\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \pard\tx11055\ATXts240\ATXbrdr0 \f1 Cattle were undoubtedly the most important animals in the Egyptian economy.\par
\pard\ATXts240\ATXbrdr0 The breed present in ancient Egypt was small in size and had a dappled coat.\par
Some oxen were even considered sacred to the god Apis and kept in temples. Even the cow was linked to a deity, the goddess Hathor.\par
In ordinary life, however, cattle w
ere raised for their meat and milk and were used to till the fields.\par
This relief shows peasants milking a cow and supervising the birth of a calf.