La Mancha goat
Dairy goat Straight faced with a very short ear ( called gopher or elf eared) with no cartilage. Any color combo is acceptable. Sturdy, excellent temperament and one of the highest milk fat producers.
Nubian goat
Dairy goat Very long pendulous ear. large, pendulous udder. Convex muzzle. All purpose (meat, milk and hide). much longer breeding season than other goats. Best suited of dairy breeds for hot conditions.
Saanen goat
Dairy goat Medium to large goat that is up eared and all-white. Very heavy milk producers.
Alpine goat
Dairy goat No established color. Males have pronounced beard. Erect, e=medium sized ears. Large, well-shaped udders. White is discriminated against, so will have markings. Hardy, adaptable so do well in many environments. Excellent milk producer.
Toggenburg goat
Dairy goat Medium sized with alert appearance. Light fawn to dark chocolate colored. White ears and white stripes on face. and legs. Erect ears carried forward. Oldest breed. Excellent udder development, high milk production and average milk fat.
Oberhasli goat
Dairy goat Medium sie with "chamois" to black colored (like a bay horse). black stripes on face and legs. Straight Vigorous
Boer goat
Meat goat White, very thick muscled and with a red "cape" Muscle production and growth rate - better than all other goats.
Kiko goat
Meat goat Can be combinations of white and brown with dorsal stripe. horned and moderately muscled. Survivability and growth rate in a tough range environment.
Spanish goat
Meat goat Shades of brown with black dorsal lines, legs and beard. Body shape ear and color not always consistently identifiable Moderate sized meat producer. and very tough (from its feral breeding after being left by Spanish explorers.
Angora goat
Fiber goat Small, white, horned and long fibered with a definite crimp visible on the mohair. Heavy producer of mohair. A good browser and range forager as well. Not as prolific as others. Not known for meat production.
Cashmere goat
Fiber goat White, horned and with a fiber that is very "lustrous" in appearance. No noticeable ringlet or crimp like an Angora. Finest fiber available after the hair is removed from the fleece.
Pygmy goat
Very small (dwarf). Very heavy mane of hair over the shoulder. All colors are ok, though usually dark gray agouti colored. Usually a dorsal stripe. Can be milked or produced for meat, but is usually known for novelty and pet use because of the cute, small
Myotonic goat
Any color combination, but most are black and white. Defined by its genotype and not outward appearance, so come in all types and kinds. Can be used for meat or milk, but is known best for its reaction to stress - they fall over and are stiff as if in rigor mortis. Not good jumpers or climbers so easy to keep in pens. Easy to kid and milk.
Angus cattle
Scotland - Maternal Black and polled. Moderate to small always polled, no scurs, and most popular single breed in US
Hereford cattle
England - Maternal Red with White face and points, moderate sized. Can be dark red to almost yellow. western range cow with moderate milk so breeds easily. Distinguished horns (weighted to curve downward) artificially on bulls) and polled breed/lines too too.
Charlois cattle
France - Paternal White but with reddish pigment in skin. Heavy muscled. Large framed Unlike other breeds, white is co-dominate to other color genes, giving a diluted color in crosses.
Limousin cattle
France - Paternal Red or black, heavy muscled, rounded quarter and large size fine boned
Maine Anjou cattle
France - Paternal Usually very large framed and big headed with rough shoulder and weak top. Is traditionally red and white spotted. With strong American Shorthorn influence, can see roan and small, stock appearance in US lines. Popular cross in show cattle in US. US lines are mostly solid black or with some white (called "chrome). They are selected for hair length to suit show industry)
Shorthorn cattle
NE coast of England & Scotland - Maternal Red, roan or white Noted dairy, beef lines exist.
Brahman cattle
India - Maternal Long, down ears, hump (crested neck). Colors from dark to light grey. Seen often in bull riding events in rodeo.l Very strong resistance to parasites and the effects of heat, so are most popular in the deep southern US
Brangus Cattle
US - Maternal Black with slight appearance of hump and ears (from Brahman influence) Combines heat and parasite tolerance of Brahman influence with growth and maternal ability of Angus.
