friendliest cow breeds

You are using an out of date browser. As you may have guessed the color is grey, which can vary from light to dark and may have a few small white spots on the underside. Dexters are originally from Ireland. They are typically quick to mature and an efficient feedlot breed with a high feed conversion rate. Loads of nutrient dense milk, making your own cheeses, butter and yogurt-thats an exciting prospect to any potential family cow buyer! Dexters Dexters are tri-purpose cattle (beef, milk and draft). They are gentle, docile, and mild-manneredunlike their standard counterparts, which are known to be high-strung and aggressive. Butter made from Guernsey milk will naturally be yellow. The Pinzgauer is a friendly breed that adapts well to many areas. Guernseys are a light brown and white spotted cow weighing 1200 pounds. To start you off let's take a look at some of the top cow breeds you may want to consider. (Will your flock make money?). This compact and athletic dog is driven to work. What is the friendliest breed of cow? Guernsey cows make good pets because they are great for beginners while also having the benefit of producing plenty of milk. These qualities make them more manageable for a family farm. Our bulls weigh 1500-2200 lbs. The Gelbviegh is a medium to large size breed that was bred for dual purpose. Homestead potential? Cattle are wonderful animals to be around but not a wise choice as a first animal project for a total beginner. Very high. The basics: They were originally bred for both milk and beef production and have exceptional udders and milking ability. 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. Most of the stock I see is black, especially if you are using Artificial Insemination, all the current bulls available are black. They have white fat and bright-red lean meat. So we advise doing more research on this breed. If you are interested in a Milking Shorthorn, you should know the herd book has opened up to allow red genetics that are not Milking Shorthorn to be used in the pedigreed cattle. Is beef from male or female cows? An electric fence works well to keep them in. 6, June 1980, pp. Since raising your own Hey there, Im Kathy! Some bigger.. most of our adult cattle will weigh in the 1200 lb. Originally a dual purpose breed they are now bred for beef production. Check out their website and click around to see what they believe in and what they have to offer. Not to be outdone on the subject of large horns, the Ankole-Watusi is a spectacular breed of cow native to Africa. The BrownSwissis the oldest purebred dairy breed first imported to the U.S. in 1869. (& how to tell when you need to). Raise Sheep, The Livestock Conservancy-Milking Devon Cattle, Why Do You Cull Sheep? They are also called Polled White Park. The not so good news is she needed to be monitored to keep her from being mean to others! Murray Greys are known for high quality beef, early maturity, being docile and being good mothers. Whichisthehighestmilkproducingbreedofcow? All of the Dexters I have seen are cute but they are being raised only as beef animals. Milking Shorthorn and the Shorthorn (a beef breed) started off as the same breed. Stick with the more substantially built cows and youll be right on target for a family cow. Cons: Gelbvieh take a bit longer to mature. What are black and white cows used for? The MilkingShorthornis a dairy cattle breed from England near the Scottish border. Jerseys are great grazers, friendly and tend to have an easier time calving than larger dairy breeds. Pros: Brown Swiss are strong, solid breeders, robust, adaptable and live a long time. James O. Sanders, "History and Development of Zebu Cattle in the United States." These sweet-natured dogs love people, strangers or friends, and are great for families with children. A big advantage for the first time family cow owner that you might not think about is that Jerseys are known for calving ease. Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle that can weigh over 1,200 lbs when mature. As far as dairy cows go, Jerseys are active and have quite a bit of personality. (artificial insemination) choose a bull rated for ease of calving. When shes ready, shell get up. 01 of 10 Border Collie R A Kearton / Getty Images The border collie is often considered the smartest of all dogs and the overachiever of the canine world. Sheep are becoming more popular and for good reason, they are a family friendly livestock that fits well into many situations, even folks with minimal acreage available. Brown Swiss are bigger and longer than all other dairy breeds except for Holstein. french bulldog. Make sure the selection criteria for the breed are for attributes that make sense. Devons are known for being adaptable, early maturing, having a stocky frame and both cold and hot weather tolerance. The basics: Besides being adorable, Highland cattle can be used for milk on a small scale, they produce about 2 gallons per day per cow. They mature early and are easy to milk. 