Cattle (called cows in vernacular usage, kine archaic, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) 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 draught animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). In some countries, such as India, they are subject to religious ceremonies and respect. It is estimated that there are 1.3 billion head of cattle in the world today ^*.

Cattle were originally identified by Carolus Linnaeus as three separate species. These were Bos taurus, the European cattle, including similar types from Africa and Asia; Bos indicus, the zebu; and the extinct Bos primigenius, the aurochs. The aurochs is ancestral to both zebu and European cattle. More recently these three have increasingly been grouped as one species, sometimes using the names Bos primigenius taurus, Bos primigenius indicus and Bos primigenius primigenius. Complicating the matter is the ability of cattle to interbreed with other closely related species. Hybrid individuals and even breeds exist, not only between European cattle and zebu but also with yaks, banteng, gaur, and bison, a cross-genera hybrid. For example, genetic testing of the Dwarf Lulu breed, the only humpless "Bos taurus-type" cattle in Nepal, found them to be a mix of European cattle, zebu and yak. Cattle cannot successfully be bred with water buffalo or African buffalo. (See aurochs for the history of domestication, and zebu for peculiarities of that group.)

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Now Playing: Beavis & Butt-head - Cows Suck, But They Don't Go To School
headcaseradio (Head Case Radio) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:56:02 -0000
Now Playing: Beavis & Butt-head - Cows Suck, But They Don't Go To School
Looks official -- cows and pigs will have more protections in the Ohio constitution than LGBT people! Way to go, Ohio!
gwbyrd (George W Byrd) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:54:05 -0000
Looks official -- cows and pigs will have more protections in the Ohio constitution than LGBT people! Way to go, Ohio!
When cows reproduce, they make cheeseburgers...COWS MAKE EVERYTHING!!!
baldavelast (David Sperring) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:50:47 -0000
When cows reproduce, they make cheeseburgers...COWS MAKE EVERYTHING!!!
@zackluye Sure absolutely! I wonder if the cows should eat the caffeine. Caffeine-fed Cows!
badam (Badam) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:50:05 -0000
@zackluye Sure absolutely! I wonder if the cows should eat the caffeine. Caffeine-fed Cows!
It'll get the dipshits who made "TFers2" '09's highest-grossing film, & I have a nagging suspicion it will draw strong w/"Twilight" cows.
never_find_it (Dean Moriarty) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:45:59 -0000
It'll get the dipshits who made "TFers2" '09's highest-grossing film, & I have a nagging suspicion it will draw strong w/"Twilight" cows.
@shinyadornments Super holy mother of cows :D
Eclettica (ECLETTICA) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:45:14 -0000
@shinyadornments Super holy mother of cows :D

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