dairy - breeds + key terminology

dairy vs beef breeds (pictures)

dairy cows will be more bony in pictures and beef will be more muscular and dairy will have big udders

British friesian

• from holland mostly black

• dual purpose

• longer calving interval

Holstein friesian

• high milk production

• can suffer with fertility issues due to inbreeding

• black and white

• highest milk yield 8000L

jersey

• light brown in colour

• small, long-lived, fertile and easy calving

• high milk solids contest but low yeild

kerry cow

• irish native, small, 350kg

• black coat, white horns

• hardy, docile and easy calving

montbeliarde

• red and white coat

• high casein protein content in milk good for cheese

• fertile and not prone to mastitis

Norweigian red

• lower milk yield than friesian but low levels of mastitis

• easy calving, fertile

• medium

key qualities of dairy breed - conformation

• wedge shaped, narrow shoulders and wide hind

• not very muscled

• udder should be large with uniform teats

key factors of dairy breeds - other

• good temperament

• good fertility

• good milk composition and volume

cattle

the general term for all bovine animals, both sexes

calf

your animal up to 9 months old

weanling

young animal between 9 months and 1 year old

heifer

a female that has not had a calf

cow

a female who has had a calf, over 2 years old, dairy cows are sucklers

steer/bullock

casterated make cattle

bull

an uncastrated male

replacement heifer

a heifer who has been bred and raised with the intention of replacing a member of the dairy herd, rather than slaughter

BCS

the BCS is the ratio of lean meat to fat, and is usually given on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is underweight and 5 is over , ideal for a cow is 3.25