DAIRY COW

BREEDS
What are the Different Types of
Dairy Cows?

Origin: Holland.
Average weight:
- Bulls 2,200 lb;
- Cows 1,500 lb
Color: black and white
Average milk yield
(1988): 19,444 lb
Percentage of fat: 3.61%

Holstein

They produce the most milk on average of the dairy breeds.

 Holsteins came to the United

States from Holland in 1621.
They are black and white.
They weigh 1,500 pounds
when mature. They produce
the most milk on average.

Origin: Jersey Island

Average weight:
-Bulls: 1,500 lb
-Cows: 1,000 lb
Color: Blackish hairs have
white tips to give gray color
or red tips to give fawn
color; also can be solid
black or white spotted.
Average milk yield (1988):
12,888 lb
Percentage of fat: 4.73%

Jersey

Jerseys are also known for their

gentle personality

They are the smallest of the dairy breeds but are renowned for the quality
of their milk and produce milk with the highest protein and fat content.

 Jerseys came to the United

States from the Isle of
Jersey, another of the
islands in the English
Channel. They are fawn in
color and may have white
markings. They weigh 900
pounds when mature. They
are the smallest of the dairy
breeds but produce milk with
the highest protein and fat
content.

Jersey is typically light brown in color, though this

can range from being almost grey to dull black,
which is known as Mulberry.
They can also have white patches which may
cover much of the animal.
A true Jersey will however always have a black
nose bordered by an almost white muzzle.
After the Holstein the Jersey is the second most
popular specialist Dairy breed world-wide.

Origin: Ayrshire in Scotland

Average weight:
-Bulls 1,850 lb
-Cows 1,200 lb
Color: Mahogany and white
spotted, may have
pigmented legs.
Average milk yield (1988):
14,125 lb
Percentage of fat: 3.86%
The flavor of the milk is
very good.

Ayrshire

Ayrshire is a very hardy breed, and

most consider as the most beautiful
of the dairy breeds

 Ayrshire
Ayrshires came to the United
States from the County of
Ayr in Scotland in 1822.
Their color varies from light
to deep cherry red,
mahogany, brown, or a
combination of these colors
with white. Some are all
white. They weigh 1,200
pounds when mature.

Origin: Guernsey, an island

in the English Channel off
the coast of France.
Average weight:
-Bulls 1,600 lb
-Cows 1,100 lb
Color: Light red and white,
or a shade of fawn with
white markings.
Avrage milk yield (1988):
12,880 lb
Percentage of fat: 4,54%

Guernsey

The Guernsey is extremely docile.

Dairy farmers all over the world confirm
that her moderate temperament and
disposition make the Guernsey the
easiest breed to work with.

 Guernseys came to the

United States from the Isle
of Guernsey, an island in the
English Channel off the
coast of France in 1831.
Their color is a shade of
fawn with white markings.
They weigh 1,150 pounds
when mature. Their milk is a
distinctive golden color.

Origin: Switzerland
Average weight:
-Bulls 2,000 lb
- Cows 1,400 lb
Color: Solid blackish, hairs
dark with light tips
Average milk yield (1988):
15,883 lb
Percentage of fat: 3.97%

Brown Swiss

Most dairy historians agree that Brown Swiss cattle are the oldest of all
dairy breeds. Throughout the world Brown Swiss cattle are noted for their
dairy strength, and outstanding feet and legs.

Origin: Holland
Average weight:
- Bulls 2,100 lb
- Cows 1,400 lb
Color: Red and White
Average milk yield
(1988): 17,980 lb
Percentage of fat: 3.63%

Red and White

The Milking Shorthorn

is an adequate milk
producer, and
continues to milk well
even late into her
lactation.
Her milk contains a
high protein to fat ratio.
Milking Shorthorns are
good grazers and
efficient converters of
feed into milk.

Milking Shorthorn

 The Milking Shorthorn

originated in Northeastern
England and arrived in the
United States in 1783.
Milking Shorthorn cattle are
red or white or any
combination. A mature cow
usually weighs about 1400
pounds.

The Milking Shorthorn is the only dairy breed

that is not considered its own separate and
distinct breed. Rather, it is a segment of the
Shorthorn beef cattle breed.
Of the six dairy breeds, Milking Shorthorns
have the widest range of color combinations.
They can be mahogany, red and white, or
roan, which is a mixture of red and white and
is exclusive to this breed.