Cattle are large domesticated bovine ungulates that belong to the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. They are raised for their meat, milk, hides, or for draft purposes. Here are some key facts about cattle:

• Terminology: Mature female cattle are referred to as cows, and mature male cattle are referred to as bulls. Young female cattle are called heifers, young male cattle are called bullocks, and castrated male cattle are called steers. Calves are cattle of either sex that are 1 year old or younger.

• Breeds: All modern domestic cattle are believed to belong to the species Bos taurus (European breeds such as Shorthorn and Jersey) or Bos indicus (Zebu breeds such as Brahman) or to be crosses of these two (such as Santa Gertrudis). There are three types of cattle: dual-purpose cattle, dairy cattle, and beef cattle.

• Uses: Cattle are raised to produce beef, veal, and dairy products. They are also used for draft purposes, such as plowing fields or pulling carts. In research, cattle are used because they share a common anatomy and physiology with humans, and have more comparable organ size and functions than smaller animals.

• Diet: Cattle are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of grass, hay, silage, grains, and corn, among other plants.

• Life cycle: Many ranchers run cow-calf operations, where they keep a herd of cows to produce calves. The cows are bred to calve in the spring or fall. Cows, like humans, are pregnant for nine months.

• Fun facts: The hide from one cow can make 144 baseballs, 20 footballs, or 12 basketballs. A cow chews its cud for about eight hours a day.

In summary, cattle are large domesticated bovine ungulates that are raised for their meat, milk, hides, or for draft purposes. They are herbivores and have a common anatomy and physiology with humans, making them useful in research. Cattle have a variety of breeds, uses, and terminology associated with them.