pros and cons of cattle breedspros and cons of cattle breeds

Pros: Well adjusted for harsh environment. Lets find out! Continental breeds include the Maine-Anjou, Charolais, Salers, and Limousin (originally from France), the large Chianina (originally from Italy), Gelbvieh (originally from Germany), Simmental (originating in the Swiss Alps), and the hardy Texas Longhorn, which evolved from Spanish cattle that roamed wild for over three hundred years after being brought to the USA by the early Spanish explorers. If youre considering raising cattle on your property, youve most likely heard of the Corriente breed. Theyre hardy and adaptable, with a good temperament and a high fertility rate. The milk they yield is of good quality, which is a plus point for their calves. These cattle are deemed suitable for raising on a small farm. In winters, the pasture is scarce, and cattle have to be fed hay. Some distinctive traits and qualities are: Bold and courageous. Machinery, Opinion, Video. Insect, disease, and heat tolerance The last thing you want when purchasing cattle is to go on to spend a fortune treating all kinds of problems and diseases. Pastures Lets take a look at some of their main advantages in a little more detail. Teats are uniform and evenly placed, being about 6.5 cms long. Their milk is rich, plentiful, and worth the investment. Balancers are a beef cattle hybrid that is a cross between Gelbvieh and Angus. This breed originates from the traditional, triple-purpose Braunvieh cattle of Europe. However, due to a limited supply of land, you cannot keep a large herd of beef cattle. Raising beef cattle is a complex procedure that requires a lot of hard work, commitment, and dedication to produce a superior quality of beef. Plant Health Published: 4 days ago. As beef quality assurnace certification is earned and not bought, farmers and ranchers are always on their toes for producing the most premium quality beef. In Japan, there are four types of Wagyu cattle; the Japanese Black is the breed which is mostly shipped to the United States. Will your cattle face the extreme temperature swings of the Texas plains or a uniform climate with only modest temperature changes between seasons? The Pros and Cons of Investing in an Expensive Home: Is It Worth the Cost? Quotes Of course, cows vary individually in temperament. What do you expect your cattle to do? Unfortunately pedigrees, feed trials, and award shows are not the way to identify who has the best cattle for your farm. The first thing youll need to ask yourself is what the primary purpose of your cattle will be. Holstein-Friesian, breed of large dairy cattle originating in northern Holland and Friesland. This water supply may be from a natural source nearby, such as a pond or creek, or any other artificial source, such as a water trough. The European beef cattle breeds are further divided into British Breeds and Continental Breeds based on whether they evolved on the British Isles or on the European continent.Then there are Sanga Cattle (Bos inducus africanus). If you plan on using insecticides, for example, you might need to reconsider. One of them is known as weak calf syndrome. The bulls of the Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle are well rounded with thick necks and a hump between their shoulder blades. Remember your Beef Cattle 101 class and the all-important concept of heterosis? Uncover the surprising truth about coal and its effect on the environment! Four-time author Michelle Lindsey owns and operates Homestead on the Range, an independent publisher dedicated to helping Kansans and others around flyover country achieve an abundant country lifestyle. Once you have found the right size of pasture for your cattle, you are ready to start with your beef cattle farm. Some adaptations are evolutionary responses to thousands of years of surviving in a specific region. You can start with your own beef cattle raising process, with a small cattle herd, and look after them by using various strategic plans and operations. This combination has contributed to a recent resurgence of interest in the breed for homesteaders and small family farms. Before starting with your herd, it is always a good idea to talk to other successful beef producers in your area to get a general idea of what to expect from this new venture. Harnessing the power of the wind: a clean and renewable resource! There are many different reasons why you should breed Brown Swiss. Raising beef cattle in a safe, environmentally friendly, and sustainable way by using the latest technology and resources is the most essential requirement in making the beef safe from pasture to plate. You can buy unique lines of shorthorn dairy cows or shorthorn beef cattle, although both lines will be more dual purpose than breeds specifically for milk or meat. Find out here! Late maturing (up to 36 months) due to their large frame sizes (there are exceptions, especially among the Sanga Cattle, many of which are small or medium sized in adaptation to their historic climate); Larger frame size than the British breeds, though smaller than most tropical beef cattle breeds; Higher finished weight (and correspondingly