Calf 5692 224430269 2008-07-08T20:27:47Z 65.117.46.130 added horns {{for|the anatomical feature|calf muscle}} [[Image:Weaner sale.JPG|thumb|300px|Recently weaned beef bred calves at a weaner sale.]] [[Image:Hereford Calf Portrait, SC, Vic, 13.10.2007 edit.jpg|thumb|250px|A [[Hereford (cattle)|Hereford]] calf in [[Australia]]]] A '''calf''' ([[plural]] ''calves'') is the young of various species of [[mammal]]. The term is most commonly used to refer to the young of [[cattle]]. The young of [[bison]], [[camel]]s, [[dolphin]]s, [[elephant]]s, [[giraffe]]s, [[hippopotamus]]es, [[moose]], [[rhinoceros]]es, [[whale]]s, [[seal]]s and [[yak]]s are also called calves. Calves typically do not have horns. A calf is the term used for the [[offspring]] of a [[cattle|cow]] and a [[cattle|bull]] or other [[bovine]] species until it is weaned. This terminology is also usually common to other species where the young is called a calf. A calf that has lost its mother is referred to as a ''dogie'', poddy or poddy-calf. The birth of a calf is ''calving''. The term ''calving'' is also applied in geology to the breaking off of a mass of ice from its parent glacier, iceberg, or ice shelf. ==Human uses== Calf meat offered for [[human]] consumption is called [[veal]]. Fine calf skin used for [[page (paper)|page]]s in early [[codices]] is called [[vellum]]. The fourth compartment of the stomach of slaughtered milk-fed calves is the source of [[rennet]]. Calves feed from their mother's [[udder]] for a few weeks before eating solid food. Calf leather is particularly valuable because of its softness, and fine grain. It is commonly used for the construction of high-end/high-quality shoes. ==Male Bos Taurus Calves== [[Castrated]] male calves are called [[steer]]s. They are called steers also when full grown. A male calf that has not been [[castrated]] is called a bull or bull calf. Also in its adulthood the male [[Bos taurus]] is called a bull. The word calf is a general name used to describe any bovine until it is [[weaned]], then it becomes known as a weaner. A steer or bull calf should put on about 70-80 pounds per month. A 9 month old steer or bull should weigh about 550-600 pounds. ==Female Bos Taurus Calves== Female calves are called [[heifer]]s. They should weigh at least 450 lb. at 8 months old. At about 12 months old a beef heifer reaches puberty if she is well grown.<ref>Cole, V.G., BVSc., "Beef Production Guide", Macarthur Press, Parramatta, 1978</ref> After she has given birth to a calf then she will be recognized as a [[cow]]. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==See also== *[[Cattle]] *[[Cow]] *[[Bull]] *[[Dairy cow]] *[[Steer]] *[[Heifer]] *[[Farming]] *[[Milking]] *[[Lactation]] *[[Dairy]] *[[Sacred cow]] ==External links== [[Image:Cow with calf dsc06514.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A suckling calf with its mother]] *[http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3451 Calving] on ''Ropin' the Web'', Agriculture and Food, Government of Alberta, Canada {{Commons|Calf|Calf}} [[Category:Cattle]] {{cattle-stub}} [[an:Bimardo]] [[gn:Vakara'y]] [[br:Leue]] [[ca:Vedella]] [[da:Kalv (dyreunge)]] [[de:Kalb]] [[myv:Ваз]] [[es:Novillo]] [[fa:گوساله]] [[fr:Veau]] [[nl:Kalf (rundvee)]] [[nds-nl:Kuusjen]] [[nrm:Viâo]] [[pl:Cielę]] [[pt:Vitelo (animal)]] [[qu:Chiku]] [[fi:Vasikka]]