Animal Science (terminology & breeds)

Breed

Characteristics

Angus- British breed

Origin: ScotlandColor: black or generally polledMeat use (quality > quantity)most registered breed'; have good carcass quality and mothering

Hereford- British breed

Polled or horned are from England; polled from the USColor: red body with white points hardiness and is a maternal Common problem: pink eye or cancer eye

Shorthorn- British breed

Color: red white or roanmaternal; medium-sized

Charolais- Continental breed

Origin: France Color: white known for good growth (quantity > quality)Problems: pink eye or cancer eye heavily boned

Limosuin- Continental breed

origin: France color: originally red/gold now black too highest cutability meat yield)moderate → large frame size

Simmental- Continental breed

origin: Switzerlandcolor: red, white, and blackused for draft, milk, and meat crossbred with othersmost famous in Europe

Gelbvieh- Continental breed

origin: Austria/GermanyColor: red or black comparable growth/carcassBoth milk and meat

Chianina- Continental breedUnknown

origin: Italycolor: grey/white (dark undertones)largest late maturing

American Brahman

Origin: USColor: Grey/redHornedheat tolerant and disease resistanceExtra skin is commonIssues: fertility and carcass quality

Santa Gertrudis- composite breed

Origin: US (King Ranch)Color: dark red5/8 Shorthorn and 3/8 Brahmanhardiness and heat tolerancemarbling and earlier maturing

Braford- composite breed

Origin: US (Adams Ranch)
Color: “tiger striped” white face and red 5/8 hereford 3/8 brahman“most productive females”Less susceptible to cancer eye

Beefmaster- composite breed

Origin: US (Lasater Ranch)Color: red/white (no set pattern)horned1/2 brahman; 1/4 Hereford; 1/4 shoehornbred for the 6 essentials

Brangus- composite breed

Origin: US (Louisiana)Color: solid blackPolled5/8 Angus and 3/8 brahman quick growth and mothering medium calves and heavy wearing weight

Holstein

Origin: HollandColor: black and white (can be red)The most popular modern breedhighest fluid milk content breedlarge framedDownside: Lower milk fat

Jersey ]

Origin: Isle of JerseyColor: brown “fawn” with black pointsThe smallest of the dairy breedsgood udders, increased milk fat

Gurnsey

Origin: Isle of GurnseyColor: brown and whiteGrazers (efficiently utilize grass for milk)higher milk fatsmaller but not the smallest Sometimes milk can be golden-ish (golden goodness)

Ayrshire

Origin: ScotlandColor: deep red and whitehardiness, economical, good udder quality

Brown swiss

Origin: Switzerlandcolor: brownish greyoldest dairy breedknown for longevity and disposition largerfirst bred to crossbreed with beef

Chester White- maternal

Origin: USColor: solid whiteEars: small and floppyProlific; conformation; grazing ability; durable

Yorkshire- maternal

Origin: EnglandColor: solid whiteEars: erect ears (shire=erect)long deep sides; prolific; good rate of gainleaner but has a large litters

Landrace- Maternal

Origin: DenmarkColor: solid whiteears: large and floppyGood for bacon; prolific; efficient feed convertersgood milk production

Duroc- Terminal

Origin: USColor: solid redEars: floppyMeat breed; efficient feed conversionhealthy breed; usually easy to handle

Hampshire- terminal

Origin: USColor: black with white band/belt over the shoulderEars: erecthighly muscled, good mothers compared to other terminal breeds

Berkshire- terminal

Origin: Englandcolor: black with 6 white points (nose, feet)Ears: erectlength and overall meat characteristics

Poland China- terminal

Origin: UScolor: black with 6 white pointsears: floppy (the only difference from Berkshire visually)Good rate of gain; heavier muscling in ham and loin; smoother conformation

Spotted swine- terminal

Origin: USColor: spotted black and whiteears: floppyhardy and aggressive breeders

Belgian- Draft

Origin: BelgiumColor: chestnut with flaxen mane and tailHeaviest of the draft horsesused most often for work

Arabian- Light

Origin: Arabia/Middle Eastoldest horse breedused to “improve” the modern horseshort back with long hindquarters and high endurance

American Quarter Horse-light

Origin: US
Oldest native to the UStwo types: quarter racing and stock typenow mainly used for working cattle“cowy”, agility, fast sprints/starts

thoroughbred-light

Origin: Englandtall; lean; lots of speed; long legsselected for “flat racing”also used for fox hunting, jumping, etc

shetland pony

Origin: Shetland islandstypically a children’s ponyoriginally used in coal mines