A bovine is any member of the taxonomic group that includes our European-American cattle: it is not specific to our cow, but includes zebu, water buffalo, brahmans, etc. It's analogous to canine, feline, ovine, murine, and many other such -ine constructions. These are all originally adjectives, but have made the leap to nounhood. If one is referring to a cow in the singular, one says either cow or bull or steer (the latter a castrated bull,) but "cow" is occasionally used as a generic term, too, perhaps when one is uncomfortable with inspecting the subject animal too closely. Steers, when being refered to in the plural, are occasionally called "beeves," though I've never heard the singular, "beef," used to refer to a steer without an accompanying word, e.g., "beef animal" (most commonly) or "beef cow."

I'm curious if you folks out there say BO-vine or BO-veen. I've heard the latter on occasion, mostly in academic surroundings.

"I don't know which is worse: ignorance or apathy. And, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous