Livestock Breeds Comprehensive Notes

Breeds

Ruminant Industry

Breeds Overview

• Types of Breeds:

  • Meat

  • Dairy

  • Draft

  • Dual purpose

Dairy Cattle Breeds

Holstein Friesian

• Origin: Netherlands (Holland)

• Development: Started approximately 2000 years ago.

• Coat Color: Typically black and white (spotted).

• Population: Largest of the dairy breeds in terms of population size.

• Weight(Mature):

  • Bull: approximately $1000 kg$

  • Cow: approximately $750 kg$

• Conformation:

  • Cow: Triangular shape, large pendulous udder, tortuous milk vein, feminine neck and head; both horned and polled.

  • Bull: Prominent neck, large head, pendulous scrotum.

• Milk Production: Average milk production per lactation (305 days) is $10000 kg$.

Ayrshire

• Origin: Ayrshire in Scotland

• Color: May have any shade of cherry red, mahogany, brown, or white.

• Characteristics:

  • Low somatic cell counts.

  • Efficient conversion of grass into milk.

  • Hardiness.

  • Easy calving and longevity.

• Size: Medium-sized cattle weighing over $1200$ pounds at maturity.

• Adaptability: Adaptable to all management systems including group handling on dairy farms with free stalls and milking parlors.

• Udder and Legs: Excel in udder conformation and are not subject to excessive foot and leg problems.

• Calves: Strong and easy to raise.

• Milk Composition: A moderate butterfat breed and relatively high protein breed.

• Milk Production(Average): In 2002, averaged $17,230$ pounds of milk with $665$ pounds of fat and $542$ pounds of protein on official ABA programs.

Jersey

• Origin: British Channel Island (one of the oldest dairy breeds).

• Milk Quality: Known for milk and butterfat production.

• Introduction to the US: Introduced to the United States in the 1850s.

• Adaptability: Adaptable to a wide range of climatic and geographical conditions.

• Grazing: Excellent grazers and perform well in intensive grazing programs.

• Heat Tolerance: More tolerant of heat.

• Appearance:

  • Color: Brown to fawn in coat color (black shade may be on the neck).

  • Weight: Lower in body weight than Friesians.

  • Cows: Nice looking, have prominent udder, small thin horns.

• Milk Yield: Lactation milk yield : $10,000 L$ per lactation.

• Temperament (Bulls): Jersey bulls are known for having the least docile temperament of the common breeds of cattle.

• Masculinity (Bulls): Extremely masculine compared to the other dairy breeds; quite muscular about their crests and shoulders and are considerably less refined throughout than are the females.

• Weight (Bulls): Range in weight from $1200$ to $1800$ pounds.

Brown Swiss

• Origin: Switzerland.

• Color: Solid brown, ranging from light to dark; nose and tongue are black.

• Weight(Mature):

  • Cows: approximately $680 kg$

  • Bulls: approximately $907 kg$

• Characteristics: Slow maturing and docile but good grazers.

• Milk Production: Average milk production $5,488 kg$.

• Beef Crossbreeding: Bulls of this breed have been used recently in beef crossbreeding programs.

Red Sindhi

• Origin: Sind province of Pakistan.

• Color: Deep and solid red coat.

• Physical Traits: Prominent hump, dewlap, udder, navel flap.

• Weight(Average):

  • Bull: $750 kg$

  • Cow: $500 kg$

• Milk Production: Lactation yield $3000L$.

Sahiwal

• Origin: Sahiwal district in Punjab of Pakistan.

• Characteristics:

  • Tick-resistant

  • Heat-tolerant

  • High resistance to parasites (internal and external).

• Milk Production: The cows average $3200 kg$ of milk during a lactation, while suckling a calf; much higher milk yields have been recorded.

• Appearance:

  • Brick red coat color and loosely set horns.

  • Tail head thick, switch touches the ground.

  • Prominence in dewlap, udder, navel flap, tortuous milk vein, vulval fold are greater than in Red Sindhi.

