The basics: Hereford cows have white faces and an easy-going disposition which makes them easy to care for and almost like pets. So, it's recommended to purchase from reputable breeders. If we dont know anything about the breed first hand, then I point that out as well. And shes old-14 is our best guess, we lost track! If we gave her grain, it would increase her production. There are many other operational and financial details to consider and weigh during this process. ), link to 6 Reasons Why People (Just Like You!) "Ankole-Watusi Cattle." The Hereford cow is a friendly and easy going breed among other breeds of cattle. They do not like heat and will need some shade) but they have longevity, are adaptable, fertile, are readily available and often get a high value at the sale barn. Make sure that you are getting them from a good source and they are not a freemartin. A note on miniature Jerseys: miniature animals in general will be harder to manage than their full size counterparts. That wasnt the case at all! The Rat Terrier, also known as the Rattie, will make an excellent family pet when crossed with other dog breeds. They are a medium to large size cattle breed with above average muscling typically with reddish gold or black coloring. We wish you the best in your endeavor! It will depend on the breed, but on AVERAGE a mature cow will weigh in the 1,000 to 1500 lb range. If you want a hardy cow that can do pretty well for herself, get a sturdily built Ayrshire. If they have, this cow may not have the hardiness that you are expecting to find in a more traditional type Milking Shorthorn. Separated from the larger group, cows that were paired with their favored friend maintained lower heart rates and did not stamp, toss their heads, pace, or sway as much as cows paired with individuals they'd shown no partiality toward. Here are some of the more visually amazing breeds of cattle from around the world. 1. We're here to help it grow. Guernseys came to the U.S. in 1831 and were the most popular dairy breed by far for decades. Since we started out with Jerseys, it always amazes me how slow most other breeds seem in comparison. She a good cow and I have worked to train her for ridding and possible pulling a plow. Dexters Dexters are tri-purpose cattle (beef, milk and draft). No credit card needed. Jersey cows are common enough, but what about miniature Jerseys? Wed love to hear from you if you have any questions! Yes, of course, cows have best friends. Normande milk has higher casein levels making it ideal for cheese making since it produces 15-20% more cheese per pound of milk than other dairy breeds. This is a very substantial cow! The obvious drawback of a crossbred is that if you want to raise purebred livestock she is not purebred. Cattle are big compared to people, even the small breeds handily outweigh you. They are adaptable to most climates, and have rapid growth, lean tender meat but they do sometimes have calving issues, are a bit more high maintenance. I was at a dairy sale this fall, with just one Guernsey in the catalog. Some of the most beautifully marked cows I have ever seen were dark roan Milking Shorthorns. The basics: They mature early, are capable of living long productive lives and are efficient feed to milk converters. They're so rare that when one is born, it usually makes the news, like this adorable calf named Ben whose unusual markings make him worth an estimated $30,000. Ayrshire. The base body color can be black, red, or roan or have patches of one color on a contrasting color background. Homestead potential? That is perfectly fine but doesnt suit your purposes if you want a dairy cow! The red part of the roan was so darkly pigmented it was almost purple, I love the roan pattern! The Maine Anjou is a red and white breed that is the heaviest of all french breeds. If youve got a little bit of land and the willingness to learn, having your own cow is definitely doable. goes over the numbers you need to know to figure up if raising your own beef will be worth it to you and your family. The strangely lumpy appearance is called double-musclinga genetic trait that creates an increased number of muscle fibers. If anything the little Jerseys went out of their way to try to pick at her. Pros: Highland cattle are typically very docile, low stress and are easy to keep and manage. If she does, consider buying her. (artificial insemination) choose a bull rated for ease of calving. It results in about 20% more muscle than the average cow and extra-lean meat. We had some Dutch Belted that we kept in the herd when we milked cows for a living and they did as good as any of the more common dairy breeds provided they were fed as needed to produce more milk. 16 Red Dog Breeds That Turn Heads. If you ask how the breeder is making breeding selection decisions and the answers are cosmetic reasons, please look somewhere else for your cow. The miniature panda cow is known for its markings that are just like those of giant pandas, right down to the dark eye patches. For the most part, Milking Shorthorns will drop in milk production before they drop in body condition. They are known for the ability to thrive on less than great feed, fast maturity, easy calving, and having a high dressing percentage (more meat on the carcass and less bone). Raise Sheep. In all of our years milking, pulling a calf was a rare occasion if the mom was a Jersey or Jersey cross. It tends to be that size and color are selected over more important things like calving ease, easy care and structural correctness. When were Herefords brought to America? Since your biggest expense with raising cattle is feed, why not start out with cattle that grow more for the feed you provide? The highland cow