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Take this practice quiz to see if you can identify some of the common cattle breeds.

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Fauquier County Stockmen's and Livestock Judging Team Beef Breed Identification Practice Quiz Attention: Be sure to enter your name when you begin the quiz to recieve credit for having completed it.

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Watch and learn about the Top 10 Milk Producing Breeds in the world.

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Highest Milk Producing Cattle Breeds in All Over the World | Top 10 Cattle Breeds |

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Watch and learn about the some of the Beef Cattle Breeds in the world.

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Use this website to familiarize yourself with different breeds of beef cattle and their uses. Take notes on a sheet of paper.

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Are you in the market for some cows? They are a great animal to begin raising because they can be so versatile.

Some people like to raise their own beef. While others like to raise a cow for dairy. Whichever category you fall into, I thought you might want to know what breeds were actually out there so you could decide which breed would work best for your particular situation.

So if this has been something you've been considering lately, then allow us to do your research for you and you just browse through this article until you find the perfect fit for your situation.

Useful Cow Breeds for Your Homestead

Here are the different breeds of cattle:

1. Angus

So many people in my area raise Angus cattle. The reason is that they produce quality beef, and a lot of people would rather raise their own beef than purchase it from the store.

So if you are wanting to raise cattle for meat, then you should definitely look into this breed.

2. Holstein Friesian

Let's change gears for a moment. If you are looking to raise a cow because you'd like to produce your own milk for cheese, butter, and other things, then you'll want to consider this breed.

Actually, when most people think of a cow, this is probably the type of cow you think of because it is used in so many adverts because this breed is known to be the highest-production breed for dairy.

3. Hereford

This breed of cow is another really popular breed. It is one used in many different parts of the world and in many different climates.

But this breed is mainly used for meat production and it is in 50 different countries across the world. So it should adapt and do quite well no matter what climate you live in.

4. Shorthorn

The shorthorn was developed to be a dual purpose breed. That way people could raise one breed and get both dairy and beef products.

However, it is said, that usually certain blood lines would come out stronger in one area than the other. Now, you can purchase either a beef shorthorn or a dairy shorthorn depending upon which purpose you'd like to have cattle for.

5. Charolais

The Charolais is a breed of cattle that was developed in France. They are raised mainly for beef and are often crossed with another beef breed, like Angus.

But they are known for growing really well and producing quality meat and hides. So if you like to make leather from your cattle, this would be a good breed to consider.

6. Galloway

I love this breed of cow because of its fluffy coat. Looks aside, this is a great beef breed for someone interested in that purpose.

But this breed is also one of the oldest breeds as well. It is named after the area in Scotland it originated, but it became a popular breed around the world when they began exporting them in the mid 1800's.

7. Simmental

This would be a great multipurpose breed. The Simmental breed is one of the oldest breeds. It is a Swiss breed but has been raised in the United States since around 1800.

Though it is raised in other parts of the world as a dairy cow, the United States usually produces them for beef. But they are known for being great dairy producers, large in size, and for growing quickly as well.

8. Brahman

This is the super cow when it comes to breeds. The Brahman breed is one of the oldest in the world. It has been able to adapt to the point that it can avoid falling ill due to most parasites, diseases, or other pests that cattle often come in contact with.

Also, they have a large hump and horns which helps keep them cool. They are known for being able to sweat and deter pests that way. But they can even survive in harsh climates and when there isn't adequate food. These cows are troopers!

9. Limousin

So if you want an ancient cow, this breed could be what you are looking for. When historians have studied ancient paintings from France, they found cattle in the pictures that look eerily similar to this breed.

Though they originated in France, they can now be found all over the world. They are great animals to use for work, but they are mainly bred for beef.

10. Scottish Highland

This breed is pretty amazing. It began its time in the Highlands of Scotland (hence where they got their name.) During this time, they were able to build up resistance to many diseases that usually plague other breeds of cows.

Now that this breed is all over the world, they do well in colder climates because they have long hair vs. a layer of fat to keep warm. But they do well in southern climates as well. This breed isn't even picky about what it eats. You can put it out on pasture, and it is said to eat things most other breeds would turn their nose up at.

11. Brown Swiss

If you are looking for a dairy cow, then this could be what you've been searching for. It is second in line with the Holstein as far as milk production goes.

So if you like the idea of being able to produce dairy right on your own land, then you should consider this breed.

12. Texas Longhorn

If you are looking for lean beef, then you'll like the Texas Longhorn breed. You will immediately recognize this breed because of the extremely long horns.

But what is so interesting about this breed is that they weren't actually set out to become a breed. The longhorns are a product of years of adaptation to their surroundings.

