Cow Facts & Information
Our four-legged foster mother, the cow provides so many people with sustenance throughout their lives. It's no surprise the cow is one of the oldest and most-loved domesticated animal.
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History
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All modern cows are said to have come from one ancient ancestor, the aurochs. Cave paintings show depictions of the aurochs and it is believed that the breed survived until 1627 when the last surviving auroch was killed by poachers in Poland. Evidence suggests that cows were first domesticated sometime around 6,500 B.C. following sheep, goats and dogs. The cow was introduced into America in 1611 by the Jamestown settlers and remains today one of the United States' largest agricultural industries.
Description
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Cows are large hooved mammals that range in color from light brown to black and combinations thereof. Many of them have white patches on their underbellies, legs or backs. Cows are ruminants which means that they digest their food in steps. Cows have a gestation period of about nine months and typically give birth to one calf at a time. Calves weigh in at around 55 to 99 pounds. An adult cow can weight between 900 and 1,200 pounds. They have a life-span of 15 to 25 years.
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Types
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Holstein cows are typically used in dairy production and make up 93 percent of the total number of dairy cows in the United States. Other dairy cows include Jersey, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn. Angus cows are the overwhelming choice for beef farmers. Other breeds of beef cattle include Hereford, Charolais, Brahman, Barzona, Beefalo, Beefmaster, Devon, Maine Anjou, Belted Galloway, Belgian Blue and Marchigina.
Significance
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Today beef cattle ranching makes up a large part of the world's overall meat production. Although Americans were not big beef-eaters until the expansion of the cattle industry in the West during the late 1800s, the average American today consumes well over 60 pounds of beef each year. Dairy farms are another significant agricultural industry. In the United states alone there are over 110,000 dairy farms with more than 9.2 million dairy cows. Cows provide 90 percent of the total worldwide milk supply. The average American dairy cow produces 2,000 gallons of milk each year.
Mad Cow
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Mad cow disease has become a recent concern for beef cattle ranchers and consumers alike. Mad cow disease, or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), is a fatal disease for which there is no treatment or cure. Humans can contract the disease by eating the meat of an infected animal. The epidemic was a result of cattle ranchers feeding their cows the brains of other animals, including cows. Researchers are currently working on a blood test that can test live animals. Currently the only test available requires a brain tissue sample. Incidents of BSE have declined significantly as most ranchers have made changes in their cows' feed.
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References
- Photo Credit cow image by david purday from Fotolia.com
