Bos_taurus AnAge entry for Bos taurus

Classification (HAGRID: 01910)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Artiodactyla
                Family: Bovidae
                    Genus: Bos
Species
Bos taurus
Common name
Domestic cattle
Synonyms
Bos indicus, Bos primigenius

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
20 years (captivity)
Source
ref. 434
Sample size
Large
Data quality
Questionable
Observations

Estimating the maximum longevity of domestic cattle is troublesome since there are many conflicting reports. Females appear to remain fertile for about 12 years, and animals have been known to live over 20 years [0434]. Most likely, animals can live over 20 years and there are even anecdotal reports of a cow called "Big Bertha" that lived nearly 49 years. Lastly, there are unverified reports that miniature cattle live longer than normal animals.

Another reason why estimating the longevity of domestic cattle is troublesome is because beef cattle are usually slaughtered before reaching their maximum lifespan, leading to most records in this subject to be from dairy cows. Furthermore, aged animals suffer from lameness and joint conditions, which may lead to their early culling [1389].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
548 days
Male sexual maturity
365 days
Gestation
277 days
Weaning
Litter size
1 (viviparous)
Litters per year
1
Inter-litter interval
Weight at birth
Weight at weaning
Adult weight
750,000 g
Postnatal growth rate
0.0031 days-1 (from Gompertz function)
Maximum longevity residual
51%

Metabolism

Typical body temperature
311ºK or 38.0ºC or 100.4ºF
Basal metabolic rate
306.7700 W
Body mass
347000.0 g
Metabolic rate per body mass
0.000884 W/g

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 183838
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 9913
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
Search Google Scholar or Search PubMed
Images
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Internet
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