Since mankind has relied on the livestock industry for so long, it has become practically one of the most valuable resources in our culture as a whole.
No matter what nation you reside in, there is a good possibility that if you traveled to any rural location, you would be greeted by a reasonable number of cattle grazing happily on the open plains.
Let’s just say that the cattle industry is the best choice if you wish to enter a booming market.
The only issue that remains, though, is deciding which breed of cattle to start your new farm with. There are currently well over 70 different breeds, In other words, choosing the child that everyone wants to raise is not always the easiest option.
We have decided to provide you with a list of 20 cow breeds in this article that you should consider right now. Even though we firmly feel that breed number one is unquestionably the best, picking another from the list won’t always result in lower profits.
Choose whichever you like, and as long as you don’t second-guess it, you’ll be good to go in the future. But enough of the rambling; let’s get to our first pick of the day.
Table of Contents
20 Most Common Different Breeds of Cows
The following are the most common breed of cows
1. Black Angus
The Black Angus is the most common breed of beef cattle in the US, with over 330,000 registered animals. This particular breed’s carcass characteristics, which are praised for producing well-marbled, excellent meat, are the reason it is so well-liked in the United States.
The popularity of this breed is also attributed to the Angus cattle’s reduced maintenance requirements during the calving season, superior maternal qualities, and high feed efficiency.
Kansas welcomed this breed for the first time in the nineteenth century. Here, Black Angus began to stand out and develop a reputation that has kept it in demand to this day.
Scottish people originally developed this breed. Although red-colored Angus is increasingly widespread, black Angus is still the most common color.
Here’s a fun fact!
Although these two Angus color variants are regarded as one breed in the UK, they are regarded as two distinct breeds in the US. Although the red Angus can endure extreme temperatures, it may be the sole difference besides color.
2. Charolais
An example of a French cow is the Charolais. To provide some of the highest quality meat possible, these cows are typically raised for beef and commonly crossbred with other beef cattle.
These cows are also renowned for producing excellent skins. The Charolais is therefore the ideal breed to choose if you want to raise cows for leather.
When the cows were originally imported into the United States, they were a breath of fresh air.
Because traditional British breeds were so popular at the time, producers were hunting for larger-framed, beefier alternatives.
The short hair coat of Charolais is white or creamy white and gets thicker and longer in cold weather.
3. Hereford
The Hereford does not appear on any lists of popular cattle breeds. The popular breed of Hereford cattle is raised all over the world in various temperatures. The flexibility of Hereford cattle made this possible.
There is probably no need to worry about the environment if you plan to get one; that’s one less thing to worry about! The cherry on top: Herefords produce top-notch meat.
Originally from England, this breed of cattle later gained popularity among breeders in the US. These cows’ quick development, capacity for fattening, and early maturity are what make them highly prized.
Herefords are known for their longevity as well as being docile, simple calvers, good milkers, and wonderful mothers. They are dark red to red-yellow with white faces.
4. Simmental
Another relatively well-liked breed of cattle is the Simmental. This breed may be among the world’s oldest breeds.
This is the cause of the breed’s dispersion over the globe.
Simmentals are mostly raised for their milk, although Breeders in the US like them because of the exceptional quality of their meat.
The nineteenth century saw the introduction of these cattle to America.
Advantageously, these very huge cattle tend to mature and expand quickly.
Their flexibility is another advantageous quality.
This has made it possible for Simmentals to be bred and used in climates all over the world. Typically, this breed is red and white in hue.
They are the ideal low-maintenance cow farming breed and need little to no assistance during calving season.
5. Ayrshire
The Ayrshire is one of the biggest breeds of cattle. It is frequently reared as a dairy cow and bred for the copious amounts of nutrient-rich milk it yields.
Between 19 and 21 kg of milk can be easily produced by an ordinary medium-sized Ayrshire cow. This breed is highly prized since it is designed to produce enormous quantities of milk every day.
These animals are enormous, too, and as is frequently the case with large animals, they usually need a lot of food to keep healthy. In light of this, Kit could be prudent to learn more about the price of maintaining this breed before deciding to raise them.
6. Jersey Cattle
Jersey cattle are ideal for little farms!
These dairy cows are smaller than the Ayrshire breed and require less maintenance as a result.
A healthy Jersey cow can gain 400–800 kg over its lifetime. Although it may seem like a lot, cattle are often regarded to be at a reasonable weight.
It’s also important to note that Jersey cow milk is renowned for having a high-fat content. If you want to produce that kind of milk, you might want to think about keeping Jersey cows.
7. Malvi
Despite being an Indian breed by birth, this one is frequently chosen as a draught breed.
The Malvi cows produce good-quality meat and are designed to thrive in extremely hot and arid areas, even though their milk production is frequently not all that outstanding.
This breed of cows typically has white or gray coats. Many distinct names are frequently used to describe them. Along with Malvi, these include Manthani, Mahadevpur, and Malavi.
8. Droughtmaster
A type of beef cow is a droughtmaster cow.
Years of careful breeding led to the development of this breed. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Droughtmaster has several special skills given that it is an inbred cow.
This breed is special because, in addition to producing high-quality meat, these cows have much greater heat and parasite resistance.
It’s possible that you inferred it from their name. They are also quite kind and exceedingly adaptable.
9. Holstein Friesian
The Holstein Friesian cow breed has one of the most stereotyped appearances of any breed of cow. Generally speaking, dairy cows are what the Holsteins are.
In all their majestic black and white. They constantly produce lots of milk of great grade. Due to this, they are.
When Holsteins aren’t kept for milk production, their meat is typically sold instead. A selective inbreeding cow is this breed.
