Cattle Vocabulary 101

Cattle: generic, plural term for all cows, bulls, calves, heifers and steers
Herd: group of cattle
Cow: female that has had at least one calf
Bull: mature male used for breeding
Calf: male or female less than 1 year old
Heifer: female that has never had a calf
Steer: young male that has been neutered

Often customers will inquire about purchasing half of a “cow” for the freezer. They really mean they want tender, flavorful cuts of ribeye, filet mignon, roasts and ground beef. At Elmwood Stock Farm, these cuts come from steers raised specifically for this purpose, not cows. Cows tend to be kept in a herd for many years, especially if they prove to be good mommas, raising strong and healthy calves each year. Cows retire from raising calves and live out their days here on the farm.