# Horses:horse sheep:sheep cattle:? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320 "2006-04-19T16:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/1 "2006-04-19T16:44:25Z")
What is the non-gendered term for a single bovine animal? If I, a city-slicker, see one animal in the field, and I can’t tell the gender, what do I call it? “Cow” seems to be becoming the default, but I want the real answer. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/2 "2006-04-19T16:47:14Z")
I’m not sure why it wouldn’t be cow…? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/3 "2006-04-19T16:49:18Z")
> [@Tastes of Chocolate](#): > > What is the non-gendered term for a single bovine animal? > > If I, a city-slicker, see one animal in the field, and I can’t tell the gender, what do I call it? “Cow” seems to be becoming the default, but I want the real answer. If you want to be technical and not use “cow”, “a bovine” will do. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/4 "2006-04-19T17:26:34Z")
Their christian name or their sur name? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/5 "2006-04-19T17:31:31Z")
> [@Tastes of Chocolate](#): > > If I, a city-slicker, see one animal in the field, and I can’t tell the gender, what do I call it? “Cow” seems to be becoming the default, but I want the real answer. “Cow” is correct, and it’s considered good form to say, “How now, brown cow?” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/6 "2006-04-19T17:38:26Z")
Well, “kine” is a plural, although I guess it’s a little archaic. But it works for male and female. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/7 "2006-04-19T17:50:41Z")
> [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](#): > > I’m not sure why it wouldn’t be cow…? Doesn’t “cow” specify a female? If I asked a cattle rancher about the “cow” over there, would they give me a funny look if it turned out to be a bull? ---
**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:** [April 19, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/8 "2006-04-19T17:58:56Z")
“Cow” is perfectly correct to use for males as well as females. From Merriam-Webster: > [@](#): > > Main Entry: cow > 1 a : the mature female of cattle (genus Bos) b : the mature female of various usually large animals (as an elephant, whale, or moose) > **2 : a domestic bovine animal regardless of sex or age** In some other animals, the generic term is also the name for the female: duck (generic), drake (male), duck (female) goose (generic), gander (male), goose (female) falcon (generic), tiercel (male), falcon (female). In other animals, the generic is the same as the name for the male: dog (generic), dog (male), bitch (female) lion (generic), lion (male), lioness (female) tiger (generic). tiger (male). tigress (female) In still others, there are distinct names for both male and female: chicken (generic), rooster, cock (male), hen (female) swan (generic), cob (male), pen (female) horse (generic), stallion (male), mare (female) ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/9 "2006-04-19T18:59:45Z")
The reason that “cattle” doesn’t have a singular version is because it was originally a collective noun for “livestock” (according the OED); it’s only come to mean “bovines” in the last few hundred years. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/10 "2006-04-19T19:50:31Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > chicken (generic), rooster, cock (male), hen (female) Let me get something straight. The rooster goes with the chicken. Who’s having sex with the hen? /Frank Costanza ---
**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:** [April 19, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/11 "2006-04-19T20:24:06Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Who’s having sex with the hen? The cock, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/12 "2006-04-19T20:43:13Z")
> [@Tastes of Chocolate](#): > > What is the non-gendered term for a single bovine animal? Enough people use “cow” that (as **Colibri** pointed out) it’s actually in the dictionary as an acceptable word for male cattle. It’ll get you funny looks from anyone in the cattle business, though. On a ranch, one of your cattle would be called a “beef.” I’ve heard this called archaic, but everyone around here knows it. Go to a butcher shop during hunting season and you’ll hear something like, “I can get to your elk tomorrow; I’m doing beeves today,” or “Jim dropped off a beef and a hog.” I’m not sure what terminology is for the dairy farmers. People do talk around the singular, though. You’ll hear things like, “There’s a Longhorn (or Angus or Brahman or…) on the road” or “Is that baldy (or brindle or red or…) over there yours?” If you’re speaking of a particular animal that you can see plainly, ranchers get specific. They’ll say cow, bull, steer, calf, heifer, or whatever term is appropriate. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/13 "2006-04-19T21:51:25Z")
I once asked this of a genuine dairyman, grew up on a farm, had a degree in dairy science, worked in the dairy industry, etc. I figured if anyone knew what to call a bovine of non-specific gender, it would be he. He said, there’s no specific answer. Depending on where you were and who you’re talking to you could call it: Cow Cattle Cattlebeast (Canadian) breed name (Jersey, Holestein, Angus, etc.) if known If he were in ranching instead of dairy, he probably would have said “beef” as well. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/14 "2006-04-19T21:56:01Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Cattlebeast (Canadian) > breed name (Jersey, Holestein, Angus, etc.) if known > > If he were in ranching instead of dairy, he probably would have said “beef” as well. Yes, I have heard 'cattlebeast", and also a “_head_”. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/15 "2006-04-19T22:16:51Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Cattlebeast (Canadian) I have also heard New Zealanders use this. ---
**Author:** ![tiltypig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@tiltypig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiltypig)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/16 "2006-04-19T23:22:40Z")
Cat ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/17 "2006-04-20T00:20:41Z")
As the granddaughter and wife of (different) cattle ranchers, I can say with some authority that pregnant cows & mommy cows are called “animal units” while boy cows and unpregnant cows are called “cows.” Since you aren’t trying to sell or buy, and don’t know the breeding history, of said bovines, calling them all “cow” is perfectly acceptable. Another rancher’s big, mean cow standing alone in a pasture is commonly called “a bull” regardless of whether or not it has Daddy cow type parts. Just don’t call them “Mommy cows” or “Daddy cows” unless you are specifically trying to annoy the cattle rancher reading over your shoulder. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/18 "2006-04-20T01:02:18Z")
> [@Tastes of Chocolate](#): > > What is the non-gendered term for a single bovine animal? > > If I, a city-slicker, see one animal in the field, and I can’t tell the gender, what do I call it? “Cow” seems to be becoming the default, but I want the real answer. All kinds of names. A cow is a mature female. A heifer is a cow that has not yet had a calf. A steer is a castrated male. A bull is a male. A calf is an immature cow or bull ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/19 "2006-04-20T01:06:45Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > All kinds of names. > > A cow is a mature female. > > A heifer is a cow that has not yet had a calf. > > A steer is a castrated male. > > A bull is a male. > > A calf is an immature cow or bull If you see more than one you can say, “There are some cattle.” Otherwise, as\*\* MadPansy64\*\* wrote, cow is perfectly OK. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320/20 "2006-04-20T01:50:33Z")
[Here](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_097b.html) is Cecil’s take on it, [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-horse-sheep-sheep-cattle/353320.md?page=2)