BREEDS OF CATTLE  

 

 


Australian Friesian Sahiwal

Origin: Australia. Cross breed between Sahiwal & Holstein-Friesian.
Tick resistance, tolerates heat, reliable  fertility. Average milk yield is 3,000 liters; milk quality is good - protein level 3.4%


Australian Milking Zebu

Origin: Australia, Cross breed between Sahiwal-Red Sindhi & Jersey.
Colour markings & general shape of Jerseys; tolerates heat, tick resistance. Average  2,700 liters milk/year. Very high quality milk - protein level 3.5-4%

 


Brahman

Origin: Bos indicus, India.
Characterized by large hump over top of shoulder & neck; spinal processes below hump extended with considerable muscular tissue covering it; horns usually curve upward &  sometimes tilted to rear; ears generally large & pendulous; throatlatch & dewlap have large amount of excess skin; oily secretion with distinctive odour assist in repelling insects. Vary in colour from very light grey or red to almost black, with majority light to medium grey. Bulls normally darker than cows & usually have dark areas on shoulders & lower thighs. Intermediate size - Bulls generally weigh 1,600-2,200 lbs & cows 1,00-1,400 lbs; calves 60-65 lbs but grow very rapidly. Hardy & adaptable to adverse conditions; tolerates heat, can become very docile. Satisfactory milk flow; high dressing percentage. - carcasses have very good "cutout" value with minimum fat.

 


Charolais

Origin: Charolles province, France.
White or creamy white in colour but skin carries pigmentation; horned beef animal; long bodied. Large with bulls weighing 2,000-over 2,500 lbs  & cows from 1,250-over 2,000 lbs.  Rapid growth. Perform well under variety of environmental conditions. Ability to raise heavy calves. Good milkers.

 


Droughtmaster

Origin: Australia. Cross bred between Shorthorn & Brahman.
Basically red in colour; either polled or horned. Tolerates heat & ticks; excellent fertility with ease of calving; quiet temperament. Medium to slightly late maturity in carcass development.


Hereford

Origin: Herefordshire County, England.
High beef yield - fattening ability; hardy. Early maturity. Will commend the premier spot in beef cattle industry for years to come.


 

 


Holstein

Origin: Netherlands
Efficient, high producing dairy cow. Large with distinctive colour markings of black & white or red & white. Calf weighs 90 lbs or more, cow weighs about 1,500 lbs & stand 58" tall at shoulder. Heifers can be bred at 15 months of age when they weigh about 800 lbs. Desirable to have females calve for first time between 24-27 months of age; gestation is approximately 9 months. Normal productive life is 6 years. Outstanding milk production with average 17,408 lbs.


Jersey

Origin: Jersey Island, Britain.
One of oldest dairy breeds; unexcelled. Favourable milk production; most produce far in excess of 13 times their bodyweight per lactation.  Adaptable to wide range of climatic conditions. Excellent grazers & perform well in intensive grazing programs. More tolerant of heat. Average weight 900 lbs.

 


Milking Shorthorn

Origin: England
Either red, red & white, white or roan colour. Short horned cattle. Hardy - wide range of adaptation. Most versatile of all breeds. Docile. Good milking qualities. Regular calving intervals; ease of calving, calves spunky & grow rapidly. Very desirable grading carcasses. Easy management & economic production.


Red Sindhi

Origin: Sind, Pakistan.
Hardy, high degree of resistance to heat & ticks. Good foragers. High milk yields with average of over 1,700 kg & optimum over 3,400 kg per lactation. Average height of cow is 116 cm with body weight of 340 kg. Bulls average 134 cm in height & body weight of 420 kg. Normally deep, rich red colour but can vary from yellowish brown to dark brown. Males are darker when mature & may be almost black on head, feet & tail.

 


Sahiwal

Origin: Punjab.
Used as draft & dairy animals. One of best dairy breeds in India & Pakistan. Hardy under unfavourable climatic conditions; tick-resistant, heat tolerant & noted for high resistance to both internal & external parasites. Cows average 2,270 kg of milk per lactation. Generally docile. Colour range from reddish brown to more dominant red with varying amounts of white on neck & underline. In males, colour darkens on head, legs & tails. Heaviest milker of all Zebu breeds & display a well developed udder. Ability to sire small, fast-growing calves.

 


Santa Gertrudis

Origin: United States. Cross bred between Shorthorn & Brahman.
Deep, cherry-red colour. Relatively high degree of both heat & tick resistance. Ease of calving, good mothering ability. Abundant milk supply.  Steers noted for ability to achieve high weight gains on both pastures & feedlots. Improved beef quality over most purebred Brahmans.

 


Simmental

Origin: Switzerland.
Among the oldest & most widely distributed breeds. Large, productive red & white cattle. Rapid growth development; outstanding milk production. Also used as draught animals.