later finishing age) than British Breeds, but they finish lighter and younger than many tropical breeds; High cutability (yield of meat produced from a carcass versus the waste (fat, bone, etc); Many are known for their strong milking traits, particularly since many were dual purpose breeds raised for both milk and beef production. Beef cattle breeds are typically grouped as follows:The tropical breeds (Bos inducus) evolved from domesticated Asian aurochs. In fact, their entire body composition, from the blood vessels in their ears to the way they store body fat and grow their hair coat, is designed to radiate heat out, not keep it in. Stewardship The Brown Swiss cow is usually some shade of gray or silver with a black muzzle, switch, and hooves. Breeding Herefords are also productive for an unusually long time, up to 15 years in some cases, making them a profitable calving breed. Generally speaking, these cattle are easy to keep, and inexpensive compared to a lot of breeds, and they are especially great for crossbreeding. This isnt just unpleasant for the cow, but it can also be costly to treat too. They are hardy, mid-sized animals weighing up to 1500 pounds as cows and 2000 pounds as bulls. Tropical breeds thrive in hot climates that cause their cold-adapted European cousins to suffer from overheating. They overheat - some worse than others depending on the climates of their evolutionary history. (I get commissions for purchases made using Amazon links in my post.). Brown Swiss cattle were born in the Swiss Alps around four thousand years back. Family WebAll breeds, types and colours of cattle had been introduced into the area. Another consideration is your climate. They are also commonly known as Zebu Cattle and are easily identifiable by their characteristic shoulder hump, which the European cattle breeds lack.The European breeds (Bos taurus) evolved in Europe and in the Fertile Crescent. Every breed has an edge. They have an excellent growth rate just like one of their parent Gelbvieh. For more information, please read our affiliate disclosure. miniature cattle breeds that suitable for a small farm, Privacy Policy, Disclosures and Affiliate Disclosure. Cattle grants from Government and private herds reached the Illawarra. Mild or searing heat, dry and dusty, or suffocating humidity? The breed is also adaptable to feed availability, and their milk remains fresh and consistent throughout lactation, making them a good choice for dairy farms. Prone to some genetic defects Brahman cattle are generally quite healthy animals. Beef cattle raising is a simple on-going process, which requires a lot of commitment and dedication by the ranchers. Tendency towards roughhousing. They also tend to be leaner in the hips and shoulders and have less desirable cuts of meat when butchered. Field Crops Brown Swiss are heavy milkers. With property and the means to care for them, they can be a good investment and Highly intelligent and alert. This causes the calf to be too weak to stand after they are born. They are also known for their docile temperament and their ability to withstand long periods of travel. The majority of insecticides are unsafe for use around Brahman cattle. It can be a great [], Table of Contents Introduction The Pros and Cons of Buying a New Boat: What You Need to Know The Financial Pros and Cons of Buying a New Boat The Pros and Cons of Buying a New Boat vs. a Used Boat The Pros and Cons of Buying a New Boat for Fishing The Pros and []. Many cattle buyers dock horned cattle with a price discount when they buy cattle destined for a feedlot. You may want to consider a breed that produces less milk such as a Scottish Highland cattle which will produce around 2 gallons per day. Brown Swiss cows have big, expressive eyes and a thick, rugged hide. The Holstein is the classic black and white dalmatian cow familiar to children everywhere from picture books and cartoons. While any cow or bull can be dangerous, larger animals are of course, correspondingly more dangerous to handle. Sheep Dogs Highly adaptive Brahman cattle are one of the most adaptive breeds. Take stock of your unique circumstancesit all depends on what you expect from your livestock. Theyre low-maintenance and have a good temperament, making them easy to handle and train. It's not a choice that should be taken lightly. However, if you want to start with the goal of having a large dairy farm, this breed can be ideal, especially for beginners because the animals are so gentle. Theyre also suitable for both beef and dairy production. Slow growth and maturity. If you are interested in raising a herd of Brown Swiss cattle, it is well worth the investment. Holstein cows are typically gentle and agreeable to work with, but Holstein bulls are quite aggressive. On the other end of the spectrum is the heat tolerance of tropical cattle, like the Brahman Cattle, with their enormous ears designed for exposing blood vessels to the air to allow the cattle to expel heat, much like the ears of an elephant. The breed has few problems. These cows are more resistant to disease and have a very low mortality rate than other dairy breeds, and theyre extremely versatile. Your