Cattle are important farm animals, because they supply meat, dairy products, leather and other materials. They are reared in many parts of the world, with India being top of the cattle league.
Although they are used as beast of burden, most Indian cows are thin and produce little milk. To Hindus, cows are sacred symbols of Mother Earth. In India, you will often see cows in city streets. They may even pause for a snack, lifting vegetables from a street stall, but no one stops or harms them.