Holstein Cows
Origins
2,000 years ago, European tribes settling in the Netherlands (in the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland) bred black cattle form the Batavians with white cattle from the Friesians. These animals genetically evolved into the efficient, high producing black and white dairy cow knows as the Holstein-Friesian.
Winthrop Chenery, a Massachusetts breeder, purchased a Holland cow from a Dutch sailing mate who arrived in Boston in 1852. The cow had provided the ship from fresh milk during the voyage. Soon, Chenery and other breeders imported more Holsteins to America and in the late 1800’s there was enough interested among American Holstein breeders to form an association.
Interesting Facts
· Outstanding milk producers
· Adaptability to a wide range of environments
· Holsteins give more milk than other dairy breed producing 9 gallons of milk per cow per day
· There are over 9 million dairy cows in the U.S., with over 90% of them being of Holstein descent
· Holsteins can now be found on every continent and in almost every country
Appearance
Holstein cattle are easily recognizable by their distinctive black and white markings but may also be red and white in color (caused by a recessive genetic trait). Mature Holstein cows typically weigh around 1,500 pounds and stand 58 inches tall at the shoulder, making them the largest of the U.S. dairy breeds. A Holstein calf weighs 80-110 lbs. at birth. Holstein spots are like a fingerprint. No two cows have same pattern of black and white spots, they are all different.
Jersey Cows
Origins
The Jersey breed originated on the island Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel off the coast of France. First called “Alderney cattle” Jerseys are one of the oldest breeds of cattle having been brought to England in the 1740’s and the United States in the 1850’s.
Interesting Facts
· After the Holstein, the Jersey is the second most popular dairy breed in the world
· Adaptable to a wide range of climates, including hot ones, and geographic conditions
· Jersey milk is known for being rich in protein and minerals
· Jersey milk contains 18% more protein, 20% more calcium and 25% more butterfat compared to other breeds
· The average Jersey cow produces 144 servings of milk each day
Appearance
Jersey cows' weight between 800 to 1,100 lbs and stand 48 inches at the shoulder. Most Jerseys are brown or a fawn shade, with a lighter underside. They also can come in shades of red, dark brown, gray, or spotted, all with the lighter underside. Whatever the color, their noses are generally black bordered by a white muzzle, black around the eyes and black hooves.
Brown Swiss
Origins
Brown Swiss or Braunvieh cattle are the oldest of all dairy breeds. The Brown Swiss were developed in the north-eastern part of Switzerland with bones found in Swiss ruins dating back to 4,000 BC.
The first Brown Swiss cattle were brought to the United States in 1869 by Henry M. Clark of Belmont, Massachusetts, who visited the canton of Schwyz and secured a bull and seven females from Col. G. Burgi of Arth, Switzerland. All Brown Swiss in the United States descend from initial importations of 25 bulls and 140 females from Switzerland.
Interesting Facts
· There are over 7 million Brown Swiss, ranking first or second in world-wide population of dairy cattle
· They are often noted for their docile temperament
· Brown Swiss can withstand both hot and cold climates and thrive in a variety of terrain and elevations
· Brown Swiss are known for their longevity producing milk until they are 15 years of age
· On average, Brown Swiss produce more that 25,581 gallons of milk in a lifetime
Appearance
Brown Swiss cattle can be grey, dark brown, tan or even almost white in color with a creamy white muzzle and dark nose. Dark-blue eye pigmentation helps the breed to resist extreme solar radiation. Brown Swiss cows will typically weight weigh 1,300 to 1,500 lbs and stand 55 inches at the shoulder.
Guernsey
Origins
The Guernsey’s originated on the small isle of Guernsey, located in the English Channel just off the coast of France. In 960 AD, Robert Duke of Normandy sent a group of monks to educate the native people on how to cultivate the soil and defend the land. The monks brought with them the best bloodlines of French cattle, Norman Brindles, also known as Alderney, from the province of Isigny and the famous Froment du Leon breed from Brittany and developed the Guernsey breed.
Guernseys were introduced to America in September 1840 when Captain Belair of the Schooner Pilot brought three Alderney cows to the port of New York. Later, Captain Prince imported two heifers and bull from the isle of Guernsey. These animals were the original stock of a great majority of the Guernsey’s in the U.S. today.
