Which term describes a mature female bovine?

Which term describes a mature female bovine?

• A. calf
• B. heifer
• C. cow
• D. bull

Answer: (C)

In cattle terminology, age and reproductive status determine what a female is called. A calf is a young animal. A heifer is a female that has not yet calved. A cow is the adult female that has calved at least once. A bull is an adult male. So a mature female bovine—the one that has given birth and completed calving—gets called a cow. If she hasn’t calved yet, she would be a heifer, not a cow.

In cattle terminology, age and reproductive status determine what a female is called. A calf is a young animal. A heifer is a female that has not yet calved. A cow is the adult female that has calved at least once. A bull is an adult male. So a mature female bovine—the one that has given birth and completed calving—gets called a cow. If she hasn’t calved yet, she would be a heifer, not a cow.