Is what is meant by "the cow" in His, Exalted be He, saying: "that you slaughter a cow" a female or the genus of cattle?

The story of thecow is mentioned in Surat Al-Baqarah for admonition and contemplation. Its reason was that a man from the Children of Israel killed his heir and threw him into another neighborhood, leading to a dispute among them. So, they went to Moses (peace be upon him) and asked him for clarification. Allah revealed to him that they should slaughter a cow and strike the deceased with a part of it, so he would come back to life and reveal his killer. The story contains lessons and admonitions, including the stubbornness and strictness of the Children of Israel, as they made things difficult for themselves by delving deep into questions about the cow's specifications, whereupon Allah made things difficult for them.