13. Brangus

This is an excellent choice of breed for a beef cow. It is actually a cross between the angus breed and a brahman.

So if you like both of those breeds, but can't decide on which type you'd like, then maybe you could meet in the middle with this breed.

14. Jersey

You hear people talk about Jersey cows a lot. My great grandfather actually raised them on his 11 acre farm. They are a smaller breed for a dairy cow, which makes them ideal for small farms.

But they are also known for having a higher fat content in their milk. So if you like more fat in your milk, then you should consider this breed for that reason as well.

15. Ayrshire

This is a dairy cow that is larger in size. When I say larger, they usually weigh anywhere from 900 pounds to over 1300 pounds. That is a lot of animal.

So you'll definitely want to take their size into account because usually the larger the breed, the more maintenance they require because of the amount of food they need.

16. Chianina

We haven't covered any Italian breed of cows on this list, until now. This breed originated in Italy, but is now used as a beef breed all over the world.

But what makes this cow stand out so much is its size. This breed is one of the largest breeds of cows you can raise this day in age.

17. Beef Master

This breed produces some seriously buff cows. It is actually a crossbreed that has been around since about 1930.

Now, it is used mainly as beef cattle because it is a cross between Hereford breed or a Shorthorn cow breed with a Brahman. No wonder the cows end up being so bulky and perfect for beef.

18. Gelbvieh

This cow was originally produced to be a three for one to anyone that owned this breed. The original purpose was to raise these animals to work the land, produce dairy, and also produce beef.

However, now, most cows in this breed are usually used strictly to produce beef. They are big and look to produce quite a bit of meat.

19. Dexter

If you haven't noticed most breeds of cattle that are produced in Europe have been pretty large cows. This breed is actually one of the smallest of the European produced breeds.

In fact, the Dexter breed is about half the size of a Hereford and less than half the size of Friesian. So if you'd prefer a smaller breed cow, then you might want to check into this breed.

20. Piedmontese

This is another Italian breed of cattle. They have an interesting back story. Many years ago a breed of cattle that originated in Pakistan began to migrate into Italy. Because of the mountainous terrain they weren't able to go any farther.

So they ended up breeding with the native cattle and from that this breed was formed. They are used in Italy to produce specialty cheeses and are considered a delicacy with meat as well.

21. Watusi

I love the name and look of this cow. They have large horns that stick almost straight out of their heads which make them interesting in appearance.

However, these cows are great for multiple purposes. Because they produce smaller babies, the males are used to breed a heifer that has never had a baby before. Their milk is also about 10% fat so a lot of farmers like this for dairy production or to breed with another dairy breed for good milk production and content.

22. White Park

This is definitely a larger breed of cattle. The heifers usually weigh in around 1400 pounds. While the bulls can be up to 2200 pounds.

But this breed is obviously so treasured in the meat industry because of the high quality of meat they produce.

23. Santa Gertrudis

This was actually the first beef breed to be formed in the United States. It is a mixed breed that contains both Brahman and Shorthorn.

So if you are looking for an approved beef breed within the United States, this might be a good breed to check into.

24. Braford

If you haven't already noticed, if you are going to have a beef breed of cow, then you will most likely end up with one that has both Brahman and Shorthorn or Hereford.

Well, this breed is a cross between a Brahman and a Hereford breed. It is used for beef and judging by the large stature, you should get plenty of meat.

25. English Longhorn

The English Longhorn is another breed of beef cattle. They are large cows that are known for producing lean beef.

But what makes this breed stand out is its long, curved horns. They curve around their face almost like pigtails.

26. Beefalo

Do you like the way bison burger tastes? If so, then you might want to consider this breed of cattle. It is actually a cross breed between a domesticated cow and a bison.

So if you'd like meat that tastes a little different than your average beef, then you might want to consider raising this breed of cattle.

27. North Devon

Though this cow is quite large, don't let it fool you. They are actually known for many wonderful characteristics, one of those being their docile nature.

Also, they are known for being quite fertile, birthing easily, great at foraging, and they are also hearty animals that can adapt to different temperatures.

28. Senepol

This breed has developed into a great choice for beef, but they did not get an easy start when they were first developed in St. Croix.

As a matter of fact, when these cows were originally produced it was for meat for those on the island. The cows that didn't meet the standard the farmers set, were quickly killed. The farmers only reproduced the genes that they knew would work in the, often harsh, St. Croix environment.

29. Maine-Anjou

When this cow was first produced, again, people wanted an animal that could do more than one thing. At first, this breed was supposed to produce both dairy and beef.

Now, it still could do this today if you desire. But most people who raise this breed use it only for beef.

30. Red Poll

According to my research, it is very difficult to find a breed of cow that will make their owners a profit year after year in the beef industry.