Interesting Facts
· Famous for the “golden” color of their milk, which happens because of a high concentration of beta-carotene
· Produce quality milk on 20 to 30 percent less feed per pound of milk produced than other larger dairy breeds
· They are docile and have an ideal temperament
· Excellent grazers known for pasture-based milk production, producing milk with higher butterfat and protein
· They are adaptive to all climates and their coat enhances heat tolerance and reduces heat stress
Appearance
The color of a Guernsey varies from fawn to reddish-brown with clearly defined white patches. Guernsey are medium bodied and will weigh 1,000 to 1,300 lbs on average, slightly more than the Jersey cow. Guernsey’s also measure 54 inches at the shoulder.
Ayrshire
Origins
The Ayrshire breed originated in the County of Ayr in Scotland, about 600 miles north of where Jersey cattle originated, sometime prior to 1800. The county is divided into the three districts of Cunningham in the north, Kyle in the center and Carrick in the southern part. During its development, the breed was first referred to as the Dunlop, then the Cunningham and finally the Ayrshire. There is good evidence that several breeds were crossed with native cattle to create the foundation animals of the breed.
The Scottish breed debuted in the U.S. in 1822 when they were imported to Connecticut by Henry W. Hills. Farmers in New England needed a dairy cow that would graze the pastures of their rough, rocky farms and tolerate the cold, inhospitable winters. The environment in New England was very similar to that of Scotland and Ayrshires did very well in this environment.
Interesting Facts
· Rugged cattle with an excellent ability to forage for themselves under adverse feeding or climate conditions
· Strong and easy to raise with easy calving and longevity
· Known for their hardiness and the ability to covert grass into milk efficiently
· Ayrshire milk is referred to as “the ideal drinking milk”. Their milk is not excessively rich, not lacking adequate fat, and it possesses quantities of desirable non-fat solids such as protein.
· Herd average milk production is over 12,000 lbs of milk with a 3.9% test
Appearance
Ayrshires are red and white in color. The red may range from a very dark, almost black mahogany to a very light brownish red. Color markings vary from nearly all red to nearly all white with complimentary color spots across their hide or they may have a broken mix of red and white. The spots are usually jagged at the edged and often small and scattered over the entire body of the cow. Usually, the spots are distinct, with a break between the red and white hair. Some Ayrshires exhibit a speckled patter of red pigmentation on the skin covered by white hair. One historic feature of the breed was their long, elegant horns. These horns often reached a foot or more in length. When properly trained, they gracefully curved out, and then up and slightly back. Today, horns are not very practical, and almost all Ayrshires are dehorned as calves.
Ayrshires are medium sized and weight over 1,200 pounds at maturity and average 50-53 inches at the shoulder.
Milking Shorthorn
Origin
Like Jersey, Ayrshire and Guernsey cattle, Milking Shorthorns originated in the United Kingdom. One of the world’s oldest breeds, Milking Shorthorn originated in Northeastern England in the Valley of the Tees River. In Shorthorn history, Englishmen Thomas Bates and John Booth developed ‘English Shorthorns’ noted for their style and good milking qualities. Scotchman Cruickshank developed the “Scotch Shorthorns” which were thicker, blockier, and meatier.
The first Shorthorns were first introduced to the United States in 1783 in Virginia and became a very popular breed for settlers because of their versatility and calm disposition. They spread quickly throughout the country and can be found in nearly every state today.
Interesting Facts
· Shorthorn milk is the most favorable protein-fat ratio of the dairy breeds
· Shorthorn genetics have been used worldwide in the development of over 40 different breeds
· Shorthorns originated as a dual-purpose breed, meaning they were used for both milk and meat
· Known for their long production life and feed efficiency
· The Milking Shorthorn is the most versatile of all breeds and this is one of it’s greatest attributes
Appearance
Milking Shorthorn coat colors include; red, red with white, white, or roan (a close mix of red and white) and found in no other breed of cattle. Milking Shorthorn are moderately framed and average 1,400 – 1,500 pounds and 55 inches at the shoulder.