Gelbvieh cattle
Germany - Maternal or Paternal Red color with strong skin pigmentation. US Black lines developed. More moderate size than other European imports. Commonly heavier dewlap Known best for reproductive performance compared to other European imports. Has odd ability to restrict blood flow to sites of heavy parasite infestation and thus killing the parasite.
Longhorn cattle
left from Spanish explorers - Maternal Moderate to small size and colors with various levels of white, red and black mixing. Obvious large horns American original. Long horns with age; Really durable in tough environmental conditions. Also very easy to calve.
Simmental cattle
Switzerland - Paternal Usually very large, level made cattle. Traditionally yellow or red spotted, German lines solid red. American lines can be black or grey. Bred triple purpose Europe, and represented world wide with many different strains and names.
Chianina cattle
Italy - Paternal White with black eyes and switch. American lines are small and black to suit youth show industry Crosses of Brahman lines tend to have a striped or brindle pattern
Belgian Blue cattle
Belgium - Paternal Spotted to white with usual roan pigment. Double muscled Often shown sheared off to show off extreme muscle expression. Produces unusually tender meat.
Bay colored horse
Reddish tan to reddish brown with black mane, tail, lower legs
Black colored horse
True black with no light areas around muzzle or flank.
Brown colored horse
Almost black, but brown or tan hair is found in flank or muzzle
Sorrel colored horse
Copper bright reddish with main and tail the same color as the body, or flaxen ("blonde").
Chestnut colored horse
Dark red or reddish brown with mane and tail the same color as body, or flaxen.
Gray colored horse
Mixture of white and black hair. Often born non-gray and color lightens with age.
Palomino colored horse
Golden yellow with flaxen mane and tail. Note that this is also a breed registry name as well, eluding to the color requirement of the breed.
Roan colored horse
Mixture of white and either red, chestnut, or black hair.
Dun colored horse
Can be a number of colors, but diluted in color and with a dorsal stripe (down center of back).
Buckskin colored horse
color of tanned deer hide with black points. Shades may vary from yellow to dark gold. Points (mane, tail, legs) can be dark brown or black.
Appaloosa colored horse
Not really a color but a color pattern. Variable pattern often consisting of white over loin and hips with dark spots. Note that this is also a breed registry name as well, eluding to the color requirement of the breed.
Painted colored horse
Note also this a breed registry name as well, eluding to the color requirement of the breed. Paints are any background color of a horse, with large white spotting patterns on the body of the horse (excludes There are several subtypes of paint horse colors. The two most common are called Overo and Tobiano.
White colored horse
without pigment, though not albino. Does not turn grey with age. Is associated with a lethal gene, so not true breeding because homozygosity for the white gene is lethal in utero.
Stocking on horse
Half of the leg is covered with white
Sock or Boot on horse
1/4 of leg is covered with white
Fetlock on horse
White on horses leg comes to just above "ankle"
Pastern on horse
White on horses foot reaches just below the "ankle"
Coronet on horse
Small stripe of white just around the hoof
Partial Pastern on horse
Small circle of white on horses "heel"
Blaze on horse
Thick stripe of white that goes from between the eyes to the nose
Stripe (Thin Blaze) on horse
Thin blaze that goes from between the eyes to the nose
Stripe and Nose on horse
Thin blaze that starts between the eyes and continues onto the nostrol
Irregular Blaze on horse
Blaze that is crooked and broken
Interrupted Stripe on horse
Strip that breaks in the middle
Bald Face on horse
Blaze that extends horizontally past the center of the face
Faint Star on horse
A very small patch of white on horse's forehead
Star on horse
A larger patch of white on horse's forehead
Star and Strip on horse
Patch of white on horse's forehead that extends just below the eyes
Irregular Star on horse
Misshapen or curved patch of white on horse's forehead
Snip on horse
Small patch of white on horse's nostrol
Lip Masking on horse
Very small strip of white on horse's lip
American Quarter horse
¨ Original to US. ¨ From East Coast Chickasaw (short, stocky) and English Thoroughbreds to improve speed at short (¼ mile) distance races. ¨ Extensively bred for ranch work in Western USA. ¨ Association formed in 1940. ¨ Largest numbers in US.
