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Livestock

Cow

Cows are part of the everyday rhythm of the ranch, right alongside the working dates farm.

Taxonomy

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Bovidae

Scientific Name

Bos taurus

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.

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.