Breeds Information Animal Science. Dairy Breeds and Selection.

Breeds Information

Animal Science

Dairy Breeds and Selection

Dairy Breeds and SelectionOverview

• Major Breeds of Dairy Cattle• Dairy Terms and Definitions• Parts of a Dairy Cow• Dairy Traits and Selection• Judging Contests

Major Breeds of Dairy Cattle

Holstein• Black and White or Red and White color pattern• Large sized• Heavy milk producers

Major Breeds of Dairy Cattle

Jersey• Color varies (light gray to a dark fawn being darker around the head and

hips)• Medium sized• Produces more pounds of milk per body weight than any other dairy breed.

Major Breeds of Dairy Cattle

Guernsey• Red (Fawn) and White in color• Medium sized• High milk production to feed intake ratio• Milk is high in betacarotene

Major Breeds of Dairy Cattle

Brown Swiss• Solid brown, varying from very light to dark• Large sized• Light colored band around the muzzle• One of the oldest Dairy breeds

Major Breeds of Dairy Cattle

Ayrshire• Red and white in color (amount varies)• Medium sized• Purebred Ayrshires only produce red offspring• Average milk production

Major Breeds of Dairy Cattle

Milking Shorthorn• Red and white or any combination of red and white• Dual purpose breed• Split from the American Shorthorn Assoc. in 1949

Major Breeds of Dairy Cattle

Milking Devon• Red in color• Triple purpose (Draft, beef, milk)• Medium sized

Beef Breeds

Three classifications

• British – breed developed in the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales

• Continental – Developed in continental Europe• American - breeds developed in the United

States, often Brahman crosses

British Breeds

Horned Hereford

• A popular British breed known for its red and white horned color pattern.

• Classification: British• Origin: Herefordshire,

England• Characteristics: Light

yellow to cherry red with white belly- good foragers

• Medium frame size• Medium muscled

Angus

• The most registered breed in America, known for its excellent carcass quality.

• Origin: Aberdeen, Scotland• Characteristics: Black,

polled*• Smooth hair coat• Medium frame size• Heavy muscled • Excellent mothers

– *Polled: genetically born without horns

Shorthorn

• A British breed known for its prime carcass and roan color pattern.

• Origin: Northern, England• Characteristics: Color

white, red, or roan (red and white color mixed ) Prime quality grade

• Medium frame size• Medium muscle

Continental Breeds

Charolais

• Classification: Continental

• A large muscled all white French breed.

• Origin: Central France• Characteristics: White

to Creamy, thick hair coat

• Large frame size• Lean, heavy muscled

Simmental

• A large dual purpose called developed in Switzerland. The most registered breed in the world.

• Originated in Switzerland• Oldest breed of cattle in

the world• Large, powerful breed• Brought to the United

States in 1971• Orange/Yellow and white

to black in color

Chianina

• Largest breed of cattle in the world.

• Origin: West - Central Italy• Characteristics: Off white

with black tongue, nose, eyes, & hooves

• Large frame size• Long muscle• Triple purpose cattle• Classification: Continental

Peidmontese

• Classification is Continental

• Developed in Italy• Heavy muscled• Blue sliver color with

dark markings on muzzle, eyes, front legs and jump muscle

Salers

• A French breed distinguished by it deep brick red curly hair.

• Originated in France• Fastest growing breed in

the United States• Mahogany red in color• One of the last breeds to

be imported into the United States

• Very hearty tough breed

American Breeds

Red Angus

• A red color gene version of America’s Angus breed of cattle.

• Polled• Classification American• Greater heat tolerant• Moderate frame

Texas Longhorn• Texas Longhorn – Origin: Texas, but Spanish Origin– Characteristics– Classification - American• Vary in color and are speckled or freckled• Long distinctive horns• Low birth weights• Slow maturing• Excellent hardiness• Light muscled

