What is the name of the animal that chews its cud and says "moo"? 30 years later

This question was asked to Cecil and an answer was attempted, but I’m not sure that any final answer was determined. When I read this response in the mid-90’s, I thought the answer was “beef” and the plural is “beeves”, but it doesn’t appear to be conclusive.

Is there an answer? What is the general non-gendered term for the cow whose female is called “cow”?

Here is the article, though you have to move down a bit to get to relevant discussion.
https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/681/do-mcdonalds-milkshakes-contain-seaweed/

In common usage, cow is both the generic and the female, according to context.

Oddly, in that article they discuss bovine mammals, but why not just a bovine as a noun? I think that’s the only existing alternative.

Wikipedia redirects the word “cow”, a female member of Bos taurus, to “cattle”.

Where does a heffer fit in?

When I had a feed manufacturer as a client, I asked one of their dairy specialists about the proper term, and he said “cattle” was appropriate for both singular and plural.

A heifer [sic] is the name of a young cow before she’s had her first calf.

Bring back the aurochs!

Heh. Heh heh.

“Beast” is used in Australia.

Unbelievable…

In particular used in terms a cattle being raised for slaughter.
Less so for dairy cattle, or a beef breeding herd.

Q. “How many head of cattle do you have on your property?”
A. “A couple of thousand beast” (note singular)

Of course Australians abbreviate everything so the exchange would be more likely just:
Q. “How many head you running?”
A. “Coupla thou”

Corrected that for ya!

Hence the line, “And he, he himself…the Grinch…carved the roast-beast!”

The word cow came via Anglo-Saxon (plural ), from Common Indo-European gʷōus (genitive gʷowés) ‘a bovine animal’, cf. Persian: gâv , Sanskrit: go- , Welsh: buwch .[19]

In many languages of India, the word for cow is gow. And just like English, gow usually means the female.

The Brahma cows of Texas are of Indian Origin, since European cows could not survive the heat of southern states.

'K

I spent one day as a used car salesman before deciding that it wasn’t the job for me. The experienced salesmen referred to the customers as “heads.” Presumably, because that is mostly what you see as they wander through the lot. Thus, “I’ll take the head looking at the Fairmont, you take the other one.” Or, after things had been quiet for a while, a hushed, excited call off, “Heads,” as suckers were spotted entering the lot.

Moderator Note

You did at least remove the quote attribution, but please do not alter the text inside of quote boxes.

“They’re all chickens. The rooster has sex with all of them.”

“That’s perverse!”

Beef is the meat made from cattle.

The proper term is “cattle”. Adult male cattle are called “bulls”, and adult females are “cows”.

“Bovine” is not the correct term because that is a group that includes species like buffalo and bison.

You’re missing the point. Everyone is happy with cattle, but there is no singular form of cattle.