What are the Different Breeds of Cattle?

The Guernsey is a breed of dairy cattle from the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is fawn or red and white in colour, and is hardy and docile. Its milk is rich in flavour, high in fat and protein, and has a golden-yellow tinge due to its high β-carotene content. The Guernsey is one of three Channel Island cattle breeds, the others being the Alderney – now extinct – and the Jersey.

The Fleckvieh is a breed of dual-purpose cattle suitable for both milk and meat production. It originated in Central Europe in the 19th century from cross-breeding of local stock with Simmental cattle imported from Switzerland. Today, the worldwide population is 41 million animals.

Andrew Mayflower wrote:Have you considered the Highland breed?  My neighbors have a couple.  They also seem like a potential good option.

Marty Mitchell wrote:

Andrew Mayflower wrote:Have you considered the Highland breed?  My neighbors have a couple.  They also seem like a potential good option.

I only briefly looked into them. I did see that they even come in smaller/mini versions like the Herfords and such do.

I promise to read up on them a bit before making the leap later this Summer. Thank you for the reminder!

~Marty

Marty Mitchell wrote:

Andrew Mayflower wrote:Have you considered the Highland breed?  My neighbors have a couple.  They also seem like a potential good option.

I only briefly looked into them. I did see that they even come in smaller/mini versions like the Herfords and such do.

I promise to read up on them a bit before making the leap later this Summer. Thank you for the reminder!

~Marty

Laurel Jones wrote:

Based on what I've read, highlands are an extremely hardy cattle breed and hold up to cold temps better than most, however the fluffy coat poses a bit of a challenge in areas with hot humid summers, they struggle a little more than a more smooth-coated breed.  Additionally one of the big challenges with them (as well as any other horned breed, but these have longhorn-type horns - big and wide) is if you want to use a more standard working equipment or bale feeder, you may have to account for their horns, as they can't get their heads through a headgate or loop type bale feeder the way a breed with more compact horns might.  

I love the look of them, but we are in Kentucky, where everyone raises standard cattle, and equipment can be had secondhand for much less than new if you're not particular about specifics, and we have hot moist summers.  Because of that, and my weird obsession with at least being able to milk my cattle (even if I never do) and the struggle of getting their head through a milking stanchion gate, I'm likely to opt for dexters of some sort.  

Michael Fundaro wrote:There is a ranch near me that has the Belted Galloways, or as we reter to them, the Oreo Cows.

Based on what I've read, highlands are an extremely hardy cattle breed and hold up to cold temps better than most, however the fluffy coat poses a bit of a challenge in areas with hot humid summers, they struggle a little more than a more smooth-coated breed.  Additionally one of the big challenges with them (as well as any other horned breed, but these have longhorn-type horns - big and wide) is if you want to use a more standard working equipment or bale feeder, you may have to account for their horns, as they can't get their heads through a headgate or loop type bale feeder the way a breed with more compact horns might.