Identify Breeds of Livestock

Ayrshire

Dairy - Scotland

Medium/dark red and white coat (darker than Guernsey)

Medium breed

Large variation in color patterns

Excellent grazer (can be used for pasture dairies)

Brown Swiss

Dairy - Switzerland

Brown coat with variations and silver undertones

Large frame

Hooves, muzzle, and switch are usually black

Known for longevity and strong legs and hooves

Guernsey

Dairy - Isle of Guernsey

Various shades of fawn, white markings, and white switch

Medium frame

Second highest butterfat content

Known for golden-colored milk

Holstein

Dairy - Netherlands

Typical black and white dairy cow (unique pattern)

Most popular milk cow

Known for volume of milk

Jersey

Dairy - Isle of Jersey

Light tan to dark fawn with dark points on head and legs

Smaller frame, feminine features

Adapted to warmer climates

Known for producing high butterfat content

Angus

Beef - Scotland

Black coat, polled

Superior marbling

Muscular and compact

Hereford

Beef - England

Polled or horned

Red and white, white on face, all feet, switch, and underline

High foraging ability

Shorthorn

Beef - England

Polled or horned

Red, white, or roan colorations

Good marbling ability

Charolais

Beef - France

White to light straw color, tan nose

Polled or horned

Large frame with long body, heavy muscling

Simmental

Beef - Switzerland

Horned

Brown, red, or straw, solid or white markings (similar to Hereford)

Usually have red around eyes

Brahman

Beef - Texas, USA

Horned or polled

Gray or red color, black skin pigmentation

Loose skin with hump over withers

Descendant from Indian breeds

Extremely heat tolerant

Alpine

Dairy - French Alps

Medium-large size

Erect ears and straight face

many color variations

Angora

Mohair - Turkey

Lop ears

White hair

*Mohair is thinner and smoother than wool.

Boer

Meat - South Africa

Large, up to 300 lbs

Lop ears

Predominantly white body with brown/red around head and neck

LaMancha

Dairy - Oregon, USA

Distinctive "elf" or "gopher" ears

Originated from Spanish breeds

Variety of colors

Nubian

Meat & Dairy - England

Medium-large size

Lop ears with Roman nose

Variety of colors

Saanen

Dairy - Switzerland

Erect ears with straight or dished face

White or light cream in color

Toggenburg

Dairy - Switzerland

Straight ears with straight or dished face

Light fawn to chocolate color, distinctive white markings

Merino

Wool - Spain

Dominant breed in sheep industry

White face, wool on legs

Typically smaller than other breeds

Rambouillet

Wool & Meat - France

White face, wool on legs

Descendant of Merino, bigger and grows faster

Columbia

Wool & Meat - USA

Wool cap on head

White face with wool on legs

Dorper

Meat - South Africa

Black or white head with white body

Hair breed (no shearing)

Dorset

Wool & Meat - England

White face with wool on legs

Can breed out of season

Hampshire

Meat - England

Black face, legs, maybe belly, and white body

Large wool cap

Popular sire breed for sheep production

Southdown

Wool & Meat - England

Tan/gray face with white body

Face and legs covered in wool

One of the oldest breeds