[General] 300 head(s) of high-grade cattle(s)

[LQZ]

"I'm here in protest, and to get an apology," said Masaki Yoshizawa, who had 300 head of high-grade "wagyu" cattle on a ranch about 9 miles (14 kilometers) from the plant. ABCnews

Dear all,

Should the bold parts be "heads" and "cattles", since Mr Yoshizawa had more than one cattle? Could you please explain to me? Thanks.


LQZ

 

[freezeframe]

"I'm here in protest, and to get an apology," said Masaki Yoshizawa, who had 300 head of high-grade "wagyu" cattle on a ranch about 9 miles (14 kilometers) from the plant. ABCnews

Dear all,

Should the bold parts be "heads" and "cattles", since Mr Yoshizawa had more than one [STRIKE]cattle[/STRIKE] cow/bull? You can't say this because cattle is plural. He has more than one cow.

Could you please explain to me? Thanks.


LQZ

Cattle is a plural noun. It refers to all the bulls and cows kept by the rancher.

Head is a plural noun when it's used in this sense (i.e. to count livestock).

 

[LQZ]

Cattle is a plural noun. It refers to all the bulls and cows kept by the rancher.

Head is a plural noun when it's used in this sense (i.e. to count farm animals).

Yes, you are definitely right. M-W dictionary has proved your explanation. Thanks for your help. :-D

 

[5jj]

Yes, you are definitely right. M-W dictionary has proved your explanation. Thanks for your help. :-D

Freezeframe knew she was right, or she would not have answered your question.

If you are going to check up on our answers in a dictionary, why don't you use the dictionary first?

 

[LQZ]

Freezeframe knew she was right, or she would not have answered your question.

If you are going to check up on our answers in a dictionary, why don't you use the dictionary first?

Sorry for not expressing myself clearly.

I originally looked up "head" in Longman dictionary (head, click here). But the dictionary doesn't list head as a plural noun, not to mention that definition explained by Freezeframe. Then I start this thread to remove my confusion. After reading Freezeframe's explanation, I turned to W-M's learner's dictionary that proves what she said.

Have I made my thanks-statement clear now?

 

[BobK]

Cattle is a plural noun. It refers to all the bulls and cows kept by the rancher.

Head is a plural noun when it's used in this sense (i.e. to count farm animals).

:up: And I think they have to be four-legged: you don't have '100 head of chickens'. And maybe a special kind of four-legged animals - it would sound odd v. odd with dogs as the thing being counted.

b

 

[Barb_D]

Just to show off, it's a Synecdoche.

Head of cattle, faces in the crowd, all hands on deck.

A part is used to refer to the whole.

 

[freezeframe]

:up: And I think they have to be four-legged: you don't have '100 head of chickens'. And maybe a special kind of four-legged animals - it would sound odd v. odd with dogs as the thing being counted.

b

You're right. I'll change it to livestock.

 

[freezeframe]

Sorry for not expressing myself clearly.

I originally looked up "head" in Longman dictionary (head, click here). But the dictionary doesn't list head as a plural noun, not to mention that definition explained by Freezeframe. Then I start this thread to remove my confusion. After reading Freezeframe's explanation, I turned to W-M's learner's dictionary that proves what she said.

Have I made my thanks-statement clear now?

From the link you provide:

46 head of cattle/sheep etc [plural] a particular number of cows, sheep etc: a farm with 20 head of cattle

The problem with that dictionary is how they organize and lay out the information. Unless you know what you're looking for, it's difficult to figure anything out.