What are the signs of a kosher animal?

For land mammals, the Torah gives two signs: chewing the cud and having fully split hooves. Both are required (Leviticus 11:3; Deuteronomy 14:6; Shulchan Aruch, YD 79:1). One sign alone is insufficient. The pig has split hooves but does not chew its cud, and is prohibited (Leviticus 11:7). Cattle, sheep, and goats are among the permitted species listed in Deuteronomy 14:4.

These signs establish whether the species is permitted; they do not certify a particular piece of meat. An animal of a permitted species that dies without valid shechita is still forbidden as neveilah (Rambam, Hilchot Ma’achalot Asurot 4:1). Likewise, being from a permitted species does not remove the prohibition of blood or the required preparation of meat (Shulchan Aruch, YD 67:1; 69:1).

In everyday shopping, “beef” identifies the animal but does not establish kosher slaughter or preparation. Use reliable kosher supervision rather than trying to infer the whole production process from a species name. Ashkenazi and Sephardi requirements agree on the two signs; further meat standards are a separate question for your community’s rabbi.

A Beit Din may ask why pork is prohibited despite its split hoof, or whether any supermarket beef is therefore kosher. A common mistake is treating “kosher animal” and “kosher meat” as identical. The first concerns the species; the second also depends on what happened to the animal and how the meat was prepared.