This indicates that the genetic makeup of most Holsteins is identical. The consistent flavor and grandeur of Holstein meat are largely influenced by this.
Even though this breed is important based on its traits, it is arguably the most well-known since it frequently appears in advertising for milk and dairy products. If you want to make dairy products, a Holstein Friesian is also the ideal breed to buy.
10. Ankole Watusi
Cattle from the Ankole Watusi tribe are recognized for their enormous horns. It is a type of domesticated American cow. Rarely are they bred to produce milk or meat.
They are nevertheless intriguing to look at, and because of the impressiveness of their horns, cattle tend to be rather popular.
11. Scottish Highland
The Scottish highland cow breed requires less upkeep. It is still recognized as one of the best beef cattle breeds even though it may not be a dual-purpose breed.
The Scottish Highlands likely require the least maintenance and care of all the breeds that are well-known for the meat they produce.
This breed is well suited for cold climates since it has long, distinctive horns and a double coat of fur.
Additionally, beef cattle are not only raised in cold climates. They survive just as well in hotter, drier environments.
One factor contributing to their enormous appeal is their high degree of climate adaptation.
Due to their low grain requirement, this breed of cows is extremely simple to feed. They will develop in a green field of pasture just as healthily.
These cows are a wonderful alternative for cattle breeders because of their low maintenance requirements and high level of resistance to common cattle diseases.
12. Limousin
A great illustration of a breed with two distinct purposes is the Limousin. They are frequently kept on farms to perform hard labor in addition to being produced for their meat. They are excellent workers and can be utilized to move numerous tools and machines.
The Limousin and Marche areas of France are where this golden-red breed first appeared. High yields of top-quality meat are produced by the Limousin breed.
One of the oldest cow breeds in the world, this outstanding breed of beef cattle is frequently mentioned. Fun fact: According to historians, certain old French artworks that depict cattle may potentially depict the Limousin cattle breed.
13. Texas Longhorn
The big, slightly horizontal horns of a Texas Longhorn cow make it easy to identify the animal.
The largest length ever recorded is approximately 129.5 inches, which may surprise you. This alluring breed has a high endurance for stress and drought.
They wear jackets in a range of colors. Black and white Texas Longhorns are the most prevalent.
14. Shorthorn
The best illustration of a dual-purpose breed is a shorthorn cow. They are useful for both providing meat and milking, in other words.
When purchasing, it is important to understand the purpose of rearing this breed.
Some Shorthorn cows may be better at providing milk, while others may be a better option for generating meat, depending on the genetics. Make sure you buy the right ones for what you want to use them for.
15. Beefmaster
These are often beef cattle cows, as the name suggests. They were created by the interbreeding of many previously well-known breeds.
Herefords, Shorthorns, and Brahman cows were a few of the breeds employed in the development of the Beefmaster.
Due to its versatility, the beefmaster breed of cow has highly sought after. They are excellent for producing both milk and beef.
Another frequent application of these highly coveted cattle is crossbreeding, which results in new species of cows with desirable economic traits.
16. Brahman
The idea that Brahman cows are the best breed of cows is not untrue. These cows have been grazing on Earth for ages. Over time, they have developed tolerance to almost all parasites and diseases that affect cattle.
Additionally, they may survive in unfavorable conditions with a limited food supply. Additionally, the hump on their back keeps them cool even in the blazing heat. If you want to breed cows, Brahman should be your top pick.
17. Guernsey Cattle
Cattle of this dairy breed are native to the island of Guernsey. This breed makes milk with a lot of protein and fat.
It is renowned for producing milk that has a definite golden tint. Due to the high levels of B-carotene in the milk produced by this breed, its appearance is distinctively colored.
These dairy cattle typically have a red and fawn color mix. cows that are often easy to handle and gentle.
18. Belgian Blue
As the name suggests, this breed was developed in Belgium. A well-known breed of a beef cow is the Belgian Blue.
Be aware that this breed’s stronger muscle production necessitates a high-protein diet to maintain good health and happiness.
19. Belted Galloway
A white belt that runs down the black coat of the Belted Galloway can be used to identify it. These unusual cows have frequently been raised for their premium, marbled meat.
They are nevertheless regarded as a dual-purpose breed of cattle because they can be milked. Due to their appearance, they are often referred to as Oreo or Panda cows.
20. Dexter Cattle
The smallest European cattle breed is the Dexter cow. Even so, they are still regarded as a breed that may be utilized for both milk and meat.
This kind of cow, which originated primarily in Ireland, was thought to be quite rare. That has changed recently, and this breed of cow is currently spreading throughout the entire world.
Conclusion
No matter which of these breeds you decide to choose, bear in mind that rearing a few cows is far more difficult than it first appears. Even though some of these cattle breeds require relatively little upkeep, you still need to invest in them if you want to ensure their long and happy lives.
As a result, you should always be sure that you can afford all of the expenses associated with raising your cattle. But if you can manage that, choose one of these 20 breeds, and you won’t soon look back and regret it.
20 Most Common Different Breeds of Cows – FAQs
What is the most common breed of cow?
The most popular breed of cattle in the world is called a Brahman, and they originate in India.
What is the rarest type of cow?
Ireland Moiled. Ireland is where the dual-purpose Irish Moiled breed originates. One of the rarest breeds of cattle, they have historically been used for dairy but are also renowned for producing high-quality beef, especially when reared on poor pastures.
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A passion-driven environmentalist by heart. Lead content writer at EnvironmentGo.
I strive to educate the public about the environment and its problems.
It has always been about nature, we ought to protect not destroy.