CATTLE

INTRODUCTION

Cattle are commonly raised as livestock for meat (beef or veal, see beef cattle), for milk (see dairy cattle), and for
hides, which are used to make leather. They are used as riding animals and draft animals (oxen or bullocks, which pull carts,
plows and other implements). Another product of cattle is dung, which can be used to create manure or fuel.

HISTORY

A team of geneticists from the National Museum of Natural History in France, the University of Mainz in Germany, and
UCL in the UK excavated the bones of domestic cattle on archaeological sites in Iran, and then compared those to modern cows.

A genetic study of cattle has claimed that all modern domesticated bovines are descended from a single herd of wild ox
(aurochs), which lived 10,500 years ago.

This domestication process has provided many benefits to humans, from meat and milk, to draft animals

The first domestic cattle was a form with long horns, a phenotype that is still common in several British, French,
Mediterranean and African breeds. About 3000 years BC the first cattle with short horns appeared in Mesopotamia. This
phenotype was more suitable for those habitats and replaced by a second wave of migrations

Cattle were first domesticated to serve as a food source, but around 4000 BC, Neolithic British and Northern European
farmers began milking cattle.

Around 3000 BC Ancient Sumerians made cow’s milk into cheese and butter. Ancient artwork still exists depicting scenes
from daily life, like milking and straining.

The world cattle population is estimated to be about 1.3 billion head.

BREEDS OF CATTLE
Breeds Origin Purpose
Angus Scotland Meat
Hereford England Meat
Santa Gertrudis United States Meat
MEAT
Shorthorn England Meat
Brangus United States Meat
Japanese Black Japan Meat
Holstein Friesian Netherlands Milk
MILK Jersey Channel Islands Milk
Brown Swiss Switzerland Milk
Haryana India Draft
DRAFT
Alanbadi India Draft
Charolais France meat, draught
DUAL
Limousin France meat, draught
Brahman India Milk, meat, draught
Simmental Switzerland Milk, meat, draught
MULTI
Philippine Cattle
Philippines Milk, meat, draught
Breed

