Cattle are domesticated bovine farm animals raised for their meat, milk, hides, and other products or for draft purposes. The Western or European domesticated cattle, as well as the Indian and African domesticated cattle, are the animals that are most frequently included under the term.

However, a number of other bovids, including the Asian water buffalo, Tibetan yak, gayal and banteng of Southeast Asia, and plains bison of North America, have also been domesticated or semi-domesticated, and they are sometimes regarded as cattle.

The male of cattle is referred to as a bull calf in the terminology used to describe its sex and age; if left intact, it becomes a bull; If he is castrated, he becomes a steer and grows into an ox in about two or three years. The female begins as a heifer calf before developing into a cow and heifer.