Respiration

All cows inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide using the organ.... the Lungs! Cows breathe just like us! An adult cow's respiration rate is between 26 and 50 breaths per minute

Circulation

All cows use a heart, that is a muscle which pumps blood around the body continuously. Cows also have a closed circulatory system, just like us!

Digestion

The digestive system of the cow has the mouth, esophagus, a 4-part stomach, small intestine, and a large intestine. Cows are also able to "un-swallow" their food and re-chew food. Isn't that weird?!

Nutrition

The basic forms of nutrition for a cow is water, protein, carbs, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Cows also get most of their nutrition from grasses, hay, and grains

Food-Getting

Cows are herbivores, which means they only eat plants! Cows also have the process of swallowing, "un-swallowing", rechewing and re-swallowing is called "rumination"

Structure

The cow's structure is their skeletal system, which is very similar to other mammals, even us! Cows have 207 bones in their body.

Protection

Cows protect their young and each other from predators by lowering their heads and charging towards the attacker. They also stay in herds.

Movement

Cows are usually confined to walking, trotting, and galloping. Cows can also move in ways like kicking and pawing, that don't necessarily involve moving the whole body.

Osmotic Regulation & Excretion

Cows have kidneys which help regulate their body's salt and water balance. For the cow's excretion, they also use the kidneys and the bladder.

Temperature Regulation

To conserve body heat, cows have adapted by seeking shade, sweating, and standing in groups to stay warm

Reproduction

The cow's reproductive process consists of the male sexual reproductive organs produce the male gametes, the spermatozoa. These are then introduced to the female reproductive system, where they fuse to form a zygote. 

Development

The lifespan of a cow is about 12 years. A cow is pregnant for about 11-12 months and calves can be born in any season. As calves grow, they can begin to be more independent from their mothers.