Cattle (Bos taurus) are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus …

Dec 1, 2025 · Cattle are domesticated bovine farm animals that are raised for their meat, milk, or hides or for draft purposes. The animals most often included under the term are the Western or European …

These powerful creatures, ancestors to modern cattle, were eventually domesticated, a process that began around 10,500 years ago in the Near East. Over millennia, selective breeding by humans led …

Cattle are ruminants; their complex, four-compartment stomach enables them to digest and convert plant material into energy and important “building blocks” of the body.

Cattle (commonly called cows), are among humankind's most important domesticated animals. They are even-toed ungulates or hoofed mammals, of the species Bos taurus of the family Bovidae, or bovids. …

Jan 2, 2026 · Cattle play a vital role in global agriculture, providing milk, meat, leather, and draft power across diverse farming systems. Over time, selective breeding has led to the development of …

In the modern world, cattle are divided into two main types: beef cattle and dairy cattle. Beef cattle are raised primarily for their meat, while dairy cattle are kept for their ability to produce milk. Some …

Learn more about the various cattle breeds in a list organized alphabetically.

Dec 1, 2025 · Cows were first domesticated between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago from the aurochs (B. taurus primigenius), a wild species of cattle that once ranged across Eurasia.

Cattle (Bos indicus and B. taurus) are the most common and widespread species of large ruminant livestock and are raised primarily to produce milk, meat and hides and to provide draft power.