Origins
2,000 years ago, European tribes settling in the Netherlands (in the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland) bred black cattle form the Batavians with white cattle from the Friesians. These animals genetically evolved into the efficient, high producing black and white dairy cow knows as the Holstein-Friesian.
Winthrop Chenery, a Massachusetts breeder, purchased a Holland cow from a Dutch sailing mate who arrived in Boston in 1852. The cow had provided the ship from fresh milk during the voyage. Soon, Chenery and other breeders imported more Holsteins to America and in the late 1800’s there was enough interested among American Holstein breeders to form an association.
Interesting Facts
· Outstanding milk producers
· Adaptability to a wide range of environments
· Holsteins give more milk than other dairy breed producing 9 gallons of milk per cow per day
· There are over 9 million dairy cows in the U.S., with over 90% of them being of Holstein descent
· Holsteins can now be found on every continent and in almost every country
Appearance
Holstein cattle are easily recognizable by their distinctive black and white markings but may also be red and white in color (caused by a recessive genetic trait). Mature Holstein cows typically weigh around 1,500 pounds and stand 58 inches tall at the shoulder, making them the largest of the U.S. dairy breeds. A Holstein calf weighs 80-110 lbs. at birth. Holstein spots are like a fingerprint. No two cows have same pattern of black and white spots, they are all different.
Jersey Cows
Origins
The Jersey breed originated on the island Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel off the coast of France. First called “Alderney cattle” Jerseys are one of the oldest breeds of cattle having been brought to England in the 1740’s and the United States in the 1850’s.
Interesting Facts
· After the Holstein, the Jersey is the second most popular dairy breed in the world
· Adaptable to a wide range of climates, including hot ones, and geographic conditions
· Jersey milk is known for being rich in protein and minerals
· Jersey milk contains 18% more protein, 20% more calcium and 25% more butterfat compared to other breeds
· The average Jersey cow produces 144 servings of milk each day
Appearance
Jersey cows' weight between 800 to 1,100 lbs and stand 48 inches at the shoulder. Most Jerseys are brown or a fawn shade, with a lighter underside. They also can come in shades of red, dark brown, gray, or spotted, all with the lighter underside. Whatever the color, their noses are generally black bordered by a white muzzle, black around the eyes and black hooves.
Brown Swiss
Origins
Brown Swiss or Braunvieh cattle are the oldest of all dairy breeds. The Brown Swiss were developed in the north-eastern part of Switzerland with bones found in Swiss ruins dating back to 4,000 BC.
The first Brown Swiss cattle were brought to the United States in 1869 by Henry M. Clark of Belmont, Massachusetts, who visited the canton of Schwyz and secured a bull and seven females from Col. G. Burgi of Arth, Switzerland. All Brown Swiss in the United States descend from initial importations of 25 bulls and 140 females from Switzerland.
Interesting Facts
· There are over 7 million Brown Swiss, ranking first or second in world-wide population of dairy cattle
· They are often noted for their docile temperament
· Brown Swiss can withstand both hot and cold climates and thrive in a variety of terrain and elevations
· Brown Swiss are known for their longevity producing milk until they are 15 years of age
· On average, Brown Swiss produce more that 25,581 gallons of milk in a lifetime
Appearance
Brown Swiss cattle can be grey, dark brown, tan or even almost white in color with a creamy white muzzle and dark nose. Dark-blue eye pigmentation helps the breed to resist extreme solar radiation. Brown Swiss cows will typically weight weigh 1,300 to 1,500 lbs and stand 55 inches at the shoulder.
Guernsey
Origins
The Guernsey’s originated on the small isle of Guernsey, located in the English Channel just off the coast of France. In 960 AD, Robert Duke of Normandy sent a group of monks to educate the native people on how to cultivate the soil and defend the land. The monks brought with them the best bloodlines of French cattle, Norman Brindles, also known as Alderney, from the province of Isigny and the famous Froment du Leon breed from Brittany and developed the Guernsey breed.
Guernseys were introduced to America in September 1840 when Captain Belair of the Schooner Pilot brought three Alderney cows to the port of New York. Later, Captain Prince imported two heifers and bull from the isle of Guernsey. These animals were the original stock of a great majority of the Guernsey’s in the U.S. today.
