Australian #1 Cattle Breeds

1- 2-In Europe at this time, there was need for a heavier cow to be used for pulling draughts. English Longhorns, a large breed of cattle and red in colour were brought in and bred with the black polled breeds native to Scotland. This resulted in the red colouration of the Aberdeen Angus. The Red Angus breed has the exact same origins of the Aberdeen Angus. Originally it was brought in by the Vikings from Europe and introduced to England and Scotland, these cattle were small, dun-coloured and polled. Angus cows are noted for their durability, calving ease, and maternal traits. Among beef cattle, they are the largest registered breed in North America. 3-Brafords, like most recognized breeds today, were born of necessity - the necessity to consistently and efficiently produce a uniform product in specific production environments. Working with a base of Brahman cows that were primarily Partin and Hudgins breeding, Alto Adams Jr. began using Hereford bulls on his St. Lucie County, Florida ranch in 1947. The resulting steer and heifer calves were outstanding, but the Hereford bulls required to produce those calves had extreme problems with feet, eyes and general livability. Adams quickly realized that using Hereford bulls that were not adapted to South Florida was simply not feasible and he began experimenting with various types of Brahman-Hereford cross bulls. Eventually he identified Braford bulls that were producing calves that met his needs and he used these bulls and their offspring to form what is recognized as the Foundation Herd of the Braford breed in the United States. Brafords are known for superior maternal ability. Early puberty, fertility, calving ease, optimum milk production, maternal aptitude and productive longevity have earned Brafords this distinguished reputation. Braford cattle are approximately 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Hereford. The Australian Braford is a breed of beef cattle, developed in Queensland between 1946 and 1952 in a program to produce cattle that were resistant to cattle ticks and tolerated the heat better than some other breeds. The Braford breedoriginated at ‘Edengarry’ north of Rockhampton in Queensland in 1946 when the Rea Brothers introduced Brahman bulls into their Hereford breeders to help combat the effects of drought and ticks. Brafords have a small hump, loose skin and a short coat that is red and white, possessing a colour pattern similar to that of Hereford cattle.[1] Australian Brafords may be horned or polled.[2] The genetic background of the breed is approximately 50 per cent Hereford and 50 per cent Brahman. Brafords are mainly found in NSW and Queensland Australia. Braford semen has been exported into South America and South Africa. Live cattle exports have been made into Indonesia and Thailand. 4,5- 6- 7-The Australian Sahiwal originates from ten Sahiwal bulls that were imported from Pakistan in 1954. 8-The Shorthorn originated in the north-eastern part of England in the 1700s (where they were originally known as ‘Durhams’), having evolved from a race of superior short-horned cattle known to have existed in the area since the 16th century. In the middle 1800s, Scottish breeders selected animals that had increased compactness, thickness and the ability to mature and fatten at an early age, resulting in the present-day Shorthorn breed. The breed was one of the first purebred breeds to be introduced into Australia. It was introduced into New South Wales in the late 18th century. The breed has a wide genetic base, resulting in the development of several distinct though closely related strains — these are the traditional strains: Beef Shorthorn Poll Shorthorn Durham Dairy Shorthorn Australian Shorthorn The current Shorthorn Society of Australia encompasses the Poll Shorthorn, Australian Shorthorn and the Durham. Distribution The Shorthorn was originally established in the temperate, more reliable rainfall areas, but by 1890 its beef genetics accounted for 50% of the cattle in temperate climates and 100% of cattle running in difficult northern environments. The introduction of Bos Indicus and European breeds in more recent years has seen a decline in Shorthorn numbers in the north, but the breed is still found throughout most areas of Australia under most climatic and environmental conditions. Breed characteristics Shorthorn bulls Shorthorns are a distinctive red, white or roan in colour, and can be polled or horned. The wide genetic base results in differing maturity patterns, enabling producers to select the Shorthorn type best suited to their environment and market. They have high fertility and good mothering ability, and generally have a docile temperament. They finish readily on good quality pastures and are noted for their good marbling characteristics when finished on grain. In 1999 the Shorthorn