What is the Difference Between an Ox and a Bull?

As we stated above, the terms bull and ox are used to refer to the same animal, specifically adult male cattle (Bos taurus). There are some taxonomic controversies in naming certain species of cattle, but here we are concerned with the general terms for all cattle when used in farming. We will go into further definitions of cattle terminology further below.

A simple explanation of the difference between an ox and a bull is that a bull is an adult male that has not been castrated while an ox is an adult male that has been castrated. Castration is the process by which the male is not longer sexually intact and, therefore, cannot reproduce.

While this provides a simply definition of the differences between oxen and bulls, it does not explain the reasons why. To better understand why we have these different terminologies, we can look at the meaning of each word separately.

Discover more about the behavior of cattle with our article asking what do cows eat besides grass.

The term ‘ox’ is usually an adult cattle which has been sterilized and reached adult maturity. The main defining feature of an ox is their purpose. They are used as either draft or riding animals. Draft animals are used for pulling machinery in the fields or pulling vehicles to travel. This work is heavy and requires a strong and sturdy animal to carry it out.

Veterinarians recommend castrating cattle during the first months of life. The reason is that after 12 months of age an uncastrated male cattle can become aggressive due to sexual maturation. Bulls are fiercely competitive animals and will fight for access to females for mating. This is why many males are left in their own pastures away from females and other bulls. As explained above, it is also partly why there are so few bulls compared to other types of cattle.

By castrating the male cattle, they become much more docile. This means they can be put to work. Bulls will not want to work as they will be aggressive and intolerant. Oxen can be trained to learn commands and will follow along with a human much more easily than a bull. This means they are both more effective and much safer than bulls when used as working animals.

When used as draft animals, they have advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantage is their lack of speed. They tend to amble along a road. This can be contrasted with a draft horse which can reach very high speeds.

The advantages of using oxen as draft animals is that they are very strong and sturdy. They are good at carrying very heavy items over long periods, even if they do so at a slower rate than horses. They are also better for certain agricultural practices such as plowing in uneven soil.

Can you get an uncastrated ox?

There are occurrences where a bull might be considered an ox. Any uncastrated male cattle used as a work animal will be considered oxen (the plural of ‘ox’). As we have stated, due to hormonal changes after reaching sexual maturity, bulls are much more difficult to control than castrated male cattle. Oxen are less likely to run away or even attack people if they perceive aggression. This is why most oxen are castrated.

A cow and ox are the same animal, but the former is female and the latter is male. All female cattle are known as cows, although it is most common to use it to refer to adult females. It is possible for female cows to be used as oxen but it is not as likely.

As we can see the differences between oxen and bulls are generally according to the uses we humans put them to. There has been great need to make these differentiations. For many centuries, we did not have the technology we do now to keep up agricultural production. As cattle are large animals with a lot of strength, but a relatively docile nature, we have been able to utilize them to plow fields, pull logs and perform many other tasks on farmland.

Female cows are useful to human as both a source of milk and related dairy products, as well as meat. Male cattle cannot perform the first of these tasks, but they can be raised as meat. Unfortunately, in countries like the UK, keeping male cattle for rearing is not financially viable for the majority of farms^[1]. The result is early killing of the male.

The mechanization of agriculture has also meant that in higher income countries, male cattle are not needed to be used as oxen, i.e. they aren't required to work in fields or as draft animals. The infrastructure will depend on individual farms as well as country. In India, cattle are seen as sacred animals, so their slaughter is often prohibited. This leads to problems with overpopulation of male cattle and the necessity of goshalas (cattle sanctuaries).

As stated above, cattle as a species consist of any breed of animal in the binominal nomenclature Bos taurus. How they are categorized will depend on the age, sex and function of the animal related to their use on farms. Below we summarize some of these categories to help you understand the differences between types of cattle livestock.

• Cow: the term ‘cow’ usually refers to adult, fertile and sexually active females that have already had at least one calf. However, in some definitions (which can vary even within the same country), this word is used to refer to any any specimen of the species Bos taurus. This is regardless of breed, age, sex and reproductive state.
• Calf: this is the term used for all offspring of female cattle, whether female or male themselves, which are still in the lactation period and have not yet reached 10 months of age.
• Heifer: heifers are young female cows which have not yet experienced a pregnancy. They are usually between one and two years of age.
• Steer or bullock: the use of these terms depends on differences in geography, but generally a steer is considered a castrated male of any age. It is only when they are employed as draft or working animals they are considered oxen. Bullocks are sometimes any young male cattle which have not been castrated (i.e. young bulls), but some older steers may also be called bullocks in the USA.
• Veal cattle: this is the term for young males still in the lactation stage and have not yet reached sexual maturity. They are reared mainly for their meat which is sold as ‘veal’ and is a high quality food product internationally.
• Freemartin: this is a relatively new term which is used to designate cattle born female, but with some intersex characteristics. They are sterile and unable to give birth to young throughout their lifespan. In general, they are used in lower income countries to be used as oxen.

The geographical differences in terminology for cattle, whether oxen or bulls, are not always consistent, even within the same country. For example, in Australia, a young bull is known as a ‘micky’. However, we have tried to summarize the main terms used for cattle in the English-speaking world.

If you have some specific different names for cows in your country you would like to share, please do so by leaving a comment below. This helps us to improve our content and also provides important information for those passionate about the animal kingdom.

To learn more about the welfare of cattle, we look at the most common cattle diseases.

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