noun
cow; mother cow
Specifically refers to a female bovine that has given birth; contrasts with 雌牛 (めうし), a general term for a female cow. The reading ははうし is standard; ははうじ and はわうじ are obsolete.
See also: 雌牛
母牛が子牛に乳をやっている。
The mother cow is nursing her calf.
雌牛 is a general term for a female cow, while 母牛 specifically means a cow that has calved and is a mother.
Compound of 母 (はは, 'mother') and 牛 (うし, 'cow').