vache is gendered boeuf :D

We'd say "vache" when it comes to milk or the female, but all "vache" are "boeuf".

Boeuf is used when the gender does not mean much (like for meat).

More precisely, a "Boeuf" is a castrated bull which could explain the English meaning of the word..

Steer in English

We use Bullock in the UK.

I have always used 'bullock' to refer to a juvenile bull, but my dictionary lists that sense of the word under 'archaic'. It wouldn't be the first time that I've discovered I'm speaking Middle English!

Very often the juveniles have had the snip so I wonder if that’s the inflection point.

Bollocks, do we!

he meant the slang term "Boeuf" -- basically an accusation of being a feminine male.

boeuf is also gendered, it's just that "non-gendered" in French means defaulting to male. The same way that Scarlett Johansson is an actress, but Scarlet and Chris Evans are actors. You would never say that Scarlett alone is an actor.

There’s not really the same distinction between “live animal” and “food”, no!

Cochon and porc are both used for the live animal, and both used for the food as well (cochon is a bit less used for food, but still common enough).

Boeuf and vache aren’t really synonymous as another commenter pointed out