Cows & other Cattle

                                                                                       Why don’t most people call all hogs sows or all sheep ewes?  In the case of hogs female breeding stock is generally out of sight in barns or barnyards.  Ewes are out roaming the range, but since the lamb/mutton industry in the US is a tiny fraction the size of either the pork or beef industries relatively few people see sheep.  On the other hand, everyone has seen cows out foraging; as they turn complex carbohydrates (which are indigestible to humans) into calves and milk (high quality protein sources).  Dairy cows get supplemented with grain to support the high energy requirements  needed to be efficient milk producers.  Since pretty much everyone is familiar with these predominately true cow herds all cattle have colloquially became cows.  However, residents of the Texas Panhandle, Nebraska, West Kansas and Eastern Colorado Beef Patch are vey aware that those are steers and heifers in their local feed lots.  Classes of cattle include: cow, heifer, bull, bullock, stag, steer and calf. We only get one chance to make a good first impression so try and sound edumacated.