Bovines | Bovinae

Bovines | Bovinae

Description
Description

Bovines, under the Bovinae subfamily, are a diverse group of ruminant mammals including cattle, buffaloes, and bison. Domesticated cattle, like cows, have been integral to human agriculture, providing milk, meat, leather, and labor. Wild relatives, such as the African buffalo, roam grasslands and forests. Historically, bovines evolved around 20 million years ago, with a rich fossil record showing their adaptive journey. Their habitats span grasslands, swamps, forests, and even high-altitude regions, depending on the species. Bovines have deeply influenced human civilizations, with domestication shaping societies, economies, and diets, and their wild counterparts playing crucial roles in ecosystem dynamics.

Anatomy
Anatomy

Bovines, including cows, bison, and buffaloes, have sturdy, robust bodies with four legs ending in cloven hooves, perfect for traversing diverse terrains. They possess a ruminant digestive system, featuring a multi-chambered stomach that efficiently breaks down tough plant material. Their heads are adorned with horns or antlers in some species, used for defense and dominance battles. Bovines communicate through a range of sounds, from the deep mooing of cattle to the grunting of bison. They have a keen sense of smell and good hearing, but their eyesight is less acute. Generally, bovines are strong yet gentle giants, moving with a slow, deliberate grace.

Human Interaction
Human Interaction

Humans have a long-standing, multifaceted relationship with bovines. Cattle were among the first animals domesticated for agricultural use, providing milk, meat, leather, and labor. In many cultures, cows are revered, symbolizing abundance and nurturing. Bovines have a prominent place in pop culture, from the iconic cow character in the "Moo Moo Farm" video game to humorous depictions in cartoons and advertisements.

Conservation efforts for wild bovines like bison and buffaloes focus on habitat preservation and sustainable management, given their roles in ecosystem balance. While domesticated breeds are widespread, ensuring the survival of their wild cousins remains a crucial ecological concern.

Common Questions
Common Questions
What do cows eat?

Cows are herbivores and need of lots of nutrition to produce milk. A cow’s diet consists of grass silage, hay, alfalfa hay, grains, and corn. Typically, barley, oats, minerals, and vitamins are mixed into their food. Cows drink about 25 gallons of water a day.

How many cows can graze per acre?

Generally, a cow and calf pair need 1.5 to 2 acres for adequate grazing, but this depends on the location. Other factors that affect how many cows can graze per acre include the soil fertility, pasture quality, and rain.

Why do cows wear bells?

Cowbells are used by farmers locate and keep track of the cow herd by the sound of the bells. They also may scare away any potential predators. As technology has improved, the use and need of cowbells has become less popular.