• Weight(Mature):

  • Bulls: $850 kg$

  • Cows: $600 kg$

• Global presence:

  • They have been exported to other Asian countries as well as Africa and the Caribbean.

• Australian Development:

  • Used in the development of the two Australian tropical dairy breeds, the Australian Milking Zebu (AMZ) and the Australian Friesian Sahiwal (AFS).

• Current Use in Australia:

  • Sahiwal cattle are now predominantly used in Australia for beef production, as crossing high-grade Sahiwal sires with European breeds produced a carcass of lean quality with desirable fat cover.

• Other Characteristics:

  • Sahiwal bulls have demonstrated the ability to sire small, fast-growing calves, noted for their hardiness under unfavorable climatic conditions.

  • The cows are the heaviest milkers of all zebu breeds and display a well-developed udder.

  • In Pakistan, the breed is being conserved by the Research Centre for Conservation of Sahiwal Cattle.

• Mafriwal:

  • Mafriwal in Malaysia developed from Friesian and Sahiwal.

  • The development of the Mafriwal dairy cattle is by crossbreeding of the Friesian and the Sahiwal breeds.

  • Crossbreeding of Bostaurus dairy breeds and zebu dairy breeds was considered the best alternative to improve the productivity in the local dairy industry.

Beef Cattle Breeds

Temperate Breeds

1. Angus

2. Charolais

3. Belgian Blue

4. Simmental

5. Limousin

6. Beef Master

7. Hereford

Tropical Breeds

1. Brahman

2. Bali

3. Yellow cattle

4. Kedah Kelantan

5. Nelora

Aberdeen Angus

• Origin: Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

• History: Exists for over 1000 years.

• Characteristics:

  • Polled

  • Solid black or red (udder may be white).

Charolais

• Origin: France, known for composite qualities.

• Traits:

  • Large muscled, bulls weighing up to $1,100kg$.

  • More red meat and less fat.

  • Tolerant to heat and good weight gains.

Hereford

• Origin: England, white faces and red bodies.

• Traits:

  • Superior foraging ability, vigor and hardiness.

  • Produce more calves.

• Weight(Mature):

  • Bulls: approximately $835kg$

  • Cows: approximately $545kg$

Limousin

• Origin: France, light red hair.

• Color: May be red or black in colour, polled or horned.

• Weight(Average):

  • Bulls: $1000kg$

  • Cows: $635kg$

• Traits: Noted for carcass quality, leanness and large loin area.

Shorthorn

• Origin: Northern England, red, white or roan in colour.

• Traits:

  • Good disposition and easily handled.

  • Adaptable to variable climates.

  • Good mother, excellent milker and produce desirable carcass.

• Weight(Average):

  • Bulls: up to $1088kg$

  • Cows: up to $680kg$

Simmental

• Origin: Switzerland, white to light straw faces with red spotted bodies.

• Weight(Mature):

  • Bulls: up to $1180kg$

  • Cows: up to $816kg$

• Traits:

  • Good milker, thickly muscled and produce carcass without excess fat.

  • Adaptable to different climates.

Brahman

• Origin: Originally from India, developed in Southwestern US; Gray or red color.

• Traits:

  • Heat tolerance and resistant to parasites and disease.

  • Extremely good mother, offering protection and an abundance of milk for her calf.

• Weight:

  • Bulls weigh $800$ to $1,100kg$

  • Cows weigh $500$ to $700kg$

Santa Gertrudis

• Origin: From Texas, USA.

• Characteristics:

  • Cherry red coat, most are horned and some are polled.

  • Efficient in the feed lot.

  • Desirable carcass with little waste fat.

  • Resist diseases and insects.

Beefmaster

• Origin: From USA, variety of colours.

• Traits:

  • Good disposition, fertility, weight gain,

  • Conformation, hardiness and milk production.

Belgian Blue

• Origin: From Belgium, double muscling.

• Genetics:

  • Natural mutation of the gene that codes for myostatin, a protein that counteracts muscle growth.

  • The truncated myostatin is unable to function, resulting in accelerated lean muscle growth.

