The proper verb is “to raise” or “to rear.”
I have a very close friend who always corrects those who say “raise” children. He says that you raise corn; you rear children. He went to a “cow college” (VPI), so he may well be right.
When applied to humans and animals "to raise" and "to rear" are similar. However, "to raise" seems to be a broader term, referring to nurturing and upbringing in general, while "to rear" refers to the training, socializing and disciplining of a human child in preparation for life or the preparation of an animal for a specific purpose. According to Merriam-Webster, "to rear" can even be applied to corn. Although I have never heard anyone speak of "rearing" corn, the term might be used by those seeking to develop specific breeds.