Animals

* Under Development *

63.8”-84.3” | 162-214 cm
30.7”-40.6” | 78-103 cm
86”-114” | 218-290 cm
900-2000 lb | 410-910 kg
12-20 years (wild); 20-40 years (captivity)
American Bison
214.000
103.000
290.000
910.000
40.00
36600
GUIDE
3D
American Bison
93.7”-100.8” | 238-256 cm
46.9”-51.2” | 119-130 cm
113”-123” | 286-312 cm
3300-3500 lb | 1500-1590 kg
14-16 years
Ancient Bison
256.000
130.000
312.000
1590.000
16.00
1750
GUIDE
3D
Ancient Bison
Auroch
32800
61.4”-74” | 156-188 cm
24.8”-28.7” | 63-73 cm
105”-128” | 267-325 cm
1550-3300 lb | 700-1500 kg
25-30 years
Auroch
188.000
73.000
325.000
1500.000
30.00
32800
GUIDE
3D
Auroch
Banteng
44700
55.5”-74” | 141-188 cm
22.8”-30.7” | 58-78 cm
89”-118” | 226-299 cm
1300-1764 lb | 590-800 kg
16-20 years (wild); 20-27 years (captivity)
Banteng
188.000
78.000
299.000
800.000
27.00
44700
GUIDE
3D
Banteng
57.1”-61” | 145-155 cm
22.4”-24.4” | 57-62 cm
86”-94” | 218-238 cm
1150-2300 lb | 520-1045 kg (Total)
2-3 years (productive); 10-15 years (natural)
Black Angus Cattle
155.000
62.000
238.000
1045.000
15.00
1900
GUIDE
3D
Black Angus Cattle
Bongo
11250
53.9”-63.4” | 137-161 cm
18.1”-22” | 46-56 cm
66”-77” | 167-196 cm
330-904 lb | 150-410 kg
8-12 years (wild); 18-21 years (captivity)
Bongo
161.000
56.000
196.000
410.000
21.00
11250
GUIDE
3D
Bongo
60.2”-73.6” | 153-187 cm
32.7”-38.6” | 83-98 cm
96”-118” | 245-300 cm
1213-1918 lb | 550-870 kg
20-23 years (wild); 23-29 years (captivity)
Cape Buffalo
187.000
98.000
300.000
870.000
29.00
25600
GUIDE
3D
Cape Buffalo
56.3”-61.4” | 143-156 cm
22.8”-25.2” | 58-64 cm
91”-100” | 230-253 cm
1250-2500 lb | 565-1135 kg (Total)
4-6 years (productive); 15-40 years (natural)
Charolais Cattle
156.000
64.000
253.000
1135.000
40.00
17000
GUIDE
3D
Charolais Cattle
55.9”-71.7” | 142-182 cm
19.7”-25.2” | 50-64 cm
83”-106” | 212-269 cm
661-2072 lb | 300-940 kg
15-20 years (wild); up to 25 years (captivity)
Common Eland
182.000
64.000
269.000
940.000
25.00
5700
GUIDE
3D
Common Eland
48”-62.6” | 122-159 cm
26.8”-34.25” | 68-87 cm
84”-109” | 214-276 cm
496-1290 lb | 225-585 kg
20-25 years (wild); 25-28 years (captivity)
Domestic Yak
159.000
87.000
276.000
585.000
28.00
1500
GUIDE
3D
Domestic Yak
75.2”-81.5” | 191-207 cm
33.1”-35” | 84-89 cm
98”-107” | 250-271 cm
661-2028 lb | 300-920 kg
18-24 years (wild); 25-30 years (captivity)
European Bison
207.000
89.000
271.000
920.000
30.00
14500
GUIDE
3D
European Bison
28.7”-33.1” | 73-84 cm
7.5”-8.7” | 19-22 cm
30.7”-34.6” | 78-88 cm
37-49 lb | 17-22 kg
8-10 years (wild); up to 17 years (captivity)
Four-Horned Antelope
84.000
22.000
88.000
22.000
17.00
3670
GUIDE
3D
Four-Horned Antelope
Gaur
125800
76.8”-98.4” | 195-250 cm
32.7”-41.7” | 83-106 cm
120”-152” | 305-386 cm
1323-3307 lb | 600-1500 kg
20-26 years
Gaur
250.000
106.000
386.000
1500.000
26.00
125800
GUIDE
3D
Gaur
69.7”-83.1” | 177-211 cm
20.1”-24” | 51-61 cm
88”-106” | 224-269 cm
661-2645 lb | 300-1200 kg
15-20 years (wild); 20-25 years (captivity)
Giant Eland
211.000
61.000
269.000
1200.000
25.00
3200
GUIDE
3D
Giant Eland
48”-71.7” | 122-182 cm
12.6”-19.7” | 32-50 cm
54”-81” | 138-206 cm
265-595 lb | 120-270 kg
7-10 years (wild); 15-23 years (captivity)
Greater Kudu
182.000
50.000
206.000
270.000
23.00
11800
GUIDE
3D
Greater Kudu
