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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@bishopmikehill your recommended 'cattle-prod challenge' as in 'bishop comforts troops' as shown in Bayeux tapestry?
Seeking1st (Nancy Wallace) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:27:21 -0000
@bishopmikehill your recommended 'cattle-prod challenge' as in 'bishop comforts troops' as shown in Bayeux tapestry?
cattle market on the underground, but amazed how after growing a beard, NO-ONE sits next to me on the tube.. can't be the aftershave surely?
swamibaracus (Swami Baracus) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:26:00 -0000
cattle market on the underground, but amazed how after growing a beard, NO-ONE sits next to me on the tube.. can't be the aftershave surely?
Now on an extremely overcrowded train where even cattle and sheep would not have to put up with!
MPH1982 (Martin Hayes) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:25:32 -0000
Now on an extremely overcrowded train where even cattle and sheep would not have to put up with!
*Grumbles something about humans being cattle as I heat up a Tru Blood*
Chow_Fangtasia (Chow) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:23:13 -0000
*Grumbles something about humans being cattle as I heat up a Tru Blood*
Watching kids play soccer is like wastxhin cattle
blindog143 (mike) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:08:44 -0000
Watching kids play soccer is like wastxhin cattle
Cattle drive today. Previous pic is my wranglin' stick.
gingerhat (Virginia Hatfield) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:07:17 -0000
Cattle drive today. Previous pic is my wranglin' stick.

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