Society of Australia established a research and development facility near Orange to enhance the advancement of the beef industry using principally Shorthorn genetics. Called Durham Research and Development Pty Ltd, the facility aims to provide the beef industry with an extension, learning and training facility that focuses on improving understanding of aspects of beef producti 9-The Dairy Shorthorn is a British breed of dairy cattle. It developed from the Shorthorn, which itself came from County Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire in north eastern England. The Shorthorn breed of cattle has evolved over the last two centuries, from Teeswater and Durham cattle found originally in the North East of England in the Tees river valley and Durham. Top 10 Highest Milk Producing Cattle Breeds in The world Sr No. Names of Cattle Breeds 1 Holstein 2 Norwegian Red 3 Kostroma Cattle Breed 4 Brown Swiss 5 Swedish Red Cattle 6 Ayrshire Cattle 7 Angeln Cattle 8 Guernsey Cattle Breed 9 Milking Shorthorn Cattle Breed 10 Pie Rouge des Plaines Cattle Breed 10-The word Illawarra is an Australian aboriginal word early settlers used, and is still used today, to describe the land some 50 miles south of Sydney, land locked between the Pacific Ocean and what was once a near impenetrable escarpment which rears abruptly to the west. With few natural harbors it remained unexplored and unused until a big drought in 1815, forced such settlers as Charles Throsby to seek new pastures. Even though the first land grants were made in 1816, it was not until the 1840s that dairying commenced as an industry, Cattle up till then were mainly raised for beef. Much of the land had cleared by the early settlers with the assistance of convict labor from the nearby penal settlement at Wollongong. All breeds types and colors of cattle had been introduced into the area. Cattle grants from Government and private herds reached the Illawarra. These included Longhorn Durhams, Shorthorn Durhams, Red Lincolns, Red Ayrshires and Jerseys. However, three members of the Osborne family from Northern Ireland had, since 1829, laid the foundations of a dairy industry, and in doing so, the evolution of the breed we know as (the Australian) Illawarras. They imported the best cattle, promoted the first Agricultural products, and dairy has remained an important Illawarra industry ever since. The Illawarra breeders were credited with having a flair for stockbreeding and an "eye for a good beast". The 1860s ushered in a new era about which records and facts became more accurately recorded. Several outstanding bulls had been imported and breeding aimed at evolving a dairy breed of cattle to suit the environment still earnestly pursued. In 1898 the embargo was lifted allowing a fresh wave of cattle imports. Breeders introduced Jersey, Kerri Dexter, Friesian, Shorthorn and Ayrshire bloodlines and it was from this amalgamation that the Australian Illawarra dairy cattle descended. One Ayrshire bull, from Victoria, named "The Earl of Beaconsfield" proved outstanding when mated with cattle of the Illawarra. The progeny was magnificent, and amongst the most celebrated was a cow called "Honeycomb". Claimed to be Champion Dairy Cow of the world in the early nineties, she was also invincible in the show ring and winner of all the milk and butterfat awards. This was the cow that inspired the Illawarras, and the breeding programs began revolving around Red and Roan Shorthorns. In 1910, dairymen met at Kiama to establish another Herd Book, under the title Illawarra Dairy Cattle. In turn the first published Herd Book appeared in 1919. Milking Shorthorn and Illawarra Dairy Cattle Societies continued to flourish and expand throughout all Australian States. In Queensland the two breed Societies amalgamated to form the Illawarra Dairy Cattle Association of Queensland. This lead to further interstate amalgamations until, after protracted negotiations over many years, a national body called The Australian Illawarra Shorthorn Society was formed in Brisbane in 1930. For many years they were referred to as the Illawarra Shorthorns, or "the A.I.S. cattle". Now the term "Illawarras" is commonplace and the Society is called The Illawarra Cattle Society of Australia. The "Shorthorn" was dropped from the name because it caused confusion to some overseas buyers, who associate Shorthorns with dual-purpose animals. Illawarras are an excellent true dairy breed, hence the change of name. COLOR: An Illawarra animal can be of a rich, whole red, a rich red with a little white on the flanks or body or a full rich roan. Broken colors are objectionable and black and brindle markings are not allowable. UDDER: The udder should be capacious but not pendulous, and well-attached back and front. The skin should be fine, elastic and of a nice orange tint, covered with short silky hair, and