Afrikaner

An African breed used primarily for meat production. Africander cattle exhibit good resistance to heat, a high level of tick resistance, quiet temperament and a satisfactorily high level of fertility under harsh conditions.

Albères

This is a rare breed found in the Albères Mountains and eastern Pyrenees of France and Spain.

Allmogekor

An old Swedish breed. These cattle are often hardy and well adapted for extensive production, i.e. good foragers and very active. This makes them well suited for grazing on fields.

American

The breed now known as the American breed has the following breed composition: 1/2 Brahman, 1/8 Bison, 1/4 Charolais, 1/16 Hereford, 1/16 Shorthorn.

American White Park

The American White Park is a large white breed with black or red points (ears, nose and eyes). They are docile and the cows milk well. Today, American White Parks are promoted and selected as a beef breed. The breed's origin, however, is not clear. Some think it is largely descended from the British White, others feel it is primarily Angus in origin with some White Park breeding.

Amerifax

The Amerifax originated in the United States. They are a mixture of 5/8 Angus and 3/8 Beef Friesian.

Anatolian Black

Today the Anatolian Black is Turkey's most popular breed. It is hardy, disease resistant and tolerant of poor care, meager diet and adverse climate conditions.

Angeln

An old German breed, the Angeln is known for producing milk of high butterfat content.

Angus

They are resistant to harsh weather, undemanding, adaptable, good natured, mature extremely early and have a high carcass yield with nicely marbled meat. Angus are renowned as a carcass breed. They are used widely in crossbreeding to improve carcass quality and milking ability.

Ankole

The Ankole cattle are distributed from Lake Mobutu to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. In general the animals are highly prized as status symbols, for ceremonial functions and not for their productivity.

Ankole-Watusi

Originally from Africa, they were developed in a climate where daily temperatures may range from 20 to 120 degrees F, Ankole-Watusi tolerate temperature and weather extremes well. The milk is about 10 percent fat. Some dairy farmers have used crossbred Ankole-Watusi cows in their herds to boost the butter-fat levels.

Ayrshire

The Ayrshire breed originated in the County of Ayr in Scotland, prior to 1800. Ayrshires excel in udder conformation and are not subject to excessive foot and leg problems. Few other breeds can match the ability of the Ayrshire to rustle and forage for themselves under adverse feeding or climatic conditions.

Belgian Blue

These cattle originated in central and upper Belgium and they, at one time, accounted for nearly half of the cattle in the national herd.

Belted Galloway

The 'Belties', presumably originated centuries ago from the pure black Galloway. They were mentioned as early as the start of the 19th century. Polled. Hardy. Undemanding. Adaptable. Good natured and easily controlled. Outstanding meat quality. Cows calve easily and are good mothers.

Boran

The breed was found in southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya and southwestern Somalia. The Boran belongs to the East African Shorthorned Zebu type and is raised primarily for meat production.

Braford

Braford cattle are approximately 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Hereford. Brafords are known for superior maternal ability. Early puberty, fertility, calving ease, optimum milk production, maternal aptitude and productive longevity have earned Brafords a distinguished reputation.

Brahman

The Brahman breed originated from Bos indicus cattle originally brought from India. Through centuries of exposure to inadequate food supplies, insect pests, parasites, diseases and the weather extremes of tropical India, the native cattle developed some remarkable adaptations for survival. These are the "sacred cattle of India".

Brahmousin

Purebred Brahmousin are classified as five-eights (5/8) Limousin and three-eights (3/8) Brahman.

Brangus

The Brangus breed was developed to utilize the superior traits of Angus and Brahman cattle. Their genetics are stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. They result in developed disease resistance, overall hardiness and outstanding maternal instincts. Also known for their superior carcass qualities. They are also extremely functional females which excel in both fertility and milking ability.

Braunvieh

Brahman - Gelbvieh cross, they have uniformity and reproduction efficiency.

British White

This herd is considered the fountainhead of the breed and was probably created by crossing a polled bull from Cleveland, in northeast England, with the 'wild' horned white cattle of the area near Whalley.

Brown Swiss

The Brown Swiss, as we know it in the United States today, originated in the cantons of Schwyz, Zug, St. Gallen, Glarus, Lucerne, and Zurich of Switzerland and used for the production of cheese and milk.