Arabian horse
¨ Oldest breed. Original to Arabian desert lands. ¨ Bred for endurance, spirit, elegance. ¨ Ancestral to many breeds. ¨ Extensively bred for ranch work in Western USA. ¨ Association formed in 1908.
Belgian horse
¨ Original to Belgium from medieval Flemish breeding. ¨ To US for farm work, last imports to US by Iowan in 1940. ¨ Association formed in 1940. ¨ Largest numbers of draft registrations in US.
Pony of the Americas
¨ Original to Iowa in 1954. ¨ From Shetland X Appaloosa cross, but now with other breed influences. ¨ Bred for larger pony riders not yet ready for full size horse. ¨ 2nd largest numbers in US for ponies.
Paint horse
¨ Original to US but from Spanish explorers with "two-toned" horses. ¨ Bred for ranch work in Western USA. ¨ 2nd largest numbers in USA today.
Clydesdale horse
¨ Original to Great Britain, Scotland specifically. ¨ Bred for faster gait pulling wagons. Big hoof diameter. ¨ To US in early 1800s. Not as popular for farm work because of feathers, size. ¨ Association formed in 1879.
Shetland Pony
¨ Original to Shetland Islands in England, bred for coal mine draft work. ¨ Modern lines are less shaggy, more refined and often used in English style equitation events, most notable harness/carriage events and halter shows.
Appaloosa horse
¨ Original to US from Spanish horses developed by the Nez Perce Indians of NW USA in 1700's. ¨ Same colors noted in European cave paintings of 15,000 BC. ¨ Endurance and color at issue in breed. Associated in 1938.
Percheron horse
¨ Ancient origins, from France with some Arab horse ancestry. ¨ To US in 1839, later than other drafts. However, 3X as many as others combined by WWII. ¨ Bred for farm and city labor. ISU famous for breeding program in early 1900's.
Thoroughbred horse
¨ To US in 1700's from old English influence breeding of Arabians. ¨ Popular in eastern states for longer distance and endurance racing. ¨ Some lines and crosses popular in stadium jumping and field events. ¨ Association formed in 1894, and later taken over by the US Jockey Club
Welsh pony
¨ Original harsh mountains of Wales. ¨ Bred and used in multiple ways over years (mines, chariots, racing). Today, society and children's pleasure use as well. ¨ To US in 1889 and associated in 1907.
Standardbred horse
¨ Original to US in early 1800's. Bred from Thoroughbred ancestry in early 1800's to beat Morgan horses in harness races. ¨ Noted origins to "Hamletonian 10" foaled in 1849: ~ 90% of modern breed trace to him. ¨ Harness racing, bred to race 1 mile standard time - hence the name.
Trakehner horse
¨ Developed in Prussia in the 18th century from Thoroughbred and Arabian lines, but most lines today are from Germany origins. To US in 1950's. ¨ Large (16 to 17 hands), athletic and graceful, they are most valued in Olympic competitive events such dressage and jumping.
Araucana chicken
American - Blue or Green eggs - Pea comb Besides egg color, is known to be broody, and tolerate confinement well. Has good egg laying capability.
Brahma chicken
Asiatic - Brown eggs - Pea comb Broiler type, good capon breed, but show purpose prevalent. Go broody and are good mothers.
Cochin chicken
Asiatic - Brown eggs - Single comb Ornamental. Large and bantam varieties. Very heavy (8 lbs. +). Is very docile, and broody and friendly. Also winter hardy.
Cornish chicken
English - Brown eggs - Pea comb Broiler lines depend on Cornish influence. They are poor breeders. AI is important. Need more exercise, and make poor mothers.
