Domestic Cattle

More Information

Domestic cattle are large, heavy mammals that vary in size and appearance. Although there are many breeds of cattle, only Milking Shorthorn and Dutch Belted are represented at Lincoln Park Zoo. These heritage breeds are not as large as some other dairy cows. Milking Shorthorns, “established” in the 18th century in Northeastern England, are usually red, red with white markings, white, or roan. Dutch Belted have a white “belt” wrapping around their middle, framed on both sides by either black or red coloring. As a whole, cattle feed primarily on hay.

Did You Know?

Cattle have poor depth perception but advanced panoramic vision, allowing them to see a wide horizontal space without turning their head.

Cows have four-chambered stomachs that break down tough foods, like grass, more efficiently.

There are more than 1 billion cows in the world.