gado

Gado is a Portuguese term that denotes domesticated livestock, with cattle being the most common association. In everyday use, gado refers to a herd kept on farms for work, meat, or dairy production. In Brazil, the word is widely used to describe cattle in general, and it is often subdivided into categories such as gado de corte (beef cattle) and gado leiteiro (dairy cattle). Depending on regional usage, gado can encompass other farm animals within a single herd, but cattle are typically the primary focus.

The management of gado involves breeding, feeding, vaccination, and health monitoring to maintain productivity and welfare. Herd size and composition influence farm economics, land use, and supply chains for beef and dairy products. Cattle ranching is a significant economic activity in many regions, and it intersects with environmental considerations, land management, and rural livelihoods.

In Brazilian Portuguese, gado is also used metaphorically to describe people who are perceived as easily led or loyal to a figure or movement, similar to calling someone a “sheep.” The connotation of this usage varies by context and tone, ranging from neutral descriptive to pejorative.