COW
The domestication of the cow is very old. In Egypt, Philistia and Palestine there were excellent pastures, where cattle were raised (Gen. 41:2; Deut. 7:13; 1 Sam. 6:7).
Abraham and his descendants had cows among their livestock (Gen. 12:16; 32:15). Milk was part of the diet (2 Samuel 17:29).
Calves could be sacrificed on the occasion of the ratification of a covenant (Gen. 15:9), for the ceremonial profession of innocence, when there was a homicide, and the guilty party was unknown (Deut. 21:3), for the ritual of the sacrifices of thanksgiving (Lev. 3:1).
The ashes of the sorrel heifer were used to prepare purification water that removed contamination contracted by contact with a dead person (Num. 19:2; Heb. 9:13).
In exceptional circumstances, cows were offered as burnt offerings to Jehovah (1 Sam. 6:14).