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. The BritishWhitecattle are originally from East Anglia, England. Homestead potential? Cons: This breed can need a little sun protection at times because of their coloring. Here are some of the more visually amazing breeds of cattle from around the world. The Dutch Belted cattle are black on both front and back ends with a wide white belt going around the middle. Why not be populating your herd with cows you like to be around? If you are looking for a shorter list, you know, just the best, consider reading Family Milk Cow 5 Best Breeds, where youll get the short list of my top contenders! My husband wants a Guernsey for our next family cow. heifer An adult female that has had a calf (or two, depending on regional usage) is a cow. Generally speaking, most Holsteins will need at least some supplemental feed in addition to grass in order to keep on body weight, support a pregnancy and provide milk for you. The Milking Shorthorn is a good grazer, fertile, and hardy. This is one of the larger breeds of cow. Jersey cows are common enough, but what about miniature Jerseys? Calm, friendly cows. Her crime? And finally, we have a particularly rare cow. Cons: They have beens know to have a unique hatred of dogs, heat stress can become a problem in some climates, and are slow to grow. It tends to be that size and color are selected over more important things like calving ease, easy care and structural correctness. Maybe you see a cow calving and it looks like she could use some help or you just want a closer look at the baby. The name Dutch Belted comes from the white belt that goes completely around their body and that they were brought to the U.S. after being noticed in Holland where they were very popular at the time. They have horns that can grow to more than a foot long, but most Ayrshires are dehorned as calves. Quick Navigation 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. Pros: They are known for their amazing output of milk, butter and large yields of beef. Small, hairy and horned. Homestead potential? Originally bred as a herding dog, border collies can perform just about any job you give them. I have seen a few of these and would caution you to be sure the farmer you are purchasing your cow from raises his/her cows as dairy animals. One of the most common breeds of cow is the Friesian and for most of us, this is the breed of cow we see the most. Cons: They can have strong personalities and produce a moderate butterfat in their milk. and are excellent milk producers. Can you milk a male cow? That is not a good choice of a trait to focus on when other factors are much more important to the health of the animal and the health of the breed. They are big and live a long time. link to Is Raising Sheep Worth It? Please note: There are also multiple dairy breeds popular in other parts of the world that are not available (or rarely available) here, so they did not make my top five either, simply due to availability. Just as there are miniature horses, there are miniature cows. As with all animals from harsher climates the Ayrshire is bred to handle less abundant forages. How Much Milk Will You Get From Your Family Cow? So, I'm curious what the friendliest breeds of cattle are? The Livestock Conservancy. The basics: Ayrshires are red and white in color. They have easy calving and produces large quantities of milk. Is a black Hereford a black baldy? Raise Sheep, Why Do You Cull Sheep? . goes over the likely production from your cow and what you can do to influence the amount of milk you get. Science not only backs this up, but we have two examples at farm sanctuaries where this is the case. Heifers are untrained and unproven, you never know what you are going to get. I was at a dairy sale this fall, with just one Guernsey in the catalog. The highland cow has a thick, shaggy coat that keeps it warm and protected from wind and rain. Imagine walking into a field of these beasts! A Field Guide To Cows by John Pukite; and the Beef Checkoff website. Galloways come in solid colors ranging from brown to more of a dun. Actually, it was the other way around! Of course not! (Will your flock make money? Zebus are a type of cattle originating from South Asia. Galloways were imported to the U.S. shortly thereafter. Blondes are a larger breed with bulls weighing 2,600 pounds and cows averaging 1,700 pounds. The Red Poll is known for hardiness, maternal ability, lean beef and having one of the longest lifespans of all the British breeds. They have a gentle personality, and only require approximately 70-80% feed per pound of milk produced compared to other well-known cow milk breeds. Jaymi Heimbuch is a writer and photographer specializing in wildlife conservation, technology, and food. If they have, this cow may not have the hardiness that you are expecting to find in a more traditional type Milking Shorthorn. I love the dark red roan cows they are truly sharp looking gals. Like the other smaller breeds, they were developed to be more manageable for small farms that don't need as much milk or meat or don't want to invest as much space or feed into livestock. range. If you ask how the breeder is making breeding selection decisions and the answers are cosmetic reasons, please look somewhere else for your cow. Feb 19, 2021 #2 F farmerjan Herd Master Joined Aug 16, 2016 Messages 8,808 Reaction score 32,227 This doesnt mean all Guernseys are hard to keep, it just means choose a smaller bodied cow that keeps weight on easier. This breed was officially recognized in 1862. 