CATTLE BREEDS--A BRIEF OUTLINE
Objectives:
1.List and characterize the types of the Genus "Bos".
2.Identify and recognize the major breeds of beef cattle found in North America.
3.Identify and recognize the major breeds of dairy cattle found in North America.
4.Identify and recognize the major breeds of dual purpose cattle found in North America.
5.List and define common terms used in describing types, sex, or age of cattle.
A.Genus"Bos"
1.Bos indicusBrahma type cattle with hump, heavy dewlap, and pendulous sheath or
underbelly
2.Bos taurusshort or long horned European breeds of cattle
3.Bos bubaluswater buffalo types
B.Terminology
1.Bulladult male intact
2.Steercastrated male less than four years of age
3.Oxcastrated male over four years of age
4.Cowadult female
5.Heiferyoung female, sometimes up to four years of age
6.Calfyoung of either sex
7.Polled (muley)naturally hornless (dominant characteristic)
8.Hornednaturally having horns (recessive characteristic)
9.Scurredhaving rudimentary horns not attached to skull
C.Major beef breeds of North America
1.Brahma type cattle
2.English breeds
a.Shorthornred, white, or roan
b.Angusblack or red, and polled
c.Herefordred, with white face and legs
d.Devonred
e.Scotch Highlandbrown, black, red, or dun hairy coat, long horns
f.Belted Gallowayblack, red, or dun with central white belt
3.Continental breeds (exotics)
a.French
1.)Charolaiswhite, double muscled
2.)Limousinered
3.)Salersdark red
4.)Maine-Anjoured and white, double muscled
b.Italian
1.)Chianinatallest breed, gray
2.)Piedmontesegray, double muscled
3.)Romagnolagray
c.Swiss
1.)Simmentalred with white face and markings
2.)Eringer
d.Miscellaneous
1.)GelbviehGerman; yellow
2.)PinzgauerAustrian; red with white stripe down back
3.)Belgian Blue and Whitewhite, blue, or roan; double muscled
4.)Meusse-Rhine-Ijsselred and white; Dutch breed
4.American breeds
a.Santa GertrudisKing Ranch
b.BeefmasterLasater Ranch
c.Brangus
d.Braford
e.Chiangus
f.Simbrah
g.Charbray
h.SenepolVirgin Islands; red and polled
i.Barzona
j.Texas Longhorn
5.Miscellaneous
a.WagyuJapanese breeds
b.Luing
D.Major dual purpose breeds
1.Red Poll
2.Milking Shorthorn
3.Beef Friesian
4.Normande
E.Major dairy breeds
1.Holstein (Friesian)from Holland and Germany; black and white (red is recessive)
2.Jerseyfrom Channel Island of Jersey; fawn or fawn and white; high
solids
3.Guernseyfrom Channel Island of Guernsey; red and white; high solids
4.Ayrshirefrom Scotland; dark red and white
5.Shorthorn
6.Dutch-Beltedfrom Holland; black with white central belt
7.Red and White
F.Miniature Cattle
G.References
1.Oklahoma State library
2.Livestock Galleries
3.Cattle pages
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