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American bison vs Cow

American bison vs cow
Near enough equal on weight
American bison and cow are near enough identical on weight.

An American bison and a cow can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

Side by side

Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.
American bison Cow
Weight 320–1,270 kg 400–1,100 kg
Height 1.5–2 m 1.2–1.6 m
Length 2.1–3.5 m 2.2–2.8 m
Typical lifespan 15–25 yr 15–25 yr

What the numbers say

  • American bison and cow are near enough identical on weight.
  • American bison is somewhat greater than cow on height — about 1.2×.
  • American bison is somewhat greater than cow on length — about 1.2×.
  • American bison and cow are near enough identical on typical lifespan.

Weight compared.

American bison 320–1,270 kg
Cow 400–1,100 kg

American bison

The heaviest land animal in the Americas; commonly called a buffalo, though true buffalo live in Africa and Asia.

Cow

Domestic cattle; dairy and beef breeds differ substantially in size, and bulls far outweigh cows.

This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

Common questions

Which is bigger, American bison or cow?
American bison and cow are near enough identical on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do American bison and cows compare on height?
American bison: 1.5–2 m. Cow: 1.2–1.6 m. American bison is somewhat greater than cow on height — about 1.2×.
How do American bison and cows compare on length?
American bison: 2.1–3.5 m. Cow: 2.2–2.8 m. American bison is somewhat greater than cow on length — about 1.2×.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution
  2. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked