The mammal family **Bovidae** includes a wide variety of hoofed
mammals, including **antelopes, cattle, sheep, goats, and others**.
This family is found throughout much of the world, except for
Australia and many islands, but most species are found in Africa
(antelope, gazelles, buffalo, wildebeest, etc.). There are about 137
species in the world. Some of the most important animals in human
history and agriculture are members of this family, including cows,
sheep, and goats. In North America there are a few native members of
the family Bovidae, including American bison, mountain goats,
muskoxen, bighorn sheep, and Dall’s sheep. Of these, only American
bison were once found in Michigan. However, since humans have
introduced cows, sheep, and goats to the Americas, these animals have
profoundly influenced North American ecosystems and are found
throughout the continent. Members of the family Bovidae eat grass and
other vegetation and use bacteria in their guts to ferment the plant
matter. Males of all species have horns and often females have horns
as well. Horns are different from antlers, which are found in the deer
family. Horns have a bony core covered in keratin (what your
fingernails are made of) and they are never shed.