Cattle Breeds

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Holstein Friesian

Extreme dairy breed.

Most commonly black and white but a few red and white.

Average cow weight 800-900kg. Average bull weight 900-1050kg.

Highest average milk production over all breeds. Good temperament and outstanding ability to produce milk

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Ayrshire

Usually brown and white, although there are a few black and white.

Smaller than Holsteins or Friesians. Renowned for longevity, temperament

Dairy breed only, average annual milk yield 6,000 litres

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Jersey

Originally from the Channel Islands.

Small dainty cattle with fine bone structure. Colour varies greatly from cream to golden brown to almost black. Short concave head with large expressive eyes. Very high quality milk 4,500 litres (6.0% fat, 4.2% protein).|Very easy calving.

Average cow weight 350-450kg. Average bull weight 700kg

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Brown Swiss

Medium sized dairy breed, originally from Switzerland.

Uniformly brown or grey-brown. Increasing in popularity due to high yields of milk protein. Milk yields of 6,500kg (4.0% fat, 3.7% protein). Average cow weight 600-700kg. Average bull weight 1000-1200kg.

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Aberdeen Angus

Small framed beef cattle, hardy. Black or sometimes red, dominant colour marking, Polled. Early maturing, easy calving, good food conversion efficiency, superior carcase quality. First choice of quality butchers.

Average cow weight 450-500kg. Average bull weight 800-900kg.

Used as a Purebred, a Terminal sire and a sire of suckler cows. Renowned throughout the world for economic,low cost production of quality beef.

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Beef Shorthorn

Oldest native British breed.

Red, white or roan. Renowned for docile temperament, longevity, prolifacy, easy calving, adaptability to thrive in any climate / environment.

Average cow weight 500-600kg. Average bull weight 700-900kg

Uses include crossing with Ayrshire, Highland or Galloway to produce suckler cows.

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Belted Galloway

Originally from South West Scotland.

Small to medium framed cattle. Fore and hind quarters black, middle of the body white. Occassional brown animals. Polled. Same characteristics as the Galloway, although often referred to as a separate breed.

Average cow weight 500-600kg. Average bull weight 750-950kg.

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Galloway

Originally from South West Scotland

One of our oldest beef breeds. Small to medium sized. Black , Dun or Belted. Polled. Able to thrive economically, breed regularly and forage in the most extreme conditions, renowned for their hardiness, longevity and milkiness. Good quality meat.

Average cow weight 450-500kg. Average bull weight 800kg.

Purebred or for crossing with other breeds

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Hereford

Most widely distributed beef breed.

Medium sized. The basic colour is red. Dominant white face is its trademark.

Average cow weight 500-600kg. Average bull weight 800-900kg.

Used as Purebred, terminal sire and sire of suckler cows. Renowned for hardiness, early maturity, prolifacy,and efficient forage to meat conversion. Easy calving

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Highland

Native to NW Scotland and the Islands.

Small framed, late maturing cattle, hardy beyond belief! Reddish brown or golden but can also be Black, White, Dun or Brindle. Long shaggy coat - fine hair sheds water, with short warm coat of thick hair for insulation. Long horns.

Average cow weight 450-500kg. Average bull weight 500-600kg.

Renowned for mothering ability and easy calving. Top quality meat

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Longhorn

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Dexter

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Belgian Blue

Originally from Belgium.

Medium sized, heavy cattle, famous for their 'double muscle'. Colour can be blue, white, blue and white, sometimes black and white.

Average cow weight 700-800kg. Average bull weight 1100-1200kg

Top quality carcase, with high proportion of valuable cuts. Calving problems common in the purebred but not much of a problem when crossbred. Mainly used as a terminal sire

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Blonde D'Aquitaine

Originates from SW France.

Large framed, long body with good conformation - very well developed muscles in all meat bearing parts, well developed hindquarters. Length of calves gives a few difficult births. Early maturing. Pale golden to straw coloured

Average cow weight 700-850kg. Average bull weight 1000-1250kg

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Charolais

Originates from France.

Medium to large framed, late maturing beef cattle with excellent meat conformation. Colour is white to cream, with dominant colour marking.

Average cow weight 700-900kg. Average bull weight 1100-1400kg.

Either purebred or crossbred meat production. Exceptional growth rates, high feed conversion efficiency, lean carcase quality and comformation.

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Limousin

Originates from France.

Medium to large, heavily muscled beef cattle. Colour is golden to reddish gold with lighter areas around the eyes and muzzle.

Average cow weight 650-800kg. Average bull weight 1000-1200kg.

Hardy and well suited to cross breeding. Easy calving

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Salers

Originally from France.

Curly dark red coat. Hardy. Large beef breed with rapid growth rates, producing lean flavourful meat.

Average cow weight 600-800kg. Average bull weight 900-1050kg.

Hardy

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Simmental

Originates from Switzerland.

Large, late maturing, with broad, muscular frame. Colour varies from pale gold to dark reddish brown, with white face, legs, tail and udder. Plus may have white patches on body.

Average cow weight 750kg.Average bull weight 1200kg.

Sometimes classed as dual purpose breed, with yields up to 5,100kg recorded in Germany. In the UK mainly used as a terminal sire to produce calves with rapid, lean growth rate. Also for sire of suckler cow replacements

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Guernsey:

This breed originated in the Island of Guernsey, and the cattle are about the same size as Ayrshires. It has an average UK milk yield of 5 - 6,000 litres, with a butterfat content of 4.68% and a protein of 3.56%.