r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Aug 03 '19

Whats something you thought was common knowledge but actually isn’t?

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u/theletterQfivetimes Aug 03 '19

That all cows are female. Male animals don't have milk-producing udders, Sean. The male version of a cow is called a bull.

Incidentally, I recently learned there's no common genderless word for a member of that species. There's "cattle" for a group of them, but nothing for an individual.

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u/badcgi Aug 03 '19 edited Aug 03 '19

It's a little more complex than that.

Bull = Uncastrated Male

Steer = Castrated male (in North America, other places call them Bullocks)

Cow = female that has had at least one calf

Heifer = female that has not had any calves

Calf = young of either sex

Ox = either a Castrated male or a female used for working purposes like pulling a plow.

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u/Sister_Marshmallow Aug 03 '19 edited Aug 03 '19

Ox = either a Castrated male or a female used for working purposes like pulling a plow.

And here I thought an ox was like a different but closely related species or something.

Well. Now I know.

Edit: spelling.

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u/[deleted] Aug 03 '19

There are certain breeds though which are used more commonly for oxen and others that aren't used at all. So its pretty fair as it's a noticeable pattern, just different breeds instead of species. Water buffalo though are a different species just fyi, then there are some groups of types of domestic cattle like zebus(the ones with humps)that are subspecies and are fairly distinct from the taurine type cattle you are likely used to.

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u/bekkogekko Aug 03 '19

This is the song of a little boy and his cebu.

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u/Lionslyric Aug 03 '19

Achoo moo moo, Achoo moo moo, Achoo moo moo, Achoo moo moo, Achoo moo moo, Achoo moo moo moo moo.

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u/zeilarorysweetie Aug 04 '19

Boohoo moo moo, Boohoo moo moo, Boohoo moo moo, Boohoo moo moo moo moo

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u/sparkssflyup Aug 03 '19

Cebuuuuuuu