Commentary for Avodah Zarah 46:8
אלא שאני פרה הואיל ומום פוסל בה דבר ערוה וע"ז נמי פוסל בה דכתיב (ויקרא כב, כה) כי משחתם בהם מום בם ותנא דבי ר' ישמעאל כל מקום שנא' השחתה אינו אלא דבר ערוה וע"ז
Rather the case of the red heifer is different; since a blemish renders it unfit, bestiality and idolatrous worship also render it unfit; as it is written, “[nor shall you accept such [animals] from a foreigner for offering as food for your God], for they are corrupted, they have a defect” (Leviticus 22:25) and the School of R. Ishmael taught: Wherever “corruption” is mentioned it only means fornication and idolatry:
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The red heifer is rendered unfit if someone has sex with it not because it is considered to have the holiness of a sacrifice offered on the altar, but because a physical flaw disqualifies it. Through a series of connections drawn from the word “corruption,” the Talmud derives that just as a flaw disqualifies the red heifer, so too does bestiality.
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