  • The defect in the breed's myostatin gene is maintained through linebreeding.

• Fat Deposition: This mutation also interferes with fat deposition, resulting in very lean meat.

• Calving: The neonatal calf is so large that Caesarean sections are routinely done.

Kedah-Kelantan

• Origin: Origin from Malaysia; various in colors brown, black, brown and yellow

• Traits:

  • High fertility, tick resistance to weather, moisture, disease and ability to thrive under poor conditions.

• Weight(Mature): $200-250kg$.

Bali Cattle

• Origin: Very little is known of the origin of Bos (Bibos) type cattle in Southeast Asia.

• Domestication:

  • The geographical distribution of Bos (Bibos) types of cattle suggests that the centre of domestication was Indo- China and Malaysia, later spreading to Bali.

  • Indonesia probably became the centre of Bali cattle domestication some ten to five thousand years ago.

  • The process of domestication probably started in prehistoric times on Bali and Java.

• Crossbreeding: Crossbreeding with European cattle, Bos Taurus, resulted the male offspring is usually infertile.

Buffalo Breeds

Buffalo Types

• River Type/Dairy: Murrah buffalo, Produce $30 L$ milk/day

• Swamp Type: Draft type

Goat Breeds

Goat Breed-Types

• Dairy breeds: Saanen, Alpine, Toggenburg, Jamnapari, Anglo- Nubian

• Meat breeds: Boer, Black Bengal, Ma-tou, Kambing Katjang, Sirohi, Barbari,Beetal

• Fiber (mohair) producing breeds: Angora, Shami

Boer Goat

• Origin: Originated in South Africa

• Appearance: White coat with red head

• Growth: Fast growing ($150g-200g/day$), quality mutton

• Physical Traits: Horned and roman nose

• Weight(Mature):

  • Male: $172kg$

  • Female: $120 kg$

• Puberty:

  • Male: reach puberty at $6$ month

  • Female: at $10-12$ months.

• Reproduction:

  • Prolific, $3$ kidding in every two yrs

  • $2$ kids/kidding

• Availability: Available through out the world including Malaysia

Kambing Katjang

• Origin: Original Sarawak goat population comprises of small- framed goats, the original Kambing Katjang -Kambing Kacang

• Primary Purpose: Primarily a meat producer

• Reproduction: Prolificacy with a $1.8$ litter average.

• Traits:

  • Slow growth rate, low effective reproductive and maternal ability

  • This breed is resistant against diseases and ecto-parasites, specifically biting-flies like mosquitoes, sand flies and ticks.

• Appearance:

  • Black, brown; multi colored: black and white pied.

  • Height of $63cm$ and $59cm$.

  • Males and females weight of $30kg$ and $25kg$ each.

  • Small bodied, with erect ears the males come bearded with tassels.

• Maturity:

  • Males mature at $9$ months

  • Females at $7$ months.

• Birth Weight: The average birth weight for each sex is $1.5kg$ for males and $1.3kg$ for females.

• Other: The meat of bucks has a very strong and specific smell and for some strange reason this breed is particularly scared of getting wet.

Black Bengal

• Origin: Originated in Bangladesh

• Traits: Dwarf goat, very prolific, early maturing, excellent quality meat and skin.

• Weight(Mature):

  • Male: $20kg$

  • Female: $15kg$.

• Physical Traits: Have horn, beard in both sexes, small prick ear.

• Reproduction:

  • Kid twice a year with a litter size of $2.2$.

• Appearance: Mostly solid black or toggenburg pattern face but white, fawn or any combination of coat colour are not uncommon.

• Milk Production: Very poor milker, milk is not even sufficient to nurse kids

Jamnapari

• Origin: Origin from India, since 1953 they have been imported to Indonesia (popular as Etawa goat) and Malaysia where they have been a great success.

• Purpose: It is bred for both milk and meat.

• Name: The name is derived from the river Jamna Par or Jamuna in Uttar Pradesh.

• Milk Yield: The average milk yield per day has been found to be $2kg$.

