve from?

The wild aurochs (Bos primigenius), hunted to extinction in the 1600s but preserved genetically in domestic cattle.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Bos taurus.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Bos%20taurus&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Bos taurus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bos_taurus/)

---
Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cow/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.