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. Yes, of course, cows have best friends. What To Feed Your Family Cow goes over the nutrition needs of your favorite milk maker! Normally, they range from 32 inches to 48 inches. If we gave her grain, it would increase her production. They are heavy, well-muscled animals and produce a solid red meat with a minimum of waste fat. So how can I give you hands on advice for something Ive never owned? It matters a lot. Very high. For more information on Milking Devon, check out The Livestock Conservancy-Milking Devon Cattle, they are a wonderful source for information on unusual breeds of livestock. Holstein cows will average 23.713 pounds of milk per lactation. Below are more resources for you to take a look at during your research. The miniature panda cow is known for its markings that are just like those of giant pandas, right down to the dark eye patches. Highland Cows show affection to each other by mounting, play fighting and licking each other. If you are a total beginner, no-choose a calmer breed for your first family cow. If the breed you are interested in did not make this list, consider reading my article 12 Dairy Cattle Breeds. Their partial dairy heritage makes them better milkers so the calves will be able to grow faster. Fluid milk production is measured in pounds with eight pounds to the gallon. Most of these dairy breeds we have owned. They are medium to large framed beef cattle with a broad body. Very high! Bulls weigh 1,500 pounds and cows weigh 1,000 pounds. Lumpy and bumpy in a different way is the zebu cow. This breed is the current record holder for milk production. Should You Raise Cattle? Cons: They can have some genetic issues so buy from a reputable breeder. Will your flock make money? Herefords came to the U.S. in 1847. If you want to see them for yourself, there is a pair of panda cows at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. It is an excellent choice for beef crossbreeding and cheesemaking. Pros: They are a little smaller than some other breeds so better if you have less space. If you are okay with the horns, no worries. The original cross he used in the 1930s was 25% Hereford, 25% Shorthorn and 50% Brahman. 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. Their milk is among the highest in . Holstein and Guernsey cattle experience comes from helping out other farmers we know. This cow must be healthy and have a wonderful attitude. For a complete list of selection criteria, read my article Choosing A Family Cow. It's believed they originated "over 2,000 years ago from a combination of the Egyptian Longhorn cattle and the Zebu Longhorns originally from India.". So why not have cattle that are easier to handle and work around? So true! Maine Anjou bulls weigh 2,500 pounds and cows weigh 1,700 pounds. The Canadian Dexter Cattle Association says the breed is "known for its hardiness, docility, thriftiness and calving ease.". This is a very substantial cow! The reason Im giving you these two sites to start your search with is that most of the information youll find on raising cattle focuses on bigger cattle, bigger cattle. Pineywoods Cattle Listed as Critical on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy's Conservation Priority List If you live in a climate where most cattle breeds wilt in summer's heat and humidity, turn to the Florida Cracker and Pineywoods cattle breeds. Ayrshire. The good news is she was easy to keep in great condition. "About the Breed," Canadian Miniature Jersey Association. This means that your Milking Shorthorn cow could easily be part Red Holstein! The Devonis originally from the counties of Somerset and Devon in England. Hereford via Gemstone Cattle Company This breed of cow is another really popular breed. She may be a looker, but thats definitely too feisty for me! but we cant eat that grass! If you have zero or very little livestock experience please start with smaller animals and work up to cattle. The Blonde dAquitaine was imported to the U.S. in 1972. If you are looking for another perspective on dairy breeds, consider reading the Farm and Dairy article How To Identify Common Breeds Of Dairy Cattle. Look up some talks by Johann Zeitsman of Southern Africa or Jim Elizondo of Real Wealth Ranching. The other thing we have noticed breed wise, is that the Guernseys seem to be moving towards a larger framed cow. This is the main breed we milked and the breed of our current family cow. They are just a calm, sweetheart of a cow. Since raising your own Hey there, Im Kathy! Are you raising cattle for beef or dairy? On average Holsteins produce about 17,000 lbs of milk, 600 lbs pounds of butterfat and 550 lbs of protein per year. There are only a handful of these cute cows in the world: in 2013, one breeder estimated there were only 30 to 40. It was found that yes, cows do have best friends! If you want your cow to be able to do more work themselves, like milking on grass and not needing much barn wise (shell still need some shelter), consider Shorthorns.

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