60.2”-64.6” | 153-164 cm
25.2”-27.6” | 64-70 cm
93”-100” | 236-255 cm
1200-2300 lb | 545-1045 kg (Total)
1-2 years (productive); 12-20 years (natural)
Hereford Cattle
164.000
70.000
255.000
1045.000
20.00
25000
GUIDE
3D
Hereford Cattle
37.4”-48.8” | 95-124 cm
19.3”-25.2” | 49-64 cm
62”-81” | 157-206 cm
900-2000 lb | 410-910 kg (Total)
1-3 years (productive); 15-22 years (natural)
Highland Cattle
124.000
64.000
206.000
910.000
22.00
48000
GUIDE
3D
Highland Cattle
62.2”-67.3” | 158-171 cm
23.6”-25.6” | 60-65 cm
93”-98” | 235-250 cm
1200-1700 lb | 545-770 kg
4-6 years (productive); 15-20 years (natural)
Holstein Friesian Cattle
171.000
65.000
250.000
770.000
20.00
28000
GUIDE
3D
Holstein Friesian Cattle
47.6”-58.3” | 121-148 cm
12.6”-15.75” | 32-40 cm
49”-61” | 125-154 cm
198-342 lb | 90-155 kg
7-15 years (wild); 15-20 years (captivity)
Lesser Kudu
148.000
40.000
154.000
155.000
20.00
4750
GUIDE
3D
Lesser Kudu
Nilgai
119150
57.9”-72.4” | 147-184 cm
17.3”-22.4” | 44-57 cm
68”-85” | 172-217 cm
220-639 lb | 100-290 kg
12-13 years (wild); 20-22 years (captivity)
Nilgai
184.000
57.000
217.000
290.000
22.00
119150
GUIDE
3D
Nilgai
Nyala
31250
42.9”-57.5” | 109-146 cm
13”-17.7” | 33-45 cm
53”-70” | 134-178 cm
121-275 lb | 55-125 kg
11-16 years (wild); 15-19 years (captivity)
Nyala
146.000
45.000
178.000
125.000
19.00
31250
GUIDE
3D
Nyala
61”-64.6” | 155-164 cm
21.3”-22.4” | 54-57 cm
82”-87” | 208-220 cm
1100-1800 lb | 500-815 kg (Total)
1-2 years (productive); 10-15 years (natural)
Red Angus Cattle
164.000
57.000
220.000
815.000
15.00
1800
GUIDE
3D
Red Angus Cattle
Saola
45600
40.2”-45.7” | 102-116 cm
11”-13” | 28-33 cm
46”-52.75” | 117-134 cm
175-220 lb | 80-100 kg
8-11 years (wild); 12-15 years (captivity)
Saola
116.000
33.000
134.000
100.000
15.00
45600
GUIDE
3D
Saola
59”-70” | 150-178 cm
22”-25.6” | 56-65 cm
83”-98” | 212-250 cm
1545-2865 lb | 700-1300 kg (Total)
1-1.5 years (productive); 15-20 years (natural)
Simmental Cattle
178.000
65.000
250.000
1300.000
20.00
19000
GUIDE
3D
Simmental Cattle
32.7”-53.5” | 83-136 cm
9.4”-15” | 24-38 cm
42”-67” | 106-170 cm
88-275 lb | 40-125 kg
10-15 years (wild); 17-22 years (captivity)
Sitatunga
136.000
38.000
170.000
125.000
22.00
7160
GUIDE
3D
Sitatunga
Tamaraw
25100
41.3”-51.2” | 105-130 cm
20.1”-24.4” | 51-62 cm
72”-87” | 183-222 cm
400-660 lb | 180-300 kg
20-25 years (wild); 20-25 years (captivity)
Tamaraw
130.000
62.000
222.000
300.000
25.00
25100
GUIDE
3D
Tamaraw
52.8”-66.1” | 134-168 cm
19.3”-24.4” | 49-62 cm
82”-104” | 209-264 cm
600-2500 lb | 270-1135 kg (Total)
1-5 years (productive); 20-30 years (natural)
Texas Longhorn Cattle
168.000
62.000
264.000
1135.000
30.00
3100
GUIDE
3D
Texas Longhorn Cattle
48.4”-55.5” | 123-141 cm
22.4”-27.6” | 57-70 cm
80”-91” | 203-232 cm
1320-2645 lb | 600-1200 kg
20-25 years
Water Buffalo
141.000
70.000
232.000
1200.000
25.00
112700
GUIDE
3D
Water Buffalo
68.1”-87.4” | 173-222 cm
29.5”-38.6” | 75-98 cm
115”-149” | 292-378 cm
1102-2645 lb | 500-1200 kg
20-25 years (wild); 25-28 years (captivity)
Wild Yak
222.000
98.000
378.000
1200.000
28.00
10600
GUIDE
3D
Wild Yak
Zebu
91150
48.8”-62.2” | 124-158 cm
22.4”-28” | 57-71 cm
71”-89” | 180-226 cm
330-600 lb | 150-270 kg
18-21 years
Zebu
158.000
71.000
226.000
270.000
21.00
91150
GUIDE
3D
Zebu