Dairy Cattle Breeds Guide
Before we get into specific breeds, let’s cover some basics. Because cattle terminology can be confusing if you’re new to this.
Cattle Classification
All cattle belong to the Bovine family, genus Bos. There are three original species:
- Bos taurus (European cattle)
- Bos indicus (humped cattle from South Asia)
- Bos primigenius (the Aurochs, now extinct)
Every modern breed traces back to one or a combination of these.
The Four Types of Cattle
Cattle generally fall into four categories:
- Dairy breeds, optimized for milk production
- Beef breeds, optimized for meat
- Dual or Triple Purpose breeds that do milk, meat, and sometimes draft work
- Miniature breeds, smaller versions that work well on limited acreage
Common Terminology
If you’re going to talk about cattle, you need to know the vocabulary:
- Bull: intact adult male
- Cow: adult female that has had a calf
- Heifer: young female that hasn’t calved yet
- Calves: young cattle of either sex
- Feeder Calves: calves being raised for beef
- Weaners: calves recently separated from their mothers
- Steer: castrated male raised for beef
- Ox: castrated male used for draft work
- Polled: naturally hornless (not dehorned, just born without them)
Size and Weight
Cattle range from 600 to 2,500 pounds depending on breed and sex. The average across all breeds sits around 1,660 pounds. That’s a lot of animal. Keep that in mind when you’re thinking about fencing and handling facilities.
Understanding Butterfat
When people talk about dairy breeds, butterfat percentage comes up constantly. Higher butterfat means richer milk that’s better for making butter, cheese, and cream. Lower butterfat means thinner milk but often higher volume.
Milk is measured in pounds in the dairy industry, not gallons. One gallon of milk weighs between 8.2 and 8.5 pounds depending on butterfat content. Heavier milk has more fat.
The Dairy Breeds
There are 11 recognized North American dairy breeds, with 6 being the primary breeds used in the US. Let’s go through them.
Ayrshire
Originally from Scotland, specifically the county of Ayr. These are solid, dependable dairy cows. They produce around 17,000 pounds of milk per year with 3.9% butterfat. They’re red and white, medium-sized, and known for being hardy. Good all-around choice.
Brown Swiss
These come from the Swiss Alps, making them one of the oldest dairy breeds. They produce 17,000 to 20,000 pounds of milk per year with about 4% butterfat. Their milk is particularly good for cheese making because of the protein-to-fat ratio. They’re big, calm, and adaptable. If you want cheese milk, Brown Swiss is a strong pick.
Jersey
The smallest of the major dairy breeds. But don’t let the size fool you. Jerseys produce about 1,600 pounds of milk per lactation with a whopping 4.9% butterfat. That’s the richest milk of any common dairy breed.
Jerseys are generally calm and easy to handle. But here’s a warning that Pezza emphasizes: Jersey bulls can be absolutely vicious. Like, genuinely dangerous. The cows are sweethearts. The bulls are not. Keep that in mind if you’re thinking about keeping a bull for breeding.
Kerry
One of the oldest European dairy breeds. They’re small, black, and from Ireland. And they’re critically endangered. You probably won’t find one easily, but they’re worth mentioning because they represent a lineage that goes back centuries in European farming.
Milking Devon
This is the oldest and purest American breed. They were among the first cattle brought to the colonies. Milking Devons are triple purpose: milk, meat, and draft work. They’re incredibly rare now, with only 400 to 600 head remaining. If you can find one, you’re helping preserve an important piece of American agricultural history.
Norwegian Red
A relatively modern breed, developed in the 1960s through crossbreeding programs in Norway. They were specifically bred for good health traits, and they have excellent resistance to mastitis, which is a serious udder infection that plagues dairy cattle. Practical choice if you want fewer vet bills.
Dutch Belted
You’ve probably seen pictures of these even if you didn’t know the breed name. They’re black (or sometimes red) with a white belt around their middle. Fun fact: P.T. Barnum actually exhibited them in his shows because they looked so striking.
They’re critically endangered now. The belting pattern is what makes them famous, but they’re also decent dairy producers.
Guernsey
Named after the island of Guernsey in the English Channel. Their claim to fame is “golden milk” that’s naturally high in beta-carotene, giving it a yellowish tint. The milk is rich and great for butter. If you’ve ever had butter that was deeply yellow without added coloring, it might have come from a Guernsey.
Canadienne
A Canadian heritage breed that’s critically endangered. They descended from French cattle brought to Canada in the 1600s. They’re tough and well-adapted to cold climates, which makes sense given where they developed.
Milking Shorthorn
Another triple-purpose breed that does milk, meat, and draft work. They come in red, white, or roan. Milking Shorthorns are critically endangered, which is unfortunate because they’re versatile and well-suited to small farm operations.
Holstein-Friesian
This is the one everyone knows. Black and white (sometimes red and white), Holsteins are the most common dairy breed worldwide. When you picture a dairy cow, you’re probably picturing a Holstein.
They produce around 28,000 pounds of milk per year. That’s significantly more than any other breed. The butterfat is lower than some specialty breeds, but the sheer volume makes up for it.
Holsteins dominate commercial dairy for a reason. They’re milk machines. But for a small homestead, you might actually prefer a smaller breed that produces richer milk in more manageable quantities.
Which Breed for a Small Farm?
Pezza doesn’t push one breed over another, and the right choice depends on your situation. Think about:
- How much milk do you actually need?
- Do you want to make cheese and butter? (Higher butterfat matters.)
- What’s your climate like?
- How much space do you have?
- Can you handle a large animal, or would a smaller breed be more practical?
For a lot of small homesteaders, a Jersey or Guernsey makes more sense than a Holstein. You get rich milk without needing to process 3+ gallons a day from a single cow. But if you’re selling milk or supplying a larger family, that Holstein volume starts looking pretty good.
Next up, we’ll cover beef breeds and miniature cattle.
This post is part of a series retelling and reviewing Backyard Farming: Raising Cattle by Kim Pezza (ISBN: 978-1-57826-495-7).