Rinder

Rinder is the term used in several Germanic languages to refer to cattle, the domesticated bovines kept for meat, milk, and draft work. In English, the animals belong to the subfamily Bovinae and include two main domestic lineages: Bos taurus (taurine cattle) and Bos indicus (zebu). Rinder are among the most important livestock worldwide.

They descend from the wild aurochs (Bos primigenius), domesticated in multiple regions during the Neolithic, with evidence in the Near East and South Asia around 8,000–10,000 years ago. Through selective breeding, thousands of breeds have developed to suit climates, diets, and production purposes.

Physically, cattle are ruminant ungulates with a four-chambered stomach, allowing them to digest fibrous plant material. Adult cattle vary greatly in size and coat color. They are commonly kept for dairy production, meat, leather, and as draft animals in some regions. Milk is a major agricultural product, used directly and processed into dairy products.

Common beef breeds include Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu; dairy breeds include Holstein-Friesian and Jersey. Globally, cattle farming is a major economic activity, with extensive systems ranging from smallholder farms to large feedlots and dairy operations.

Welfare, health, and environmental considerations include disease prevention, welfare during transport, and emissions from enteric fermentation. Rinder thus represent a central component of agriculture, economy, and culture in many regions.