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Breeds of Sheep and Goats

Breeds of Sheep• Meat• Wool • Dual

Suffolk

• Originated in England • Characteristics

– Primarily used for meat – Black face and legs – Polled – Bare face and legs

• Advantages – Large bodies

• Disadvantages – Bare bellies

Hampshire

• Originated in England • Characteristics

– Produced for meat – Black-brown face and legs – Polled – Large body size

• Advantages – Good milkers – Excellent carcass

conformation • Disadvantages

– Wool blindness

Shorpshire

• Originated in England • Characteristics

– Primarily used for meat – Black-brown face and

legs – Polled

• Advantages – Excellent milkers

• Disadvantages – Wool blindness

Southdown

• Originated in England • Characteristics

– Primarily used for meat – Grey-brown face and legs – Polled

• Advantages – Used in hot house lamb

production • Disadvantages

– Very small in size – Very light fleece weight

Cheviot

• Originated in England and Scotland

• Characteristics – Primarily used for meat and

medium wool – Usually polled – White in color

• Advantages – Very rugged – Excellent carcass

conformation • Disadvantages

– Small in size

Columbia

• Originated in the United States

• Characteristics – Primarily used for meat – White in color – Polled

• Advantages – Rugged – Herding instinct – Dual purpose breed

Corriedale

• Originated in New Zealand

• Characteristics – Primarily used for meat – White with black marks

on head and feet – Polled or horned; usually

polled

• Advantages – Herding instinct

Polypay

• Originated in the United States

• Characteristics – White in color

• Advantages – High lifetime prolificacy – Lamb crop is large in the first

year – Ability to lamb more frequently

than once per season – Lambs have rapid growth rates – Desirable carcass quality

• Disadvantages – Not a uniform breed

Rambouillet

• Originated in France • Characteristics – Primarily used for wool – White in color – Males are horned and

females are polled

• Advantages – Good herding instinct

Targhee

• Originated in the United States

• Characteristics – Primarily used for meat – White in color – Polled

• Advantages – Herding instinct

Breeds of Goats

• Dairy• Meat• Fiber

Alpine (French Alps)

U Medium to large sizedU only breed with upright ears

U all colors and combinations of colors.U Hair is medium to short

U straight face with roman nose.

Angora (Asia Minor)

U Both sexes are hornedU Pronounced spiral to the hornU Utilized in Mohair Production

U White in color

Boer (South Africa)

U Also known as the AfricanderU Early maturing

U Predominantly white with red head but some solid red exist.

Golden Guernsey (British)

U color varies from cream to brownU usually polled

U lower in milk production than most Swiss breedsU higher in butter fat and protein %

LaMancha (Oregon)

U Face is straight U Gopher ear - max one inch in length preferably non-existent

U Elf ear-max. length of two inches with tip being turned up or downU Any color or combination is acceptable.

U Hair is short, fine and glossyU high butterfat

Nigerian Dwarf (West Africa)

U Main colors are black, chocolate and gold with random white markings.

U Breed year roundU They give 3-4# of milk per day at 6 to 10% butterfat

U They make great pets

Nubian (Oriental)

U Large framedU face being convex between the eyes and muzzle

U ears are long, wide and pendulous. They flare out in a bell shape.

U Any color or colors, solid or patterned

Pygmy Goat (Africa)

U Full coat of straight, medium-long hair.U All colors are acceptable

U muzzle, forehead, eyes and ears are accented in tones lighter than the dark portion of the body.

U Make good pets

Saanen (Switzerland)

U Usually yields 3-4% milkfatU medium to large in size

U white or light cream in color.U Ears are erect and carried forward.

U Face straight or dished

Spanish (Spain)

U Feral goat or brush goat native to U.S. U Descended from the goats that were released or escaped

from the early Spanish explorersU Utilized for meat.U Fat content is less than beef.

Toggenburg (Switzerland)

U Medium in sizeU Hair is short or medium in lengthU Ears are Erect and ForwardU Face may be straight or dishedU Color is solid varying from light fawn to dark chocolateU Distinct white markings

U white ears with dark spot in middleU two white stripes down face from above each eyeU white legs below knee and hockU white triangle on either side of the tail.U some have wattles

Equine Breeds

Feral- a horse that was once domesticated and has become wild.

A breed of horse may be defined as a group of horses having a common origin and possessing certain well-fixed distinctive, uniformly transmitted characteristics that are not common to other horses.

Equine Breeds

Draft horses are large and usually 14 to over 17 hands in height and over 1,500 lb. in weight.

They are sometimes referred to as cold-blood horses.

The term refers to the quiet, calm temperament of these breeds.

Equine Breeds

The males of the ass family are called jacks, and the females jennets.

Asses are also commonly known as donkeys, burros, or jackstock.

Long-Eared Breeds Mammoth Ass Standard Donkey Miniature Donkey Mule

Miniature Donkey

Equine Breeds

A light horse is usually 12 to 17 hands in height and weighs 900 to 1,400 lbs. They are usually used for riding, showing, and racing.

A pony, on the other hand is smaller, usually less than 14.2 hands and weighing 500 to 900 lbs.