Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production (as distinguished from dairy cattle). The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot a calf, hiefer, bull, steer are known as feeder cattle, and are larger than other cattle. While the principal use of beef cattle is meat production, other uses include leather, and products used in shampoo and cosmetics. The plural beeves, when referring to such meat-animals (of either sex), is well known in the American cattle industry, but is often restricted to steers.

Breeds known as dual purpose breeds are also used for beef production. These breeds have been selected for two purposes at once, such as for both beef and dairy production, or both beef and draught. Dual-purpose breeds include the Brown Swiss and many of the Zebu breeds of India such as Tharparkar and Ongole.

See also

• Conjugated linoleic acid
• List of breeds of cattle