The Hereford, affectionately known as the Whiteface, is probably the descendant of a cross between the large black cattle of the Welsh and the small red cattle of the Britons of the Roman times. The original Herefords existed as early as the 1600s in Herefordshire, England. In that day they primarily worked as draft animals,…… Continue reading Hereford
Tag: Draft Animals
Guernsey
As its name suggests, the Guernsey cow comes from the Island of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands located off the coast of France. Much of the breed’s earliest history is speculative, but the most common theory points to France for the breed’s origins. This theory suggests that there were several breeds of French cattle,…… Continue reading Guernsey
English Longhorn
One of the first specialized beef breeds in the world, the English Longhorn is now extremely rare.
Dutch Belted
This sweet, hardy dairy cow may be best known for looks, but it is well suited to serious pasture-based dairying.
Devon
The Devon is a good choice for small farms, and it has potential in conservation grazing, the practice of improving native grasslands with livestock.
Chianina
The giant white ox of Italy has profoundly impacted the American beef industry, but not without consequences.
Brahman
Often called Braymer in Texas and Brahma in the Flint Hills, the Brahman goes back to the sacred zebu-derived cattle of India. Nevertheless, it is also believed to be the first cattle breed developed in the United States. How can that be? In 1854, Britain presented Richard Barrow of Louisiana with two zebu bulls as…… Continue reading Brahman
Ayrshire
The Ayrshire breed is largely developed from cattle that have lived in the county of Ayr in southwestern Scotland for hundreds of years. Farmers began seeking to improve their stock after about 1750 and imported a variety of cattle from other countries in an effort to improve both milk and meat production. The resulting breed,…… Continue reading Ayrshire
