new to the unix world and in need of some help

#!/bin/ksh

if [[ $# -ne 1 ]]; then
  echo ERROR: you need to supply a number
  exit 10
fi

typeset -i PARAM=$1

while [[ ${PARAM} -ge 0 ]]
do
  if [[ ${PARAM} -eq 1 ]]; then
    echo ${PARAM} cow
  else
    echo ${PARAM} cows
  fi
  ((PARAM=${PARAM} -1))

done

#!/bin/sh
# don't forget on modern *nix is /bin a symlink to /usr/bin
# for backw compatibility reasons
${value:=$1}
#check the (or read a new) valid value
END=s
while [ $value -gt 0 ]
do case $value in 1) END= ;; esac
    echo $value cow$END
    value=`expr $value - 1`
    #a faster way: value=`echo $value - 1|bc`
done