A
Hereford bull
In general, the same words are used in different parts of the world but with minor differences in the definitions. The terminology described here contrasts the differences in definition between the
United States of America and other
British influenced parts of world such
Canada,
Australia,
New Zealand,
Ireland, and the
United Kingdom[6].
An intact adult male is called a
bull. An adult female who has had one or two calves (depending on regional usage) is called a
cow. Young cattle are called
calves until they are
weaned, then
weaners until they are a year old in some areas, in other areas, particularly with beef cattle, they may be known as
feeder-calves or simply
feeders. After that, they are referred to as
yearlings if between one and two years of age, or by gender. A young female before she has had a calf of her own is called a
heifer[7][8] (
pronounced /ˈhɛfɚ/, "heffer"). A young female that has had only one calf is occasionally called a
first-calf heifer. A castrated male is called a
steer in the
United States of America, and is called a
bullock in other parts of the world; although in North America this term refers to a young bull.
A castrated male (occasionally a female or in some areas a bull) kept for draft purposes is called an ox (plural oxen).