Cachena

This breed is similar to the Barrosa and is found in Entrino, South Orense and Galicia in Spain. These animals live on poor granite soil and are very hardy.

Canadienne

Canadienne cattle were developed in Canada primarily from animals imported from Normandy and Brittany during the 16th and 17th century. The Canadienne is recognized for her hardiness and adaptability to inhospitable soils and climates.

Channi

The Channi is one of the premium draft breeds of Pakistan and India.

Charolais

The Charolais originated in west-central to southeastern France, used for draft, milk and meat.

Chianina

The Chianina (pronounced kee-a-nee-na) may well be one of the oldest breeds of cattle in existence. The breed originated primarily in the west central part of Italy. Cows of the breed often have small udders and are not noted for their milk production. This is not surprising as they were originally valued for draft and later for meat production.

Devon

The Devon is one of the oldest beef breeds in existence today. The functional characteristics of the Devon make them a valuable "genetic tool" for the commercial beef industry.

Dexter

The common assumption has been that this breed is a cross between the Kerry and some other breed, perhaps the Devon. These gentle, hardy and easy to handle animals are one of the world's smallest bovines. They are dual purpose, being raised for both milk and meat.

Dhanni

The Dhanni is a draft type that is found in Attock, Rawalpindi and Jhelum districts in Punjab Province of Pakistan.

Droughtmaster

50 percent Shorthorn and 50 percent Brahman bloodlines. Its popularity has increased to the degree that is spread throughout most states of Australia, although they are found mainly in Queensland.

Fighting Bull

The breed is selected primarily for aggressiveness, strength and vigor. They are bred primarily in Spain, Portugal and those Latin American countries were bull fighting is organized.

Galician Blond

The Galician Blond are of the North Spanish type and are used primarily for meat production.

Galloway

Their ability to produce a high quality beef product directly from grass, has true economic value in that it is not necessary to feed grains to 'finish' them. The cows are easy calvers, while the calves themselves are hardy, vigorous and have a 'will to live' that gets them up and nursing quickly.

Gelbvieh

Gelbvieh originated in Bavaria, in southern Germany and originally selected for meat, milk and work.

Gir (Gyr)

The Gir is one of the principal Zebu or Bos indicus breeds in India and is used for both diary and beef production.

Glan

They originated in the late 18th century from the Swiss Brown x native. The Glan is mostly maintained in forage systems, they make good replacement females known for their milk production.

Guernsey

The Guernsey cow is known for producing high-butterfat, high-protein milk with a high concentration of betacarotene. Being of intermediate size, Guernseys produce their high quality milk while consuming 20 to 30 percent less feed per pound of milk produced than larger dairy breeds.

Hereford

Herefords are an ancient breed, kept in Herefordshire in western England for centuries. Herefords are generally docile and fast growing cattle with good beef quality.

Highland

Highland cattle were developed in the western Highlands of Scotland and the outlying islands. Robust, tolerant of severe weather, undemanding, long-lived they mature late. They produce top quality meat.

Holstein

The Holstein cow originated in Europe and are known for their outstanding milk production.

Hybridmaster

Hybridmaster cows are a strain of good fleshing, long, straight-muscled cattle with good grass capacity. They give a lot of milk, are extremely fertile and grow well. Hybridmaster cattle are made of approximately 50% Angus, 25% Brown Swiss, 6.25% Brahman, 6.25% Simmental, 6.25% Gaur, and 6.25% Bison.

Indo-Brazilian

This breed probably has the largest ears of any of the cattle breeds. They are hardy, heat and insect tolerant cattle that do well in hot, humid areas.

Jersey

The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel off the coast of France. The Jersey is one of the oldest dairy breeds.

Limousin

Limousin originated in an area in the middle of France. They are medium to large framed beef cattle of rectangular shape.

Maine Anjou

Maine-Anjou originated in the northwestern part of France. The females have a good disposition, growth rate and excellent frame.

Marchigiana

The Marchigiana breed is widespread throughout the Marches, Labium, Abruzzo and Campania areas of Italy. The breed was developed to do well in rough terrain with hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters on poor quality roughages. This hardiness has been retained through the years.

Miniature

Miniature cattle are cattle of any breed that are tiny.