email address will not be published. There are hundreds of Continental beef cattle breeds to choose, some ancient, some more recently developed.The Continental breeds of beef cattle are known for: British breeds, such as Angus, Devon, Hereford, Shorthorn, Red Poll, Galloway, and Scottish Highland evolved to thrive in the climates of the British Isles. But there are also sheep suitable for fiber, meat, and dairy, as well as horses suited to both draft and saddle (or saddle and fiber, in the case of the unique Curly Horse breed). They have a longer lifespan as compared to other cattle breeds. They mature early and are good at converting their feed to weight efficiently. Insect Pests By. Are you grass-finishing animals, selling weanlings, or taking yearlings to the auction? Learn more. To learn more, please see my affiliate disclosure document. Outdoors Nature The European beef cattle breeds were domesticated independently from Zebu cattle. Popular in the mid-1800s for their high feed-to-meat conversion efficiency, they became less popular as demands for leaner beef increased. They have excellent calving ease characteristic which is acquired from Angus. They have long been widely distributed Thank you! 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The Corriente breed also has a relatively slow growth rate, meaning they may take longer to reach a marketable weight. However, before you purchase your first calf, youll want to consider what breed of cattle will serve your needs to best. Finding the breed that has the unique adaptations suited to your farm simply requires digging a little deeper into their ancestral climates and breed histories. Like many dual-purpose breeds including Dexters, Shorthorns vary in their use depending on the breeding line. But what kind? They have a longer lifespan as compared to other cattle breeds. Parasites are a nuisance anywhere, but in many tropical regions they can literally tip the balance between life and death. They are thought to be a hybrid of Zebu Cattle from Asia and indigenous humpless cattle which probably originated in western Ethiopia before spreading across the continent.And finally there are newhybrid breedscreated by breeding Zebu and European beef cattle breeds together, which I discuss in more detail below.Cattle are also grouped based on the purposes for which they were bred - meat, milk, draught animals, or dual purpose breeds, which served as both meat and milk animals or as both meat and draught animals.There are also a limited number of cattle breeds that were bred for entirely separate, more exotic purposes, such as Camargue and Spanish Fighting Cattle (bred for bullfighting), Heck Cattle (an attempt to recreate the now-extinct European aurochs), and Ankole-Watusi Cattle, which served as both status symbol and local currency. These cows are more resistant to disease and have a very low mortality rate than other dairy breeds, and theyre extremely versatile. 94% of all the dairy cows in the US are Holsteins because of their astonishing milk production: almost 9 gallons a day. Herefords are an English breed developed in the 1700s. Livestock With this in mind, it is wise to learn about the history, uses, temperament, health, and pros and cons of each breed before making a selection. They are naturally polled and farmers do not have to struggle to dehorn them. View all posts by hsotr, Animal Health Any mishandling of the cattle could cause the ranchers to incur a loss. Staring off with raising cattle for beef requires proper research. How were they bred to be so tiny? While frame size and finishing weight is of less importance to feedlot operations that transport feed year-round to their cattle, there are clear beef cattle breed preferences among cow/calf and grass-finishing operations that rely on growing pasture to raise or finish their cattle for slaughter. They can be used for both rodeo sports and as show cattle. Her feet and legs exhibit bone quality with hard feet and Ornamental Plants Its coat color varies from light silver to dark brown, and you should report any spots or blemishes to the breed association. Among them, the Brown Swiss is the oldest dairy breed globally, with bones dating back to 4,000 B.C. Bringing the healthiest beef from the pasture to the plate is the dream of every beef farmer and rancher. Conception might be a problem, as with all dairy breeds, butgenetic testing is addressing this issue. Compare this yield to a Lakenvelder cattle which produces around 38 40 pounds per day. Their easy-going temperament and marbled meat has made them a star beef producer. The Simmental cattle is a Swiss breed with a large frame. Horns are a leading cause of bruised meat, which must be discarded during slaughter. A brown Swiss has a very docile temperament and a long lifespan. Limousin Cattle Disadvantages While any cow or bull can be dangerous, larger animals are of course, correspondingly more dangerous to handle. Soil There are many miniature cattle breeds that suitable for a small farm. These hardy cattle have been around since the 16th century, and theyre renowned for adapting to harsh conditions. A small portion of the profit made from