Leghorn chicken
Mediterranean - White eggs - Single comb Layer lines are prominent. Red wattle and rarely go broody so are excellent egg layers.
New Hampshire chicken
American - Brown eggs - Single comb Dual purpose balance so great home/farm bird reputation.
Orpington chicken
English - Brown eggs - Medium Single comb Dual purpose with free range adaptability.
Plymouth Rock chicken
American - Brown eggs - Single comb Developed in US for balanced farm flock bird with meat and egg production capability
Polish chicken
Asian - White eggs - Pea comb Broiler type, good capon breed, but show purpose prevalent
Rhode Island Red chicken
American - Brown eggs - Single comb Best egg production of the dual-purpose breeds. Black in the main tail and wing feathers is normal. Most Reds show broodiness,
Cheviot sheep
England & Scotland Short, erect ear, long wooled and hornless. Black eye and nose. Thick made moderate growth and maturity Good in tough environmental conditions.
Dorper sheep
South Africa Black faced ( There are white faced varieties too) Hair sheep . . no wool Mutton sheep and non - seasonally polyestrous.
Dorset sheep
England or Wales Thick white faced meat breed . Large sized. Both horned and polled varieties. Can breed more easily ouit of season than some breeds,
Finnsheep
Finland Slack framed, ill shaped all white breed Multiple births
Friesian sheep
Germany & Holland Polled, all white with clean legs. Has small think "rat" tail with no wool covering. Milk production leader in the world.
Texel sheep
Holland White and clean on head and leg. Thick plump leg Very heavy muscle production and carcass yield with large rib eye area on the carcass.
Targhee sheep
Idaho All white, moderate size with heavy wool clip. Ranging ability with moderate wool production too.
Hampshire sheep
England Thick muscled, large framed and black faced with straight ear. Full wool cap and cleaned channeled preferred.
Muscle and carcass yield. Moderate wool quality.
Navajo Churro sheep
Spain First breed in the new world. Is long wooled with color and horns. Adapted by the Navajo for long staped fleece useful in textile production.
Rambouillet sheep
France All white and mostly horned though some polled lines have been developed. Not especially heavy muscled. Heavy clip of fine wool
Southdown sheep
Sussex Traditionally short and early maturing with full wool cap and filled in channels of the face. Gray to mouse brown face, polled, and Farm flock oriented, with adaptability to wet and confined spaces. Medium wooled.
Suffolk sheep
England Black face with no wool cap or on legs. Has bell shaped long ear with flared tip. Definite large framed high growth sire breed.
Polypay sheep
White (of course) with open face and small wool cap preferable. Not known for overt thickness, nor straight lines but good angles in skeleton. Medium straight ear. Popular commercial low-input breed for outdoor lambing (like at ISU). Known for reasonable prolificacy, good maternal ability and well rounded balance of wool, growth and maternal performance.
Romanov sheep
Russia Mixture of gray wool and black guard hair gives "natural" distinct color. Has a white "star" on the forehead. Like Finn and Polypay, they are litter bearing (2 to 5 lambs per lambing). Wool is "natural colored, a mixture of wool and guard hairs and popular right now for course textiles ( rugs, mats, and wall hangings). Excellent early puberty and out-of-season breeding.
Aryshire dairy cattle
Scotland •Reddish brown and white •Excellent udders
Brown Swiss dairy cattle
Switzerland •2nd highest in milk production •Brown/light brown •Great grazers
Jersey dairy cattle
Channel Island •High butterfat content •Heat tolerant •Gray, fawn, and black smallest in stature
Guernsey dairy cattle
Channel Island •Yellow colored milk •High beta carotene •Tan and white
Milking Shorthorn cattle
England •Lowest milk production •Initially dual-purpose •Red, white, roan •Less than 0.5% of dairy cows
Holstein dairy cattle
Holland •90% of all dairy cows •Highest milk production•2 color patterns •Black and white •Red and white •Now considered the 7th breed