It is predictable that there are 1.3 billion cows in the world today. In 2009, cow became the first livestock animal to have its genome mapped. Cows were formerly identified by Carolus Linnaeus as three separate species. These were Bos Taurus, the European or taurine cow (including similar types from Africa and Asia); Bos indicus, the zebu; and the extinct Bos primigenius, the aurochs. The aurochs is family to both zebu and taurine cow. Complicating the matter is the ability of cow to interbreed with other intimately related species. Hybrid individuals and even breeds exist, not only between taurine cow and zebu but also between one or both of these and some other members of the genus Bos: yak banteng and gaur.
Hybrids can also take place between taurine cow and either species of bison, which some authors believe to be in the genus Bos as well. The hybrid source of some types may not be obvious for example; genetic testing of the Dwarf Lulu breed, the only humpless taurine type cow in Nepal, found them to be a mix of taurine cow, zebu and yak. Cow cannot effectively be hybridized with more vaguely connected bovines such as water buffalo or African buffalo. The aurochs originally ranged during Europe, North Africa, and much of Asia.
Home >>cow
Cow is the most common type of large domestic ungulates. They are a famous recent associate of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most extensive species of the genus Bos, and are most typically classified together as Bos primigenius. Cow are raised as livestock for meat (beef and veal), as dairy animals for milk and other dairy products, and as draft animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). Other goods contain leather and dung for manure or fuel. In various countries, such as India, cow is sacred.
Cow is the most common type of large domestic ungulates. They are a famous recent associate of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most extensive species of the genus Bos, and are most typically classified together as Bos primigenius. Cow are raised as livestock for meat (beef and veal), as dairy animals for milk and other dairy products, and as draft animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). Other goods contain leather and dung for manure or fuel. In various countries, such as India, cow is sacred.
