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A
baby cow is a calf.
Its father is a bull. Its mother is a cow.
Cows eat grass and make milk.
Some
farms have cows for milk.
Some
farms have cows for meat.
When there are many cows together, they are called cattle.
There are different kinds of cattle. Some are farmed because they make lots of milk and others because they are good meat.
Dairy cattle
Some cattle farms are called dairy farms.They produce milk. They keep the kinds of cows that give a lot of milk.
A cow makes milk inside a part of her body called udders. Cows are milked twice a day. Machines pump the milk out of the cows' udders.
The milk is cooled and taken in big tankers to a factory. In the factory, the milk is heated to kill germs. The milk is put into bottles or cartons and taken to shops so we can buy it.
Some of the milk has the cream taken out of it. The cream is put into bottles and cartons and taken to shops. Milk without cream is called skim milk. It is put into bottles and cartons and taken to shops.
Some milk is made into cheese. Some milk
is made into butter. The milk is shaken until it turns into butter.
Some milk is made into yoghurt.
Beef cattle
Some farms grow cattle for meat. 
They keep different kinds of cattle to those on a dairy farm. The meat is called beef. The cattle are sold and killed, and the meat is sold to be put in shops to be sold.
Life cycle
Male cattle are called bulls, females are cows. Their young are calves. When a bull and a cow mate, sperm from his body enters the cow's body and makes an egg inside her body grow into a calf. After mating with a bull a cow is pregnant for about 9 months before giving birth to the calf. The calf drinks its mother's milk.
Cows are ready to mate and have young when they are about 9 months old.
The farmer cares for the beef and dairy cattle by keeping them in places there is plenty of green grass and fresh water. If there is not enough fresh grass, the farmer feeds the cattle hay. The farmer also cares for the animals by checking them to make sure they are healthy. The farmer will have a vet give the cattle injections to protect them from some diseases. Just like your doctor who gives you injections.
| Did you know? In India many people believe that cows are sacred (holy). These people do not eat meat. They drink the cow's milk and use it in special religious ceremonies. The cows are allowed to wander wherever they like and the people do not chase them away. What would it be like if cows wandered around freely where you live? |
Go to this site for the history of cattle http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/economy/cattle.htm
If you use any
of this information, write it in your notes like this:
Thomas & Sydenham, Cattle. [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2007)
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updated © [2008] kidcyber