But this breed, apparently, has been making people money from their beef since they made their way to the states over 130 years ago. That means they must produce some seriously high quality beef!

So you now have 30 different breeds of cows that you can take into consideration before taking the plunge into raising cattle.

But I'd like to know, why do you want to raise cattle? If you already raise cattle, what breed do you use? Why?

We love hearing from you so please leave us your comments in the space below.

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30 Best Cow Breeds for Meat and Milk You'll Want to Know About

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Are you in the market for some cows? They are a great animal to begin raising because they can be so versatile. Some people like to raise their own beef. While others like to raise a cow for dairy.

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Use Quizlet to refresh and continue to learn about the attributes and names of common cattle breeds.

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Quizlet is a lightning fast way to learn vocabulary.

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Read this article about the differences of dairy and beef cattle. Take notes and be prepared to turn them in.

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Though all cattle are in the family Bovidae and of the species Bos taurus, there are distinct differences between dairy and beef cattle. Dairy cattle are bred and raised for their ability to produce milk and beef cattle are raised for meat. The cows are built differently and utilize feed differently, according to their purpose and breed.

Physical Differences

When you pass by a field of cattle, you may not be able to discern between a dairy cow and a beef cow, but when you put them side-by-side, the differences are clear to see. The striking feature about a dairy cow is that she looks thin. The dairy cow lives to produce milk, and much of her body's energy is dedicated to just that cause. She naturally tends toward a more delicate appearance based on her genetic makeup. Other physical attributes of the dairy cow include:

A beef cow is all about meat and her energy is channeled into building muscle eventually to be used for steaks, burgers and roasts. This is a robust, sturdy cow, characterized by:

A short, stout neck

Thick back without any visible backbone

Round leg bones and body

Tips

Male cattle are referred to as bulls if left intact, or steers, if castrated. Female cattle are referred to as heifers when they're young and haven't given birth and cows when they're mature. Cows, steers or bulls all can be beef cattle and only females produce milk.

Input and Output

A typical dairy cow produces about 8 gallons of milk and eats approximately 50 pounds of feed each day. A beef cow requires approximately 6 pounds of feed for every pound of meat produced. However, a grazing beef cow will eat grass as she grows to more than half her ultimate weight, which takes the feed requirement down to approximately 2.5 pounds of feed for every pound of meat. A grazing cow requires between 7 and 25 pounds of forage per pound of meat. Some breeds of cattle use feed more efficiently than others; for example, the Holstein usually eats 10 to 15 percent more feed than other beef breeds.

After slaughtering a beef cow, there's about 61 percent of the cow's original weight left, referred to as hanging weight or the weight on the rail. However, as time passes and the meat is processed for market, an additional 18 percent is due to moisture loss as well as removing bones and fat, for a total of 57 percent loss of original weight. A 1,000 pound cow in the field ends up producing approximately 430 pounds of meat. As with feed, breed can make a difference regarding how much beef is yielded from a cow; Holsteins have about 5 percent less yield than other beef cattle.

Different Purposes, Different Breeds

Not just any cow is suited for milking and some cattle are better suited as beef cattle. Breeds are chosen for their output and how they adjust to their home climate. Popular breeds of beef cattle include:

Angus, an adaptable type developed in Scotland but used extensively in the United States and United Kingdom

Hereford, very popular, spreading from England to the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and the Americas

Simmental, widespread after starting in Switzerland

Limousin, originated in France and now popular in North America

Shorthorn, from England but now widely used in cattle-producing countries

Breeds of dairy cattle include:

Guernsey, a productive cow from the Isle of Guernsey now popular in the United Kingdom, Australia and North America

Jersey, a feed-efficient cow from the United Kingdom used throughout the world

Holstein Friesian, a large milk producer from the Netherlands who's now used in South Africa, Australia and North and South America

Ayrshire, a hardy breed used throughout temperate climates after starting in Scotland

Doing Double Duty

Some cattle can be used for meat or milk, known as dual-purpose cattle. The beefmaster, Normande, shorthorn, Scottish highland and red poll are two dual purpose breeds of cattle.

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The Difference Between Dairy & Beef Cattle

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Though all cattle are in the family Bovidae and of the species Bos taurus, there are distinct differences between dairy and beef cattle. Dairy cattle are bred and raised for their ability to produce milk and beef cattle are raised for meat. The cows are built differently and utilize feed differently, according to their purpose and breed.

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Follow this link to a two part open response question. You will have twenty minutes to think and respond. Make sure to answer both parts.
(Minimum of 200 words.)

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Quiz maker for Cattle Breed Lesson: Open Response #1. Create online quiz maker that marks your online tests and exams for you.

