# What is the name of the animal that chews its cud and says "moo"? 30 years later **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 10, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459 "2022-08-10T23:34:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/1 "2022-08-10T23:34:12Z")
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/](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/681/do-mcdonalds-milkshakes-contain-seaweed/) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/2 "2022-08-10T23:49:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/3 "2022-08-11T00:08:38Z")
Wikipedia redirects the word “cow”, a female member of _Bos taurus_, to “cattle”. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/4 "2022-08-11T00:12:34Z")
Where does a heffer fit in? ---
**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:** [August 11, 2022, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/5 "2022-08-11T00:12:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/6 "2022-08-11T00:13:17Z")
A heifer [sic] is the name of a young cow before she’s had her first calf. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/7 "2022-08-11T00:18:34Z")
Bring back the aurochs! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/8 "2022-08-11T00:20:54Z")
Heh. Heh heh. > [@](#): > > Bovis and Beefhead ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/9 "2022-08-11T00:24:21Z")
“Beast” is used in Australia. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2022, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/10 "2022-08-11T00:46:47Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > When I read this response in the mid-90’s, I thought the answer was “beef” and the plural is “beeves”, Unbelievable… > [@Princhester](#): > > “Beast” is used in Australia. 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” ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/11 "2022-08-11T02:22:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Of course Australians abbreviate everything so the exchange would be more likely just: > Q. “How many?” > A. “Coupla thou” Corrected that for ya! ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/12 "2022-08-11T02:40:40Z")
Hence the line, “And he, he himself…the Grinch…carved the roast-beast!” ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/13 "2022-08-11T02:54:02Z")
_The word cow came via [Anglo-Saxon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_language) cū (plural cȳ), from [Common Indo-European](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Indo-European) gʷōus ([genitive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genitive) gʷowés) ‘a bovine animal’, cf. [Persian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language): gâv , [Sanskrit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_language): go- , [Welsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_language): buwch .[[19]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle#cite_note-OED_cow_n1-19)_ 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. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2022, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/14 "2022-08-11T04:03:45Z")
… > [@Princhester](#): > > Corrected that for ya! 'K ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/15 "2022-08-11T06:48:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/16 "2022-08-11T13:11:29Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Princhester](#): > > Corrected that for ya! You did at least remove the quote attribution, but please do not alter the text inside of quote boxes. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/17 "2022-08-11T19:40:05Z")
“They’re all chickens. The rooster has sex with all of them.” “That’s perverse!” ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/18 "2022-08-11T20:54:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I thought the answer was “beef” Beef is the meat made from cattle. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/19 "2022-08-11T21:28:27Z")
The proper term is “[cattle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459/20 "2022-08-11T21:33:56Z")
You’re missing the point. Everyone is happy with cattle, but there is no singular form of cattle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-animal-that-chews-its-cud-and-says-moo-30-years-later/969459.md?page=2)