Mammal · GBIF taxon 2441022
Bos taurus
bos taurusAlso known as Domestic Cattle, Cow, Ox, Bovine
Domestic cattle are social herd animals that form complex dominance hierarchies, establishing lifelong social bonds with preferred companions in their pasture groups. They spend up to eight hours a day grazing on vegetation, using a four-chambered stomach to ferment and digest tough plant fibers through rumination. Their acute sense of hearing and broad 300-degree field of vision keep them constantly aware of their surroundings in open landscapes.
DomesticatedHerbivoreMammal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Pasture Grasses
- Clover
- Alfalfa
Predators
- Gray Wolf
- Grizzly Bear
- Cougar
ThreatsInfectious diseases, severe weather, and habitat degradation in feral populations
HabitatsPastures, grasslands, open rangelands, and agricultural farms
Life span15 to 20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- Speciesbos taurus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Maintain a safe distance, especially around bulls or cows protecting young calves.
- Why it is dangerous
- Massive weight and powerful head movements can cause severe crush or trampling injuries if an individual charges or startles.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Watch for pinned ears, direct staring, pawing at the dirt, or lowered heads signaling agitation.
- What to do
- Give large herds wide berth, never walk between a cow and her calf, and avoid entering pastures containing intact bulls.
Responsible observation
- Approach with care: Walk slowly and speak softly when moving around cattle to avoid startling them.
- Respect blind spots: Avoid standing directly behind cattle where their vision cannot reach.
- Give space to calves: Avoid approaching young calves because protective mothers will aggressively defend them.
Predator User:Mas3cf / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative 
Close Relative Jack Dykinga / Public domain · cc0
Family Member (c) Alex Stach, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Stach · cc-by
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