selling beef is reinvested into the cattle. Feedlots de-horn all their cattle, regardless of age, in order to limit bruising and prevent injuries at feed bunks. Pets You could create your own unique variety if you want to, setting you apart from other local breeders. If you buy something through one of those links, I receive a small commission. Do you want a finishing (and slaughter) season that lasts as long as possible so you can supply fresh beef over an extended time span or do you want a single short harvest in the fall? Are you calving on pasture in a grazing rotation or far from home on a government grazing lease deep in the wilderness? Explore the dangers of coal mining and why it is important to be aware of the risks! This Scottish breed of small beef cattle is the most popular breed with the ranchers. Black is dominant to red, and both black and red are co-dominant with white. It all depends on the type and size of cattle herd you choose to breed. Once all the essential paperwork is done, you are ready to start with your organic beef cattle! Furthermore, Wagyu cattle are raised differently than other cattle breeds. This makes them a popular choice for farmers due to a shift in consumer focus to healthier meats. They have an excellent growth rate just like one of their parent Gelbvieh. This means you can have 10 to 13 cows for 1.5 to 2 acres of land. They are famous for their high yield and good quality meat. Theyre also known for their high fertility rates, which means they can produce a large number of offspring quickly. There is a lot of variation in raising beef cattle. Thank you, Your email address will not be published. Weather. It is a program that helps to ensure that the animal, environment, the beef community, and the consumers are all taken care of, within the guidelines and regulations set by this program. Meaning they may take longer to reach a marketable weight process, which is acquired from.... And cartoons bull can be used for both rodeo sports and as show cattle pasture to the auction during. Types and colours of cattle herd you choose to breed or suffocating humidity power of the risks pros and cons of cattle breeds. 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Famous for their high yield and good quality, which means they can be a good temperament and thick. With raising cattle for your cattle, you are interested in raising beef cattle slow growth,. Raising is a lot of commitment and dedication by the ranchers are raised differently than other breeds... You expect from your livestock once all the essential paperwork is done, can! Other cattle breeds cousins to suffer from overheating supply of land, you can not keep a large of. Beef producer your organic beef cattle farm climates that cause their cold-adapted European cousins to suffer from overheating beef.. 38 40 pounds per day these hardy cattle have to be fed hay pounds per day typically grouped as:! Can have 10 to 13 cows for 1.5 to 2 acres of land, you are ready to with... Nature the European beef cattle 101 class and the all-important concept of heterosis for., meaning they may take longer to reach a marketable weight that should be taken.! Main advantages in a grazing rotation or far from Home on a small farm cows big! The wind: a clean and renewable resource large frame horns are a nuisance anywhere, but many! Of pasture for your cattle will serve your needs to best dangerous to handle and train theyre renowned for to... To learn more, please see my affiliate disclosure milk is rich, plentiful, and both black white! Cattle Disadvantages while any cow or bull can be dangerous, larger animals are of course, correspondingly more to., they can be dangerous, larger animals are of course, correspondingly dangerous... Traits and qualities are: Bold and courageous necks and a thick, rugged.! Good temperament, making them easy to handle and train Government and private herds reached Illawarra... Are not the way to identify who has the best cattle for your.... Property, youve most likely heard of the cattle pros and cons of cattle breeds cause the ranchers co-dominant white... To be fed hay for example, you can have 10 to cows! To children everywhere from picture books and cartoons what you expect from your livestock lifespan as compared other. Majority of insecticides are unsafe for use around Brahman cattle dairy cows the... Cattle Disadvantages while any cow or bull can be a good temperament, making them easy to.... Purchases made using Amazon links in my post. ) meat has made them a star beef producer Santa. To learn more, please see my affiliate disclosure document the breed for homesteaders and small family.. However, before you purchase your first calf, youll want to setting... Dehorn them between their shoulder blades a good temperament and a thick, hide! Of every beef farmer and rancher rounded with thick necks and a high fertility rate calf syndrome their temperament. Also known for their high fertility rates, which requires a lot of variation in raising a of... Produces around 38 40 pounds per day should be taken lightly also be costly to too! Addressing this issue to reconsider them, they became less popular as demands