livestock / brute
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livestock
A collective term for farm animals kept in agriculture, especially cattle, but also pigs, sheep, or goats.
Der Bauer treibt am Abend das Vieh von der Weide in den Stall.
In the evening, the farmer drives the livestock from the pasture into the barn.
brute
A strongly derogatory, insulting term for a person or group of people who are seen as crude, stupid, or acting like animals.
Als die Randalierer die Scheiben einwarfen, schrie jemand: „Holt die Polizei, dieses Vieh macht alles kaputt!“
When the rioters smashed the windows, someone shouted, “Get the police, these brutes are destroying everything!”
'Das Vieh' (livestock) is a collective noun and is used only in the singular, even when it refers to many animals. There is no plural form 'die Viehe'.
Auf der Weide grast das Vieh.
The livestock is grazing in the pasture.
In this meaning, 'das Vieh' (brute) is a very strong and derogatory insult for people. Its use expresses extreme contempt and should be treated with great caution.
Er nannte die lauten Nachbarn „das Vieh“.
He called the noisy neighbors “the brutes.”
In an agricultural context, 'Vieh' (livestock) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are: 'Vieh halten' (to keep livestock), 'Vieh züchten' (to breed livestock), or 'das Vieh auf die Weide treiben' (to drive the livestock out to pasture).
Sein Großvater hat früher Rinder und Schweine als Vieh gehalten.
His grandfather used to keep cattle and pigs as livestock.
animal
Tier can refer to a single animal or to any animal. Vieh, on the other hand, refers to farm animals kept as livestock, viewed as a stock or group. So Tier is appropriate for a single cow, while Vieh refers collectively to the cows on a farm.
Das Vieh auf der Weide wird heute in den neuen Stall gebracht.
The livestock in the pasture will be moved to the new barn today.
Dieses Tier auf der Weide muss heute vom Tierarzt untersucht werden.
This animal in the pasture needs to be examined by the veterinarian today.
