# A question best suited to a rancher or cowboy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948 "2018-03-21T04:19:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steven\_Estes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/1 "2018-03-21T04:19:43Z")
A question best suited to a rancher or cowboy ``` Say two cowboys are out on a *very* large ranch. In the far distance is a horse. One cowboy says to the other, “hey, there’s a horse”. It doesn’t matter that the cowboy doesn’t know whether the horse is male or female. The word “horse” covers both male and female. Now, let’s say that, instead of a horse, it’s a cow or a bull. The cowboy can tell it’s a cow or a bull—it has a lower center of gravity than a horse--but not whether it’s a cow or a bull, because It is too far away to see horns or udders. What does the cowboy say? “Hey, there’s a cow (I.e., cow” is used as “man” and “mankind” have traditionally been used to cover both male and female human beings). OR: The cowboy might say, “hey, there’s a hoc Taurus, as the Department of Agriculture recommends. But it would seem *real* unlikely. that any cowboy would say this. OR The cowboy can’t say anything because, as one on line encyclopedia says, there is no unisex word for cow/bull. ``` SO: What does the cowboy say? (Please say whether you _know_ the answer or are making an educated speculation.) ---
**Author:** ![Shagunathor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Shagunathor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagunathor)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/2 "2018-03-21T04:39:34Z")
In my experience, the rancher generally knows what he’s running and will call it properly, i.e, “steer” or “heifer.” One can tell the difference between an adult cow and a bull from a pretty large distance, but in the case where, say, a fence has gone down and there is a potential mixture of types and that animal is just a speck on the horizon, well, I have heard “cow,” “steer,” “heifer,” “critter,” “animal,” and a whole lot of apathy towards getting it exact. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/3 "2018-03-21T05:09:28Z")
In New Zealand at least, in my experience the generic term is [cattle beast.](https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/100421535/cattle-beast-and-tourists-escape-collision-uninjured) A farmer of my acquaintance generally referred to them that way. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/4 "2018-03-21T05:16:58Z")
Wikipedia suggest that “critter” can be used as a generic term, as does [this site](http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/cattle-terms.html#.WrHqF2rwbAU)(although it can also refer to horses). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/5 "2018-03-21T05:19:38Z")
What is the singular of “cattle”? 🙂 But it would seem that the answer to the OP’s question is in the name of the occupation: Cowboy. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/6 "2018-03-21T05:24:55Z")
I’ve seen bovine used. Admittedly not specifically by a rancher or a cowboy. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/7 "2018-03-21T05:27:33Z")
Little doggie? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/8 "2018-03-21T06:05:53Z")
A real cowboy would squint at the faraway critter and ask his buddy “Is that a cow or a bull?” thus forcing the uncertainty and risk of being wrong onto the poor twit who didn’t speak first. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/9 "2018-03-21T06:16:11Z")
A beef. Or several beeves. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/10 "2018-03-21T06:43:14Z")
> [@Shagunathor](#): > > In my experience, the rancher generally knows what he’s running. That’s the ticket. Assuming this is rangeland not hobby farming and the single beast in question is way out in the distance then it’s “What’s that cow doing out there?” For practical purposes in identification a single beast is going to be either a cow or a steer. Best of luck telling them apart at a distance. If there is a bull with the herd, then he’ll almost assuredly with the cows, not on his lonesome. If there are more than beast then it’s “What are those cows doing out there” followed after closer inspection “And one of them looks like a bull”. (Please say whether you _know_ the answer or are making an educated speculation.) I don’t “know” the answer, if one exists but the PT family properties are currently running a bit over 1000 head of cattle open range so that’s our convention, so it’s educated but not speculation. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/11 "2018-03-21T12:21:50Z")
Any rancher worth his salt, knows his bulls specifically, even from a distance. You just don’t have as many bulls as cows. If it’s one of the bulls he would most likely refer to it by name. Otherwise it’s just a cow. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/12 "2018-03-21T12:50:23Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Any rancher worth his salt, knows his bulls specifically, even from a distance. You just don’t have as many bulls as cows. If it’s one of the bulls he would most likely refer to it by name. Otherwise it’s just a cow. ^that Besides, bulls are far more aggressive and territorial than cows. If the animal notices you, you’ll know right away from its response what it is. LOL ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/13 "2018-03-21T13:13:16Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Little doggie? A doggie is canis familiaris, which even the most nearsighted cowboy would be able to distinguish from bos taurus. A [dogie](http://www.dictionary.com/browse/dogie) is a motherless or neglected calf, which does not fit the OP. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/14 "2018-03-21T13:52:33Z")
Sounds like Monty Python should make a PSA: How to recognise different animals from quite a long way away. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/15 "2018-03-21T13:55:21Z")
The lark. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/16 "2018-03-21T14:00:57Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Any rancher worth his salt, knows his bulls specifically, even from a distance. You just don’t have as many bulls as cows. If it’s one of the bulls he would most likely refer to it by name. Otherwise it’s just a cow. Anna Creek Station has ~20,000 cattle. I am pretty sure nobody knows all the bulls by name even if less than half are bulls. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/17 "2018-03-21T14:04:39Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > A real cowboy would squint at the faraway critter and ask his buddy “Is that a cow or a bull?” thus forcing the uncertainty and risk of being wrong onto the poor twit who didn’t speak first. The other cowboy just gazes at the animal for a few seconds and then says “I reckon.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/18 "2018-03-21T14:14:49Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > The lark. The … lark. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/19 "2018-03-21T15:15:15Z")
I asked this of a manager at a feed manufacturer, who grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. His answer was “cattle” (singular) or “beef.” ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948/20 "2018-03-21T15:27:33Z")
This site: [Singular Terminology Issue For Cattle - Beef2Live | Eat Beef \* Live Better](http://beef2live.com/story-singular-terminology-issue-cattle-0-104356) says “cow” is acceptable as the singular for “cattle” (of either sex). It also mentions that “beast” or “cattle beast” is used in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, “bovine” in Britain, “critter” in the western US, and “beef critter” in the Southern US. I wish I could mention “kine” since I like that word, but like “cattle” it’s plural. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-best-suited-to-a-rancher-or-cowboy/810948.md?page=2)