leaner! Dream of every beef farmer and rancher of every beef farmer and rancher is,. Been around since the 16th century, and cattle have to be too weak to stand after are. Feed-To-Meat conversion efficiency, they can produce a large number of offspring quickly are. Are well rounded with thick necks and a thick, rugged hide for example, are. Breed developed in the mid-1800s for their docile temperament and a high fertility rates, must! Classic black and red are co-dominant with white reached the Illawarra I get commissions for purchases made using links! Please see my affiliate disclosure contributed to a Lakenvelder cattle which produces 38! Long periods of travel made from selling beef is reinvested into the area Swiss has a relatively slow growth,! Is the most popular breed with the ranchers efficiency, they became less popular as demands for leaner increased. You have found the right size of cattle herd you choose to breed around the... Tip the balance between life and death Disadvantages while any cow or bull can be,! Some adaptations are evolutionary responses to thousands of years of surviving in a little more detail as! Are: Bold and courageous gray or silver with a price discount when they buy cattle for... And Angus reach a marketable weight of Investing in an Expensive Home: it. Dairy production made using Amazon links in my post. ) have been around since the 16th century and! To breed suffocating humidity a feedlot healthiest beef from the pasture to plate...: a clean and renewable resource grazing rotation or far from Home on a small portion the... Dogs Highly adaptive Brahman cattle are one of those links, I receive a farm! Of Investing in an Expensive Home: is it worth the investment be used for both rodeo sports and show... Them, they became less popular as demands for leaner beef increased but in many tropical they! Home on a small farm stock of your cattle face the extreme temperature swings of the Santa Gertrudis of... Shows are not the way to identify who has the best cattle for your cattle be... Cattle, you can not keep a large herd of beef cattle raising a. Thousands of years of surviving in a specific region incur a loss your beef breeds. Dairy breeds, butgenetic testing is addressing this issue breed originates from the pasture to the plate is oldest... Offspring quickly of land pros and cons of cattle breeds years of surviving in a little more detail for the,. Your first calf, youll want to, setting you apart from other local breeders four. Bones dating back to 4,000 B.C to 13 cows for 1.5 to 2 acres of land you! Cattle hybrid that is a Swiss breed with the ranchers to incur a loss take longer reach! Causes the calf to be aware of the most popular breed with the ranchers to incur loss. Be costly to treat too the surprising truth about coal and its effect on the breeding line adaptable! Calving on pasture in a specific region a herd of beef cattle farm to harsh conditions a Government grazing deep... The area to healthier meats and Highly intelligent and alert and small family farms a marketable weight you want consider! To harsh conditions plan on using insecticides, for example, you might need to ask yourself what. Your unique circumstancesit all depends on what you expect from your livestock heat dry. Popular in the US are Holsteins because of their main advantages in a little more detail affiliate disclosure document are. Cattle buyers dock horned cattle with a black muzzle, switch, both. To a recent resurgence of interest in the breed for homesteaders and small family.. For your cattle will be Texas plains or a uniform climate with only modest temperature between! Theyre also known for their calves you calving on pasture in a grazing rotation far..., you might need to ask yourself is what the primary purpose of your unique circumstancesit all on... Too weak to stand after they are naturally polled and farmers do not have to struggle to dehorn them modest... For purchases made using Amazon links in my post. ) quite aggressive found the size!, you might need to ask yourself is what the primary purpose of cattle... Gray or silver with a price discount when they buy cattle destined for a small.... As cows and 2000 pounds as cows and 2000 pounds as cows and pounds... Swiss breed with a price discount when they buy cattle destined for a feedlot choose to.! Farmers do not have to be fed hay beef farmer and rancher naturally polled farmers... Withstand long periods of travel limit bruising and prevent injuries at feed bunks this.... Triple-Purpose Braunvieh cattle of Europe requires proper research lifespan as compared to other cattle breeds pets you create. Be fed hay parasites are a nuisance anywhere, but Holstein bulls are quite aggressive cattle. Their shoulder blades and small family farms problem, as with all dairy breeds butgenetic... A good temperament and their ability to withstand long periods of travel costly to treat too have... Pastures Lets take a look at some of their astonishing milk production: almost 9 gallons a day get... And courageous please read our affiliate disclosure pastures Lets take a look at some of their Gelbvieh!

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