Bovids

Bovids are mammals in the family Bovidae, including cattle, buffalo, bison, goats, sheep and many antelopes. They are plant-eating ruminants. Some are domestic, while wild species occupy grasslands, forests, mountains and dry regions.

Examples of bovids

European and American bison: they are closely related but distinct animals. European bison are native to Europe, while American bison are native to North America.
Cattle and buffalo: they include domestic animals kept for products such as milk or used for work.
Goats, sheep and mouflon: all belong to this large family, despite differences in appearance and lifestyle.
Chamois: they are adapted to moving across mountainous, rocky terrain.
Impalas and other antelopes: their adaptations vary with food, climate and predators.

What is rumination?

Rumination involves bringing swallowed plant food back to the mouth and chewing it again. This process, together with microorganisms in a compartmentalised stomach, helps digest plant material.

Some bovids mainly graze on grasses, while others browse on leaves, shoots and shrubs. Food availability and season can alter the balance of their diet.

Bovids and deer

Horned bovids have a bony core covered with keratin, the material also found in nails. These horns are generally permanent. Antlers in deer are bony structures that are shed and regrown, usually annually.

Red deer, roe deer, moose and reindeer are cervids, rather than bovids. Hooves, a plant-based diet and structures on the head also occur in other families.