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Cape buffalo vs Cow

Cape buffalo vs cow
Near enough equal on weight
Cape buffalo and cow are near enough identical on weight.

A Cape buffalo 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.
Cape buffalo Cow
Weight 350–900 kg 400–1,100 kg
Height 1.3–1.7 m 1.2–1.6 m
Length 2.1–3.4 m 2.2–2.8 m
Typical lifespan 18–29 yr 15–25 yr

What the numbers say

  • Cape buffalo and cow are near enough identical on weight.
  • Cape buffalo and cow are near enough identical on height.
  • Cape buffalo is somewhat greater than cow on length — about 1.1×.
  • Cape buffalo is somewhat greater than cow on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.

Weight compared.

Cow 400–1,100 kg
Cape buffalo 350–900 kg

Cape buffalo

A large, unpredictable African bovid whose fused horn bosses form a helmet across the skull.

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, Cape buffalo or cow?
Cape buffalo 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 Cape buffalos and cows compare on height?
Cape buffalo: 1.3–1.7 m. Cow: 1.2–1.6 m. Cape buffalo and cow are near enough identical on height.
How do Cape buffalos and cows compare on length?
Cape buffalo: 2.1–3.4 m. Cow: 2.2–2.8 m. Cape buffalo is somewhat greater than cow on length — about 1.1×.

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