Concerning Cows
Simmental cattle on alp pasture (Engstligenalp, Switzerland) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. As they are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae, and are the most widespread species of the Genus Bos, and are most commonly classified as Bos primigenius. Cattle are raised as livestock for meat (Beef and veal), as dairy animals for milk and other dairy products, and as draft animals (oxen) pulling carts, plows, and the like. Other products include leather or dung for manure or fuel. In some countries, such as India, cattle are sacred. An estimated 1.3 billion cattle are in the world today. In 2009, cattle became the first livestock animal to have a fully mapped genome. Cows are pretty useful. And without them we would be forced to eat things like sheep or camel milk ice cream. Or even worse, before tractors were invented (or if you’re Amish) everyone without a horse would have to either plow their fields themselves or use a big dog or goat. The luckiest might get a donkey or Shetland pony but what about the rest?
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