Interesting Facts
· Famous for the “golden” color of their milk, which happens because of a high concentration of beta-carotene
· Produce quality milk on 20 to 30 percent less feed per pound of milk produced than other larger dairy breeds
· They are docile and have an ideal temperament
· Excellent grazers known for pasture-based milk production, producing milk with higher butterfat and protein
· They are adaptive to all climates and their coat enhances heat tolerance and reduces heat stress
Appearance
The color of a Guernsey varies from fawn to reddish-brown with clearly defined white patches. Guernsey are medium bodied and will weigh 1,000 to 1,300 lbs on average, slightly more than the Jersey cow. Guernsey’s also measure 54 inches at the shoulder.
Ayrshire
Origins
The Ayrshire breed originated in the County of Ayr in Scotland, about 600 miles north of where Jersey cattle originated, sometime prior to 1800. The county is divided into the three districts of Cunningham in the north, Kyle in the center and Carrick in the southern part. During its development, the breed was first referred to as the Dunlop, then the Cunningham and finally the Ayrshire. There is good evidence that several breeds were crossed with native cattle to create the foundation animals of the breed.
The Scottish breed debuted in the U.S. in 1822 when they were imported to Connecticut by Henry W. Hills. Farmers in New England needed a dairy cow that would graze the pastures of their rough, rocky farms and tolerate the cold, inhospitable winters. The environment in New England was very similar to that of Scotland and Ayrshires did very well in this environment.
Interesting Facts
· Rugged cattle with an excellent ability to forage for themselves under adverse feeding or climate conditions
· Strong and easy to raise with easy calving and longevity
· Known for their hardiness and the ability to covert grass into milk efficiently
· Ayrshire milk is referred to as “the ideal drinking milk”. Their milk is not excessively rich, not lacking adequate fat, and it possesses quantities of desirable non-fat solids such as protein.
· Herd average milk production is over 12,000 lbs of milk with a 3.9% test
Appearance
Ayrshires are red and white in color. The red may range from a very dark, almost black mahogany to a very light brownish red. Color markings vary from nearly all red to nearly all white with complimentary color spots across their hide or they may have a broken mix of red and white. The spots are usually jagged at the edged and often small and scattered over the entire body of the cow. Usually, the spots are distinct, with a break between the red and white hair. Some Ayrshires exhibit a speckled patter of red pigmentation on the skin covered by white hair. One historic feature of the breed was their long, elegant horns. These horns often reached a foot or more in length. When properly trained, they gracefully curved out, and then up and slightly back. Today, horns are not very practical, and almost all Ayrshires are dehorned as calves.
Ayrshires are medium sized and weight over 1,200 pounds at maturity and average 50-53 inches at the shoulder.
Milking Shorthorn
Origin
Like Jersey, Ayrshire and Guernsey cattle, Milking Shorthorns originated in the United Kingdom. One of the world’s oldest breeds, Milking Shorthorn originated in Northeastern England in the Valley of the Tees River. In Shorthorn history, Englishmen Thomas Bates and John Booth developed ‘English Shorthorns’ noted for their style and good milking qualities. Scotchman Cruickshank developed the “Scotch Shorthorns” which were thicker, blockier, and meatier.
The first Shorthorns were first introduced to the United States in 1783 in Virginia and became a very popular breed for settlers because of their versatility and calm disposition. They spread quickly throughout the country and can be found in nearly every state today.
Interesting Facts
· Shorthorn milk is the most favorable protein-fat ratio of the dairy breeds
· Shorthorn genetics have been used worldwide in the development of over 40 different breeds
· Shorthorns originated as a dual-purpose breed, meaning they were used for both milk and meat
· Known for their long production life and feed efficiency
· The Milking Shorthorn is the most versatile of all breeds and this is one of it’s greatest attributes
Appearance
Milking Shorthorn coat colors include; red, red with white, white, or roan (a close mix of red and white) and found in no other breed of cattle. Milking Shorthorn are moderately framed and average 1,400 – 1,500 pounds and 55 inches at the shoulder.