The Minimum Acceptable Age of an Animal to be Offered for Ud-hiyah

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

A cow is valid for Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) and Hady (sacrificial animal offered by pilgrims) only when it completes two years of age or more. If it is less than that, they are inadequate for Ud-hiyah even if it has more flesh and fat. It was reported on the authority of Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Sacrifice only a grown-up animal, unless it is unaffordable for you, in which case sacrifice a ram (of even less than a year, but more than six months’ age). Recorded by Imam Muslim. Imam Al-Nawawy, said: “Scholars said: “The ‘grown up’ sheep is defined as the Thaniyyah (a sacrificial animal of the required age) of all cattle: camels, cows or sheep, or older. This is a statement that in no way permits the sacrifice of Jadh`ah (a six-month-old animal) from any animal other than the sheep. This is agreed upon as related by Al-Qady `Iyad.
The grown-up cow is that which has completed two years.
May Allah grant us success! May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions!

Source: Alifta.com