Cattle (Bos taurus) is a domesticated herbivore raised worldwide for its milk and meat. The species has been extensively bred for desired attributes, and many distinct varieties of "dairy cattle" and "beef cattle" are now recognized.
Specialized terms exist for male, female, intact and castrated, and young cattle: see cow, bull, steer, ox, heifer and calf.
English word usage around "cattle" is unusual in that the singular form of the term does not exist; one must refer to "one head of cattle". In common practice the regular noun "
cow
" is often used in place of "cattle."