the milk veins pronounced and visible. The teats should be from 65mm-75mm long, placed evenly, brown in color, and underneath the vessel. Thin or bottle teats are objectionable. OUTLINE: Fairly light in front but increasing in depth and width towards the hindquarters, giving a wedge shape as viewed from front, behind or above the animal. The outline should be sharp and clean without any signs of beefiness in a cow in milk. There should be refinement and quality in the animal. PRODUCTION AND MILK QUALITY: Illawarra are producers of large quantities of milk. Many cows produce in excess of 40 liters per day and 300 day lactations over 10,000 liters are not uncommon. Because of its moderate fat, high protein milk yield the breed is in an excellent position to take advantage of the growing world demand for protein. ADAPTABILITY: Australian dairy cows are subjected to a wide range of climatic conditions. Whilst extreme temperatures in dairy farm areas vary from below 0C to over 40C, Illawarra cows thrive on a pasture based feeding system and are not housed at any time of the year. Consequently they have adapted well in countries extending from the Tropics to North America. CALVING EASE: One of the most outstanding features of Illawarra cows is their ability to calve unattended with assistance rarely ever needed. Contributing factors to this highly desirable characteristic appear to be their superior pelvic formation and individual determination. LONGEVITY: An Illawarra cow can be expected to calve at 2 years of age, calve regularly every 12 months increasing her yield each year until a mature cow and keep producing into her early teens. Many have produced lifetime totals in excess of 60,000 liters of milk. PIGMENTATION: Illawarras have strong dark hooves and dark pigmentation of the skin, thus avoiding the problems of skin cancer and sunburnt teats. The latter being one of the contributing factors to the reputation of Illawarras having an excellent temperament. 8-The Droughtmaster is so named because of its ability to stay fat and healthy during drought conditions. 9-The Mandalong Special is the result of a multi-crossbreeding program using: the Brahman the British White the Charolais the Chianina the Polled Shorthorn (a USA variety of the Beef Shorthorn) 10-The Miniature Belted Galloway began with foundation herds at Glenblairie and Wannawin in Australia. Raising miniature cattle breeds is popular in Australia. 11-The Murray Grey breed was started in 1905 in Australia with a cross between an Aberdeen-Angus and a roan Shorthorn. 12- Australian Lowline cattle are a group of specially bred Angus cattle from Australia. In 1974, a special research project was commenced at the Trangie Research Centre in New South Wales utilizing the Angus herd of the prize-winning Trangie Stud; this had been a ‘closed’ herd (meaning, no new blood had been introduced) since 1964. The project involved breeding animals for size, selecting the largest and smallest animals respectively as comparative groups – with the remainder of the herd acting as a control. By 1992 a herd that bred true for small size and early maturity had been developed and an Association was formed to promote what was to be known as the Australian Lowline cattle. Although considered a ... The first Lowline Cattle arrived in New Zealand in 1995. Within five years there were about 200 of them divided among twelve breeders, with a total of around 2000 breeding females throughout the world. The herdbook in which all New Zealand pedigree animals are registered was at that time still based in Australia. No animal may be entered without first being blood-typed and parent verified in Australia. Australian Lowline Cattle are a naturally polled, black breed like their Angus progenitors, although so far, no red gene, such as occurs in the standard breed, has been isolated. Bulls average around 105 centimeters in height and 450-500 kilograms in weight; cows average 100 centimeters and 350 kilograms respectively. (Weights vary from herd to herd with some breeders favoring animals at the larger end of the scale – and others, for whom the small size is the primary attraction, emphasizing miniaturization in their breeding programs.) Bred exclusively for beef, Lowline Cattle produce tender, well-marbled meat, suited to niche markets and discerning tastes, and have been described as “paddock to plate” animals. There are also a number of aspects of their small size which makes them ‘easy-care’ cattle. Essentially, the smaller livestock are, the less damage they do to pasture, particularly in winter when mud starts to dominate the paddocks. Fences can be relatively lower and lighter, as can handling facilities, in comparison to those required for average and larger-sized animals. And they eat less. The general equation is around ten Lowline Cattle to six standard beef animals.