• Meat Quality: Jamnapari meat is said to be low in cholesterol.

• Appearance:

  • White with patches of tan on the neck and head.

  • Their heads tend to have a highly convex nose, which gives them a parrot-mouth appearance.

  • They have long flat drooping ears which are around $25cm$ long. Both sexes have horns.

  • The udder has round, conical teats and is well developed.

  • They also have unusually long legs.

• Weight:

  • The Jamnapari male can weigh up to $120kg$, while females can reach around $90kg$.

Saanen

• Origin: Originated in Switzerland and now available in whole Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and in Malaysia

• Appearance: Coat colour is white or light cream

• Physical Traits: Mostly polled, erect ear and bucks have tuft of hair over fore head, both sexes are bearded

• Purpose: Well known dairy breed, produces $820-1000kg$ milk/year

• Weight(Average):

  • Male: $84kg$

  • Female: $61kg$

Anglo Nubian

• Origin: Originated in England as a cross between the Old English Milch Goat and the Zariby and Nubian bucks imported from India, Russia, and Egypt.

• Traits: Large in size and carries more flesh than other dairy breeds.

• Appearance:

  • Large size, markings can be any color, the ears are long, pendulous and floppy and the nose is Roman.

• Temperament: Temperament is sociable, outgoing, and vocal.

• Nicknames: Nicknamed the "Lop-Eared Goat" or "Greyhound Goat” - elongated ears and sleek body.

• Milk Production:

  • High quality, high butterfat, milk production.

  • Dual purpose animal.

  • Leads the way for the dairy breeds in butterfat production, $5\%$ butterfat content.

  • This is surpassed only by the Nigerian Dwarf, Pygmy goat and Boer goat breeds, which are less likely to be used for large scale milk production, as for a dairy or cheese goat.

Breeds of Sheep

Overview

• About $900$ breeds

• Wool producing breeds

  • Fine wool

  • Medium wool

  • Long wool

  • Crossbred wool

  • Carpet wool

• Dairy sheep

• Meat producing sheep

Indigenous Sheep (MALIN)

• Size: These sheep are small. Adult rams weigh $25–30kg$ and ewes $20–25kg$.

• Height: Withers height of rams averaged $47cm$.

• Horns: Males have spiral horns about $11cm$ long; ewes are usually polled but may carry scurs. Facial profile is straight.

• Ears: Ears are small and horizontal to semi-pendulous; $25$ to $30$ percent of animals have vestigial ears.

• Tail: The tail is short (average $8cm$) and thin.

• Fleece: The fleece is of coarse carpet- wool type with a staple length of $5–10cm$.

• Bare Areas: Head, underside of neck, brisket, belly and legs are bare.

• Fleece Weight: Fleece weight is $0.8–1.4kg$.

• Color: The majority of the sheep are white. Others are black, light brown or pied.

Other Breeds

• Fine wool: Merino, Rambouillet, Debouillet

• Medium wool: Cheviot, Dorset, Finnsheep, Southdown, Suffolk

• Long wool: Romney, Leicester, Lincoln

• Fur: Karakul

• Hair sheep: Dorper (introduced in M’sia from S.Africa)

• Fat tail: The fat-tailed sheep is a general type of domestic sheep known for their distinctive large tails and hindquarters.

Merino

• Origin: Originated in Spain.

• Wool Production: They are noted for fine wool production.

• Types:

  • A, Band C are three types of Merino. A and B types have wrinkled skin called American Merino. C type has very little wrinkle called Delaine Merino and popular in USA.

• Delaine Merino:

  • The fleece of Delaine Merino is white grows about $6.4-7.6cm$ per year and must be $21.5$ microns or finer.

  • Their wool demand high prices and called “GOLDEN FLEECE”.

Dorper Sheep

• Characteristics:

  • Fast growing, meat producing sheep breed that thrives in a variety of grazing conditions.

  • Prime lamb producing breed as they are fast maturing with the ability to produce a high-quality carcass with excellent conformation and fat distribution.