heifer or cow

[Anonymous]

I noticed under the sick mother message the terms heifer and cow. I thought an animal was a heifer until she had her 1st calf, then was referred to as a cow. Could someone clear this up for me? Thx

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[Anonymous]

In the strictest sense you are correct. But, (there's always a but) young cows nursing their first calves are still referrred to as heifers. Some folks even ever to second calf heifers. Actually they're young cows, but semantics twists things around sometimes.

dun

> I noticed under the sick mother
> message the terms heifer and cow.
> I thought an animal was a heifer
> until she had her 1st calf, then
> was referred to as a cow. Could
> someone clear this up for me? Thx