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This is your final task. Take this test, print your results, and turn it in.

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Cattle Breeds ID study guide by kharvey_tsu includes 24 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades.

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Play this matching game to review everything you have learned so far.

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Quizlet is a lightning fast way to learn vocabulary.

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Read this article about other uses of cattle (besides milk and beef) and take notes on a sheet of paper. Be prepared to turn in your notes.

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Recently we had the opportunity to participate in an annual event held in Garden City, KS called farm day, put on an organized by the Finney County Farm Bureau. Throughout the day about 700 4 th graders from all the surrounding communities come to the fairgrounds to learn more about the agriculture in our area.

There were stations to teach them all about:

Corn and what we use it for from a local ethanol plant.

Milk from a dairyman that taught them where milk comes from and what it used for, such as cheese and butter.

A large equipment dealer to teach them about tractors and farm equipment and the many different types

And many more!

All in all, I believe there were about seven different agriculture-related stations.

We were there to discuss by-products and the many ways we use a cow for more than just for beef.

A by-product is something produced in the course of making the main product.

In the beef industry, the main product we produce is beef-the hamburgers, steaks and roast beef we enjoy eating. A beef by-product is something made from a cow besides the beef we eat. To illustrate, an 1150 pound market steer yields approximately 500 pounds of beef. Nearly all of the remaining weight is recovered as by-products.

There are three categories of by-products to determine the items made with the rest of the animal: EDIBLE, INEDIBLE and MEDICINAL.

Edible By-Products are things we can eat.

Some edible beef by-products are fairly well known such as variety meats. The nutritious value of liver, kidneys, brains, tripe, sweetbreads, and tongue has been acknowledged for quite a while. Other important edible by-products are less well known. Fats yield oleo stock and oleo oil for margarine and shortening. Oleo stearin is used in making chewing gum and certain candies. Gelatin produced from bones and skins is used in marshmallows, ice cream, canned meats, and gelatin desserts. Intestines may provide natural sausage casings.

Inedible By-Products are things we cannot eat.

You probably use at least one item containing inedible beef by-products every day. For example, you probably know that the beef hide is used to make leather, but did you know that the hide also supplies felt and other textiles? It provides a base for many ointments, binders for plaster and asphalt, and a base for the insulation material used to cool and heat your house. In addition, "camel hair" artists' brushes are not really made from camel hair but from the fine hair found in the ears and tails of beef cattle. Footballs, which used to be called "pigskins," are also generally produced from cattle hide.

Industrial oils and lubricants, tallow for tanning, soaps, lipsticks, face and hand creams, some medicines, and ingredients for explosives are produced from the inedible fats from beef. Fatty acids are used in the production of chemicals, biodegradable detergents, pesticides, and flotation agents. One fatty acid is used to make automobile tires run cooler and, therefore last longer.

Bones, horns, and hooves also supply important by-products. These include buttons, bone china, piano keys, glues, fertilizer, and gelatin for photographic film, paper, wallpaper, sandpaper, combs, toothbrushes, and violin string.

Medicinal By-Products are things used by your doctor.

More than 100 individual drugs performing such important and varied functions as helping to make childbirth safer, settling an upset stomach, preventing blood clots in the circulatory system, controlling anemia, relieving some symptoms of hay fever and asthma, and helping babies digest milk include beef by-products. Insulin is perhaps the best-known pharmaceutical derived from cattle. There are 5 million diabetic people in the United States, and 1.25 million of them require insulin daily. It takes the pancreases from 26 cattle to provide enough insulin to keep one diabetic person alive for a year.

Through genetic engineering techniques and research developments, many of the drugs produced from cattle are now being chemically produced in a laboratory, often less expensively than recovery from animal organs.

Most of the material used for surgical sutures is derived from the intestines of meat animals.

This description of cattle by-products is by no means complete. In fact, new uses are discovered almost daily. But we hope that now when you hear "Where's the beef?" you will think:

* It is in hospitals and drug stores.

* It is helping your car run better and your clothes get cleaner.

* It is in sporting goods, photographic equipment, and art supply shops.

* It is in firecrackers on the Fourth of July.

* It is in your garden keeping down insect infestations.

* It is in soap for washing your face

We really enjoyed spending our day with the area kids teaching them about what we do at Cattle Empire, we hope you were able to learn something as well!

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The Many Uses of a Cow - Beef By-Products

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Recently we had the opportunity to participate in an annual event held in Garden City, KS called farm day, put on an organized by the Finney County Farm Bureau. Throughout the day about 700 4th graders from all the surrounding communities come to the fairgrounds to learn more about the agriculture in our area.