A calf is the term used in zoology to describe the young of several species of large mammals. This classification typically applies to the offspring of animals whose mature males are referred to as bulls and whose mature females are called cows. The term itself generally covers the young animal from birth until it is weaned or reaches a year of age.
Species That Produce Calves
The use of the term “calf” extends across a wide range of large terrestrial and marine species. This naming convention is most frequently applied to the young of bovines, including bison, yak, and water buffalo. These species are characterized by their large size and often herd-based social structures.
The classification also covers several major marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Larger seals and walruses are also included in this grouping of marine animals. This shared terminology reflects the similar size and parental investment seen across these diverse species.
On land, the term is applied to the young of several large ungulates and proboscideans. Species like elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, and hippopotamuses all have young referred to as calves. Certain deer species, such as moose and elk, also use this classification for their offspring.
Biological Development and Growth
The early life of a calf is marked by rapid development and reliance on maternal care. For domestic cattle, the gestation period averages around 283 days, resulting in a newborn calf often weighing between 90 and 100 pounds, depending on the breed. In contrast, an African elephant calf is born after a prolonged gestation of approximately 22 months, typically weighing between 200 and 300 pounds.
The immediate consumption of colostrum, the mother’s first milk, is a crucial biological milestone for survival across many calf species. This substance provides a high concentration of immunoglobulins, which transfer passive immunity to the newborn, protecting it from disease in the first weeks of life.
The suckling period then transitions to nutritional independence, a process known as weaning. For cattle, weaning typically occurs when the calf is around six to eight weeks old and consistently consumes a minimum of two pounds of solid starter feed daily. Conversely, an elephant calf will continue to nurse for several years, often up to three or four, with the process sometimes lasting longer before full nutritional independence is achieved. The extended nursing period in elephants highlights the species’ slow maturation, as the calf relies on its mother and the herd for protection and guidance for many years.
Terminology and Group Names
Specific vocabulary is used to differentiate calves based on gender and social status, particularly within the cattle industry. A male calf is generally referred to as a bull calf, while a female calf is known as a heifer calf. The term heifer calf is specific to a female that has not yet given birth to her own offspring.
A bull calf that undergoes castration is then called a steer, a classification that indicates the animal is typically being raised for beef production. Once a female calf, or heifer, gives birth to her first young, she is then considered a mature cow.
Beyond individual naming, groups of calves are also identified by collective nouns. For terrestrial species such as cattle and elephants, the young are typically found within a larger gathering called a herd. Conversely, the collective term for a group of marine calves, such as those of whales or dolphins, is a pod.