The Cow

by Catrin Rutland

Published 6 April 2021

We populate the countryside with cows the world over, and their unremarkable presence is familiar for its promise of milk, beef, and leather. Calm and friendly by nature, with a soulful gaze, the cow has been humankind's gentle companion for an incredible ten and a half thousand years. Cows are even venerated-or shunned-by different religions. But how well do we understand cows-their anatomy, their behaviors, and breed varieties? How can we review their place in culture past and present? For the first time this unique title The Cow: A Natural History offers a wide range of fascinating factual detail, going beyond a focus on husbandry to review the cow's fascinating biology, hard-wired behaviors, and its relationship with humankind.