has a thick, shaggy coat that keeps it warm and protected from wind and rain. Sensitive and one of . The BrownSwissis the oldest purebred dairy breed first imported to the U.S. in 1869. Unlike the rest of these breeds, Beefmaster is selected specifically for hardiness in heat. For a person new to cattle and milking, it was too frustrating and, unfortunately, heavily influenced their decision to give up the dream of having a family milk cow. You provide the land, water and shelter (which can be minimal) and the cattle work (graze and grow) on their own. The common color of Gelbvieh is yellow but can be any where from cream to reddish to black. Whatarethemostcommonbeefcattlebreeds? The original cross he used in the 1930s was 25% Hereford, 25% Shorthorn and 50% Brahman. Tom Lasater was a rancher in Texas wanting more meat on his Brahman cattle. What is the friendliest breed of cow? The Guernsey cow is originally from the Channel Islands, specifically the Isle of Guernsey, that are off the coast of France. If you want to see them for yourself, there is a pair of panda cows at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. Pros: They are quick to mature, easy to handle and have very good feed conversion rates. I see this all of the time on the free online ad platforms. And since you'll be investing both time and money into these animals you'll want to make sure you invest in the right breeds of cattle. A few thoughts on containment-cattle push, sometimes a lot. A mature bull weights 1,800-1,400 lbs and a mature cow about 1,200-1,400 lbs. They are very hardy, have good heat and cold tolerance. The Milking Shorthorn is a good grazer, fertile, and hardy. If I were looking to get started in cattle, Id start here. Tiny land? The mini belted Galloway is not nearly as shaggy as the highland cow, but because they naturally don't have horns, they look all the more cuddly. They are strong and adaptable cattle that work well for various dairy setups and milking parlors. Heifers are untrained and unproven, you never know what you are going to get. They are just a calm, sweetheart of a cow. I have included my comments on the breed under the Homestead potential section. If youve heard that some people can digest goats milk but not cows milk, what this really means is they can digest A2A2 milk, but not A1 milk (produced by the majority of Holsteins and less frequently in other dairy breeds). They will reach 1200 pounds at maturity. Despite their slower maturation, they have a reproductive period that's twice as long as other breeds. Very high. Which type you choose comes down to your priorities, budget, space and management availability. Those bigger cattle will finish at a higher weight, but theyll do it much later and at a much higher cost to you! James O. Sanders, "History and Development of Zebu Cattle in the United States." They are the weed eaters, have an easy time calving, can calve until age 15 or 20, produce lean/low fat meat and have rich butter. Our first Milking Shorthorn was from a highly productive dairy line and she was a milking machine! We have come across multiple well meaning beginners who have chosen a breed of cow that was not very beginner friendly. Which cattle breed is most docile? Holsteins are also the most popular breed of dairy cattle in the U.S. Is Raising Sheep Worth It? 2. These cows also have unique qualities of their own though, particularly their unusually long ears that give them a goat-like appearance. Loads of nutrient dense milk, making your own cheeses, butter and yogurt-that's an exciting prospect to any potential family cow buyer! The breed is known for its capacity to withstand heat, an ability that can be attributed to its thick hair and abundance of loose skin. Cows were first domesticated approximately 10,000 years ago. They have easy calving and produces large quantities of milk. and are excellent milk producers. How Much Milk Will You Get From Your Family Cow? Homestead potential? They're primarily raised for their delicious marbled meat, though many farmers appreciate their unusual appearance in the pasture, earning them the nickname of "Oreo cows. The more docile beef breeds are Blonde dAquitaine, Beefmaster, British White, Devon, Galloway, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Lincoln Red, Maine Anjou, Murray Grey, Pinzgauer, Red Poll, Simmental, and South Devon. We were concerned she might be pushy with the much smaller Jersey cows. I do have to admit, once a Shorthorn gets an idea into her head, she does it. They are strong, rugged and good at calving. They are a herd animal. She will produce 16,290 pounds of milk with 4.8% fat and 3.5% protein. The Dutch Belted cattle are black on both front and back ends with a wide white belt going around the middle. [adinserter block="8] Dexter Cows You are using an out of date browser. These cattle are known to be hardy and good grazers. Other cows just seem a bit slower and a little bit more dull than a Jersey. What do we do? So true! Pros: They are known for their amazing output of milk, butter and large yields of beef. So we advise doing more research on this breed. If you are used to other breeds of cattle, Jerseys are more active. It has a large frame and can almost be pet like if raised that way. link to Is Raising Sheep Worth It? So far, we have a nice looking steer (castrated male) able to take care of himself with no grain and this years heifer (young female) calf who is doing well, growth wise. These horns can grow as much as seven feet from tip to tip. Information about cross-breed performance on organic farms is scarce. The beef is lean, tender and tasty, but the work you get from this cattle breed is what sets it apart from the rest. They are a good solid