Cattle: The Facts
Cows are huge, cloven-hoofed cattle that are maintained as pets and livestock by humans. In the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent some 10,000 years ago, the first cows were produced from wild forebears. On Earth today, there are more than 1.5 billion cattle. Cattle wouldn’t even exist without human breeding that is selective! For this reason, it’s crucial for cattle ranchers to comprehend Gestation period for cows as well as what it takes to grow cattle for human use and consumption.
Appearance
Bovines have long bodies, four legs, and heavy heads balanced on thick necks. The majority of cattle have long tails with hair at the tip that they may use to swat flies away. To ward off predators, they rely on their size, pointed hooves, and power in numbers. They can discover food and avoid threats thanks to their keen vision, taste, and smell senses. In addition to brown, white, black, tan, and mixtures of any two hues, cattle can exist in other colors.
Size
Cattle in the modern era range in height from 30 to 65 inches at the shoulder. The Chianina breed of cattle, which can grow to over 71 inches in height at the shoulder, is the largest in the world. These cows have some of the longest Gestation period for cows and may weigh more than 2,000 pounds. The Zebu, which stands 42 inches tall at the shoulder and typically weighs 600 pounds, is one of the tiniest cow breeds in existence.
Diet
Since they are herbivores, cattle only consume plant matter. Their usual diet consists of forbs such grass, hay, grain, and others. Each day, cattle can consume several pounds of feed. They do, however, truly chew their meal twice because they are ruminants.
Along with their big tongues, cattle utilize their front teeth to grip and pull forbs and grasses into their mouths. The rough grass is then broken up with their cheek teeth before being swallowed. In the stomach, the grass is partially digested before being regurgitated and chewed again. The habit of continuously chewing is referred to as “chewing the cud” and is one of the cow’s most distinctive behaviors.
Behavior
It’s critical to recognize that all currently existing cattle are domestic animals while discussing Gestation period for cows. This translates to meticulous management of the cattle’s daily lives by owners and ranchers. Numerous cattle roam freely and forage in regulated cattle ranges throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Cattle are herd animals that stick together, much like horses, sheep, and goats, with older cows and bulls dominating the younger animals.
How Long are Gestation Period for Cows?
Cow gestations last between 279 and 287 days. That indicates that cows normally give birth after a little over nine months. It’s interesting to note that the gestation periods of cows are virtually exactly equal to that of humans, which normally last around 280 days. Cow pregnancies may seem lengthy, but they pale in comparison to an African elephant’s 645-day gestation period. Additionally, the gestation period in sperm whales can run up to 590 days. With a gestation period of just 12 days, Virginia opossums have one of the shortest known gestation durations.
Can Cows have Twins?
Less than 2% of births in cattle result in multiple calves, making twin pregnancy extremely uncommon. Twins in cows are extremely rare because of the lengthy Gestation period for cows and the huge, well-developed calves that are born. When there is a male and a female twin present, the female is referred to as a freemartin.
Twin fertile male calf brothers give birth to infertile female calves called “freemartins.” The male twin is fertile whereas the female twin is infertile in practically every instance of male/female calf twinning. This is a result of some side effects of womb sharing. Although the Freemartin twin is genetically female, she does not acquire female sexual traits during development. She might even start to exhibit some male traits.
How Can You Tell a Cow is Pregnant?
Lack of heat, or estrus, in the cow is one of the earliest indicators that the gestation is starting. After giving birth, pregnant cows enter their heat cycle. Additionally, pregnant mother cows grow larger udders as they go further along in the pregnancy. The cow’s tummy will get bigger, rounder, and firmer as the fetus grows. Additionally, bull cattle are hardly interested in pregnant cows.
