Milk production
A cow feeding her calf.
Are All Dairy Cattle Female?
No, not all dairy cattle are female, but only female cattle (cows) produce milk. Milk production is a sex-limited character—that is, while both male and female cattle carry genes that influence milk production, only females express the trait.
Male cattle, or bulls, play a crucial role in breeding. The dairy industry relies heavily on selective breeding to enhance milk production traits. Bulls with desirable genetic traits are selected to sire the next generation of dairy cows. Selective breeding has significantly increased milk production over the years, as modern dairy cows produce much more milk than their ancestors.