cat·tle /ˈkætḷ/
 牛,牲口,畜生


 Cat·tle n. pl.  Quadrupeds of the Bovine family; sometimes, also, including all domestic quadrupeds, as sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses, and swine.
 Belted cattle, Black cattle. See under Belted, Black.
 Cattle guard, a trench under a railroad track and alongside a crossing (as of a public highway). It is intended to prevent cattle from getting upon the track.
 cattle louse Zool., any species of louse infecting cattle. There are several species. The Hæmatatopinus eurysternus and Hæmatatopinus vituli are common species which suck blood; Trichodectes scalaris eats the hair.
 Cattle plague, the rinderpest; called also Russian cattle plague.
 Cattle range, or Cattle run, an open space through which cattle may run or range. [U. S.] --Bartlett.
 Cattle show, an exhibition of domestic animals with prizes for the encouragement of stock breeding; -- usually accompanied with the exhibition of other agricultural and domestic products and of implements.

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 cattle
      n : domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or
          age; "so many head of cattle"; "wait till the cows come
          home"; "seven thin and ill-favored kine"- Bible; "a team
          of oxen" [syn: cows, kine, oxen, Bos taurus]


 Cattle
    abounded in the Holy Land. To the rearing and management of them
    the inhabitants chiefly devoted themselves (Deut. 8:13; 12:21; 1
    Sam. 11:5; 12:3; Ps. 144:14; Jer. 3:24). They may be classified
    as,

      (1.) Neat cattle. Many hundreds of these were yearly consumed
    in sacrifices or used for food. The finest herds were found in
    Bashan, beyond Jordan (Num. 32:4). Large herds also pastured on
    the wide fertile plains of Sharon. They were yoked to the plough
    (1 Kings 19:19), and were employed for carrying burdens (1 Chr.
    12:40). They were driven with a pointed rod (Judg. 3:31) or goad
    (q.v.).

      According to the Mosaic law, the mouths of cattle employed for
    the threshing-floor were not to be muzzled, so as to prevent
    them from eating of the provender over which they trampled
    (Deut. 25:4). Whosoever stole and sold or slaughtered an ox must
    give five in satisfaction (Ex. 22:1); but if it was found alive
    in the possession of him who stole it, he was required to make
    double restitution only (22:4). If an ox went astray, whoever
    found it was required to bring it back to its owner (23:4; Deut.
    22:1, 4). An ox and an ass could not be yoked together in the
    plough (Deut. 22:10).

      (2.) Small cattle. Next to herds of neat cattle, sheep formed
    the most important of the possessions of the inhabitants of
    Palestine (Gen. 12:16; 13:5; 26:14; 21:27; 29:2, 3). They are
    frequently mentioned among the booty taken in war (Num. 31:32;
    Josh. 6:21; 1 Sam. 14:32; 15:3). There were many who were owners
    of large flocks (1 Sam. 25:2; 2 Sam. 12:2, comp. Job 1:3). Kings
    also had shepherds "over their flocks" (1 Chr. 27:31), from
    which they derived a large portion of their revenue (2 Sam.
    17:29; 1 Chr. 12:40). The districts most famous for their flocks
    of sheep were the plain of Sharon (Isa. 65: 10), Mount Carmel
    (Micah 7:14), Bashan and Gilead (Micah 7:14). In patriarchal
    times the flocks of sheep were sometimes tended by the daughters
    of the owners. Thus Rachel, the daughter of Laban, kept her
    father's sheep (Gen. 29:9); as also Zipporah and her six sisters
    had charge of their father Jethro's flocks (Ex. 2:16). Sometimes
    they were kept by hired shepherds (John 10:12), and sometimes by
    the sons of the family (1 Sam. 16:11; 17:15). The keepers so
    familiarized their sheep with their voices that they knew them,
    and followed them at their call. Sheep, but more especially rams
    and lambs, were frequently offered in sacrifice. The shearing of
    sheep was a great festive occasion (1 Sam. 25:4; 2 Sam. 13:23).
    They were folded at night, and guarded by their keepers against
    the attacks of the lion (Micah 5:8), the bear (1 Sam. 17:34),
    and the wolf (Matt. 10:16; John 10:12). They were liable to
    wander over the wide pastures and go astray (Ps. 119:176; Isa.
    53:6; Hos. 4:16; Matt. 18:12).

      Goats also formed a part of the pastoral wealth of Palestine
    (Gen. 15:9; 32:14; 37:31). They were used both for sacrifice and
    for food (Deut. 14:4), especially the young males (Gen. 27:9,
    14, 17; Judg. 6:19; 13:15; 1 Sam. 16:20). Goat's hair was used
    for making tent cloth (Ex. 26:7; 36:14), and for mattresses and
    bedding (1 Sam. 19:13, 16). (See GOAT.)