Breeds-of-Cattle

Breeds of Dairy Cattle

  • Ayrshire

    • Color: Red and white; red can range from any shade to dark brown, with jagged-edged spots

    • Weight: Cows ~1,200 lbs; Bulls ~1,800 lbs

    • Characteristics: Good udders, long lifespan, hardy, manages well without pampering

    • Milk: Produces rich white milk

  • Brown Swiss

    • Color: Light to dark brown or gray

    • Weight: Cows ~1,400 lbs; Bulls ~1,900 lbs

    • Characteristics: Sturdy, rugged, long-lived

    • Milk: High butterfat and protein content

  • Guernsey

    • Color: Fawn and white; yellow skin

    • Weight: Cows ~1,100-1,200 lbs; Bulls ~1,700 lbs

    • Characteristics: Good disposition, few calving issues, early maturing heifers

    • Milk: Yellow in color, rich in butterfat

  • Holstein Friesian

    • Color: Black and white, or red and white

    • Weight: Cows ~1,500 lbs; Bulls ~2,000 lbs; Calves ~90 lbs at birth

    • Characteristics: Largest dairy breed in the US; produces large volumes of milk that is low in butterfat

  • Jerseys

    • Color: Fawn, cream, brown, or black (with/without white markings)

    • Weight: Cows ~900-1,000 lbs; Bulls ~1,500 lbs

    • Characteristics: Easy calving, rapid maturation, very fertile, high milk production per pound body weight

    • Milk: Richest in butterfat

  • Sahiwal

    • Color: Reddish brown to predominantly red

    • Characteristics: Heaviest milker among Zebu breeds, well-developed udder, hardy under adverse climates

  • Red Sindhi

    • Color: Reddish brown to yellowish red

    • Characteristics: Smaller, rounder shapes with typical dairy form and short curved horns; popular Zebu breed

Breeds of Beef Cattle

  • Brahman

    • Origin: India

    • Characteristics: Large hump, loose skin on dewlap, large droopy ears, horns curve upward & back; heat-resistant and resistant to ticks

    • Weight: Large breed, calves are small at birth but grow rapidly due to high-quality milk from cows

  • Hindu Brazil

    • Color: Varies from light to silver gray, brownish dark gray to red

  • Simbrah

    • Type: Crossbreed of Simmental and Brahman

    • Characteristics: Thrives in extreme heat and cold; combines Brahman's hardiness with Simmental's rapid growth and milk production

  • Nellore/Ongole

    • Color: White; bulls may have dark gray heads, necks, and humps; knees may be black

Breeds of Buffaloes

  • Native Carabaos

  • Indian Murrah

  • Bulgarian Murrah

    • Color: Black or black with brown or dark gray

    • Weight: Females ~600 kg; Males ~700 kg

  • Nili Ravi

  • American Buffalo

  • Cambodian Buffalo

Products Derived from Cattle

  • Meat

  • Milk

  • Hides and skins

  • Manure

  • Draft Power

  • Transport

  • Income

  • Socio-cultural aspects