what's the difference between a cow and a heifer

A heifer is a young female bovine that has not had a calf yet, while a cow is a mature female that has already given birth to at least one calf.

Quick Scoop

• A heifer is a female cattle that has never calved.

• A cow is a female cattle that has had at least one calf.

• Heifers are usually younger, lighter, and have smaller, less developed udders.

• Cows tend to be older, heavier, with fuller udders and a thicker midsection from pregnancy and nursing.

Mini breakdown

Age and reproduction

• Heifer: typically a young female, often between about 1–2 years old, that has not yet given birth.

• Cow: can be any age, as long as she has had at least one calf.

• Once a heifer has her first calf, she’s no longer called a heifer; she becomes a cow.

How they look in the pasture

If you’re just looking at a herd, the differences can be subtle, but ranchers notice:

• Heifers often have:
  • Smaller bodies, less “thick” in the middle
  • Teats present, but udders not very prominent

• Cows often have:
  • Bigger frames and thicker middles from pregnancy and calving
  • More developed, clearly visible udders

Extra terms you might hear

• Bred heifer : a heifer that is pregnant with her first calf, still called a heifer until she actually calves.

• Heiferette : sometimes used for an older female (over about two years) that has not yet had a calf.

Meta description (SEO):
Wondering what’s the difference between a cow and a heifer? A heifer is a young female that hasn’t had a calf yet, while a cow is a mature female that has already calved.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.