Instructions
Look for an udder on the underbelly of the animal. An udder is a pinkish organ that hangs down from the cow. The udder has four teats that generate milk for the young calves. Bulls do not have udders.
Identify excess muscling around the hips and shoulders. This is an indication that the animal is a bull. Cows typically have smooth bodies and do not have this type of muscling seen in bulls.
Examine behind the tail to locate the vulva. This is where the cow urinates from and where they birth their calves. The vulva is more defined in cows than in other types of cattle, such as heifers. The vulva can be found directly below the anus.
Compare the size of the animals. Bulls are generally more massive in size then cows. They can easily be picked out from a herd because of their larger size and masculinity compared to feminine female cows.
Locate a sheath of skin located between the animal's back legs. This cylinder-shaped sac that hangs down beneath the bull houses the penis. Cows do not have this sheath but may have extra skin that hangs from the same general area.
Identify a large crest over the shoulder and neck. Bulls typically have this muscular crest that gives them a blocky appearance. This circular-shaped hump that appears over the shoulders is more defined in bulls then in cows.
How to Tell a Bull From a Cow
Many people are able to identify cattle, but generally do not know how to distinguish a bull from a cow. A cow is a female bovine that has birthed a calf. A bull is a male bovine that is typically still intact for breeding. The term 'bovine', or cattlebeast, is used to describe any animal belonging to the cattle group. There are several ways to determine a bull from a cow.