Pronunciation: [hˈɛfə] (IPA) 
"Heifer" is spelled with the letters h-e-i-f-e-r. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is ˈhɛfər. The first sound is a voiceless glottal fricative /h/. The second syllable begins with the open vowel /ɛ/. The third and fourth sounds are a voiced labiodental fricative /v/ and an unstressed schwa /ə/. The final sound is an alveolar approximant /r/. "Heifer" refers to a young female cow that has not yet given birth.
A heifer is a noun that refers to a young cow that has not yet given birth to a calf. Specifically, it is a female bovine animal that is typically between one and two years old. The term is often used to distinguish female cattle that have not undergone the process of becoming a cow through pregnancy and birth from those that have.
Heifers play a significant role in the agricultural industry, particularly in dairy farming and beef production. Farmers often choose to breed and raise heifers to maintain or increase their herds. The animals are carefully monitored to ensure their health and proper development before they reach maturity and become suitable for breeding or other purposes.
Characteristically, heifers are larger and more robust than their male counterparts, known as bulls or steers. While they possess the potential for reproduction, they are not yet able to produce milk like mature cows. Thus, heifers represent a transitional phase in the life cycle of a bovine, serving as breeding prospects that will eventually contribute to the expansion of the herd or provide meat for consumption.
In conclusion, a heifer is a young female cow that has not yet given birth. It is an intermediary stage in the development of a bovine, with significant significance in the agricultural sector for beef and dairy production.
A young cow.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "heifer" originated from the Old English word "heahfore", which can be broken down into "heah" meaning "high" or "tall", and "fore" meaning "yearling" or "young animal". So, "heahfore" referred to a young cow in its first or second year. Over time, the word evolved into "heifer" and has been used to specifically refer to a young female cow that has not yet calved (given birth).