choice among beef cattle breeds for beef production. Additionally this breed seems to cross well with other dairy breeds producing a versatile belted cross. Read more from the Milking Shorthorn Association. Galloway cattle started as a dual purpose breed (cattle kept for both meat and milk production). She is red and white with speckles and stripes-called brindle. Her milk will be around 3.9% fat and 3.2% protein. Dont let this scare you off the breed, just keep it in mind. Ayrshires also seem to do well on grass. The basics: Simmental cattle are bred all over the world for their high beef production. Very high. The highland cow has the longest hair of any breed of cattle. (Will your flock make money? For example, if you want an easy calving cow dont get her from a farm that has 24 hour monitoring to pull calves (during a difficult birth) unless you are going to do that as well. Their coats can be white, red or a blend of red and white. She may be a looker, but that's definitely too feisty for me! They make excellent butter, are very hardy and docile. Their coat is also quite thick, which is a result of where the breed was developed: the highlands of Scotland. The basics: Galloway cattle are commonly black, but can be found with red coloring. The MurrayGreyis a cattle breed from New South Wales, Australia. How to deal with this? The basics: A mature bull weights about 2,000 lbs and a mature cow weighs about 1,300-1,400 lbs. Simmentals are currently the third most popular beef breed in the U.S. Most cattle can be like this a little, Swiss just seem to be really good at it. Durham, another name for Shorthorn, and Mancelle, a native Brittany breed, were crossed to produce a dual purpose breed suited to the area. In my opinion, there isn't really 'tame breeds', but I think any breed will become tame if you spend lots of time with them. The Guernsey is a breed that we have not ever owned. If she decides shes going somewhere, good luck stopping her, shell just push until it works. We had a Swiss named Twinkie in with our Jerseys. They are pretty easy going cows around people. Seriously, spend some time reading over this site and think about how you could set up your herd to benefit you, your land and your herd the most. They are known for being docile, having a long lifespan and being resistant to heat and insects. This doesnt mean all Guernseys are hard to keep, it just means choose a smaller bodied cow that keeps weight on easier. Being heavier bodied than most other dairy breeds, Swiss produce nice size calves to feed out as well. A bigger bodied cow will take more feed to maintain than a smaller bodied cow. Cattle are wonderful animals to be around but not a wise choice as a first animal project for a total beginner. Mature bulls weigh 2,000-2,500 lbs and a mature cow weighs 1,250-1,600 lbs. What do you want them for? What color is a Herefords face? Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle that can weigh over 1,200 lbs when mature. Raise Sheep. Milk, beef, draft, dual purpose? Finally a calmer cow is safer for you to be around. They also produce high weaning weights. However, I do have my reasons. They are typically easily to breed, grow fast, with high fertility rates and are relatively docile. Docile cattle more efficiently use their feed making them more economical to raise since they arent burning up energy while being fruity. These sweet-natured dogs love people, strangers or friends, and are great for families with children. Chances are good to get a great, hardier than most cow with a more reasonable price than a purebred. Actually, it was the other way around! Proportionally, they look impossibly large, but they do have practical purposes: The large horns are used to disperse heat, as well as act as intimidating weapons to ward off predators. Herefords came to the U.S. in 1847. This breed was officially recognized in 1862. Here are a few examples to get you thinking: I love cows and truly believe that there is a breed for everyone. Steady and calm is exactly the Brown Swiss way. At Treehugger, we are advocates of animal welfare, including our pets and other domestic animals. The BritishWhitecattle are originally from East Anglia, England. It is an excellent choice for beef crossbreeding and cheesemaking. They are a good choice for both meat and dairy farms and provide good yields of both. Raise Sheep, Why Do You Cull Sheep? The MilkingShorthornis a dairy cattle breed from England near the Scottish border. To get the cow that suits you and your family the best, you need to be focusing your attention on easy care, economical cattle that you are likely to be able to find in your area. Thinking of getting your own cow? This is an easy way to distinguish it from the Devon and the Sussex, both of which are similar looking cattle breeds but Devons have a much darker red coat. They are most commonly black in color but can also be red. If you are not planning to feed any grain, this may be an issue. A Field Guide To Cows by John Pukite; and the Beef Checkoff website. Holsteins are larger sized, black and white cattle often weighing 1500 pounds. Advertisement. Cross-breeds between Holstein-Friesian cows and other European breeds generally produce milk yields that are intermediate between those of both pure breeds (de Haas et al., Reference de Haas, Smolders, Hoorneman, Nauta and Veerkamp 2013). Is Raising Sheep Worth It? Females can reach close to 2,000 pounds (900 kg). Conservation Status and Outlook, 8 Peculiar Facts About the Icelandic Chicken, 14 Best Inventions Using Biomimicry in 2011, History and Development of Zebu Cattle in the United States, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
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