Montbéliard

This breed originated in the Haute Saône-Doubs region of France. They are a dairy and meat breed belonging to the French Red Pied group.

Murray Grey

The Murray Grey breed was evolved in the upper Murray River region in southern New South Wales, Australia. Murray Greys have high-yielding carcasses with excellent loin development and optimum fat cover.

Nelore

Nelore are a type of Zebu cattle that are very popular in South America. They are fertile, easy calving cattle with a highly developed maternal instinct . They thrive in areas where other breeds barely survive. Nelores possess natural resistance to various insects, as their skin is thick and dense

Normande

Normande is a dual purpose breed from the Normandy coastal area of France. They are known for a quiet temperament, ease of calving and handling and the ability to convert grass into milk.

Parthenais

Parthenais existed in western Europe for hundreds of years. Statistics show Parthenais to be highly productive, fertile producers, high cutability, expected to prove out lower in calories, fat and cholesterol while retaining excellent flavour and tenderness.

Piedmontese

Piedmontese are from the Piedmont Mountain area of northern Italy. Most Piedmontese are double muscled with a long body, dished face and small black tipped horns.

Pinzgauer

Pinzgauer were developed in Salzburg, Austria. Pinzgauer progeny have above average weaning weights, gain ability and feed conversion. Rib-eye measurements and marbling scores indicate high yields and superb quality. The female's udders are well-formed and hold up well during lactation. The breed is known for its docility.

Polled Hereford

Herefords are an ancient breed, kept in Herefordshire in western England for centuries. Polled Herefords are generally docile and fast growing cattle with good beef quality.

Red Angus

The Red Angus breed originated in the British Isles. The main difference between Red Angus and black Angus is color.

Red Poll

Red Poll Cattle were developed in England from two ancient breeds - the Norfolk and Suffolk. The resulting cattle were selected for both meat and milk qualities and became very popular as a dual purpose breed producing both good quality milk and beef.

Romagnola

Developed in Italy's Po Valley by the crossing of Podolic cattle with indigenous strains. Romagnola is one of the larger breeds in the U.S. and is known for the ability to search for and survive on limited grazing range.

Salers

The breed is considered to be one of the oldest and most genetically pure of all European breeds.

Santa Gertrudis

Santa Gertrudis were developed on King Ranch to function in hot, humid, and unfavorable environments. The Santa Gertrudis was developed by crossing Indian Brahman cattle with British Shorthorns.

Senepol

Senepol were developed on the Caribbean Island. The Senepol breed has had a limited genetic base and selection for superior performance has led to cattle that can take substantial levels of inbreeding.

Shorthorn

Shorthorn originated Tees River Valley in the northeastern part of England. Shorthorns are known for their early maturity, adaptability, mothering ability, reproductive performance, hardiness, good disposition, feed conversion, and longevity.

Simbrah

A Simmental - Brahman cross, they are popular in warm climates as they possess both the heat resistance of the Brahman as well as the Simmental frame.

Simmental

Simmental can be traced to the Bernese Oberland. They are one of the more docile and easy to manage breeds, and are known for a long straight topline with deeply muscled back and loin.

Tarentaise

The Tarentaise breed's home is in the rugged Savoie region of France. This breed is distinctive for its abundant muscling in the hip region, and they are exceptionally long from hooks to pins.

Texas Longhorn

Longhorns were brought by the Spanish via Mexico into Texas in the sixteenth century. Hardy, aggressive, and adaptable, the Texas Longhorns were well suited to the rigors of life on the ranges of the southwestern United States.

Tuli

The Tuli is a medium sized, pure African Sanga breed. High fertility, early maturity, hardiness, adaptability, ease of calving, good mothering ability and excellent carcass quality, coupled with a docile nature have made the Tuli extremely popular in straight and cross-breeding programs.

Wagyu

The word Wagyu refers to all Japanese beef cattle. Wagyu are renowned for their marbling, calving ease, early puberty and good fertility, docile temperament, and are hardy and adaptive to different environments.

Zebu

Zebu is a term which is synonymous with "Bos Indicus," the scientific name for the humped cattle of the world. The major Zebu cattle breeds of the world include Gyr, Guzerat, Indu-Brazilian, Nelore, and Brahman. They originated in India, and are thought to be the world's oldest domesticated cattle.