Breeds
 Angus Angus cattle are medium to large animals with either black or red color. The udder of the
cows may be white. They are naturally polled and have a large muscle content. Average body
weight of the bulls is around 850 kg. And the cows on average weight about 550 kg.
Very hardy and strong, well-adapted to cold climates
Hereford The modern Hereford cattle are medium to large animals. The are usually dark red to red-
yellow in color with a white face. Their crest, underline and dewlap are also white. They have
white flanks and white markings below the knees and hocks also. There are both horned and
polled version of this breed available. The horned version has short and thick horns. Their
horns are usually curved down at the sides of the head. The polled version is available in the
North America and United Kingdom which are called Polled Hereford. The Hereford cattle
are muscular, medium to long in length of side. They are adequate in length of leg, large in
size, trim and smooth. Average live body weight of the mature cows is around 800 kg. And
the bulls on average weight around 1200 kg.
Very hardy, active, well adapted to almost all climates
Santa Gertrudis Santa Gertrudis cattle are large animals with usually red and occasionally with white
markings on the underline. They have a short, smooth and slick coat. They actually show
many of the Bos indicus characteristics. The breed can be either horned or polled. They have
medium sized ears. Hide of the Santa Gertrudis cattle is loose and with neck and navel folds.
The bulls have a small zebu type hump. The cows are pretty smaller in size than the bulls.
Average body weight of the bulls is between 800 and 1000 kg. And body weight of the
mature cows vary from 600 to 850 kg.
Hardy, strong, tick and bloat resistance
Shorthorn The Shorthorn cattle are large animals and usually with a mix of red, white or roan coat color.
But there is a type of this breed which is consistently white. The animals are usually polled
MEAT
naturally. Although some blood lines may have short horns, as their name suggests. The Beef
Shorthorn cattle are bigger than the Milking Shorthorn. Feet and leg structure of these
animals are good with very few problems. Average body weight of the Shorthorn bulls is
around 1000 kg. And the cows on average weight around 800 kg.
Hardy, strong, fast growers, well adapted to a wide variety of climatic conditions, excellent
grazing abilities, very easy to handle
Brangus Brangus cattle are medium sized animals with a sleek coat and pigmented skin. They are
usually completely black or red in color. They are naturally polled, that means both bulls and
cows have no horns. They have medium to large ears, and their skin is loose with neck folds.
The bulls have a moderate hump and the rump is slightly rounded. The mature Brangus bulls
can weigh up to 900 kg. And average live body weight of the mature cows is about 500 kg.
Strong, very hardy, well adapted to almost all climates, good for meat, produce enough milk
for the calves, excellent meat quality, good carcass quality, grow relatively faster
Japanese Black The Japanese Black (Japanese: 黒毛和種, Kuroge Washu) is a breed of Japanese beef cattle.
It is one of six native Japanese cattle breeds, and one of the four Japanese breeds known as
wagyū,
Weight
Male: 809 kg[2]:210
Female: 512 kg[2]:210
Height
Male: 145 cm[2]:210
Female: 129 cm[2]:210
Coat black[3]
Horn status horned in both sexes
Holstein Freisian They are very big sized.
They have no hunchback.
The color of their body generally become mixed with black and white.
MILK
Head is very long and comparatively narrow.
Adult ox weights about 500-600 kg and cow 800-900 kg.
Body of holstein friesian cow become very nourished.
 Their back side become very heavy.
Back side legs are straight.
Cow produce calf for the first time at the age of 2.5 years.
Produce calf every year.
Cow produce about 40 kg milk daily and 4500-9000 kg annually.
The calf weights about 30-40 kg when they born.
Milk of holstein friesian contain 3.5 % fat.
Jersey The Jersey cattle are relatively a smaller sized dairy cattle breed. Their body color is usually
slightly red, deep brown or mixed. They have relatively long sized head, and they usually
have no hunchback. Tail of the Jersey cattle is of black color and as a dairy breed their udder
is usually big. Both bulls and cows usually have horns. Their horns are usually thin and
curved. Average live body weight of the mature Jersey cows vary from 400 to 500 kg. And
the mature bulls on average weight between 540 and 820 kg.
Well adapted to almost all climates, good for milk production, able to withstand extreme
variations in temperature, fertile, ease of calving, long life, good quality milk, docile
temperament
Brown Swiss
Haryana The color of their body is white or slightly ash.
They become very strong and hardy.
Their body is well arranged and tight.
Horns are long, glossy and smooth.
Head is long and comparatively thin.
Gives milk about 3000-3500 kg annually.
Give milk 300 days a year.
Haryana cow breed can tolerate high temperature.
DRAFT Adult bull weights about 400-500 kg and cow 800-1000 kg.
They gain sexual maturity lately than other cow.
Heifer produce calf at the age of 4 years.
Milk of haryana cow contain about 5% fat.
Alambadi Alambadi cattle is medium in size and is grey, dark grey or black in color. Some other colors
are also available in some areas. There are white markings in the forehead, limb and tail of
this cattle breed. Their head is narrow and horns are backward curving. The forehead and
hump are prominent, with a thick dewlap also present. On average, an adult Alambadi bull
weights about 317-362 kg and cow about 290 kg.
Charolais The Charolais cattle are large animals and they tend to be large-muscled. They are usually
white in color with a pink muzzle and pale hooves. But currently the breed is also available in
black and red in color. They have long body and usually have horns. Their head is short but
broad, and have heavily muscled loins and haunches. They maintain a longer, thicker coat of
hair in colder winter months, but usually sheds into a sleeker, shorter coat as the weather
improves in summer months. Average live body weight of the mature cows is around 900 kg.
And the mature bulls on average weight around 1,100 kg.
Well adapted to native climates, extremely hardy, strong, easy calving, excellent maternal
qualities, good quality meat, good for draught purposes
Limousin Limousin cattle are large sized animals. Most of these animals have a coloration that varies
DUAL
from light wheat to darker golden-red. The coloration is little lighter on the belly, the rear of
the thighs, between the legs, around the testicles, on the anus and in the tail tip. Other
coloration has also been developed, mainly black through cross-breeding and grading up
from other breeds of cattle.
Limousin cattle are naturally horned, but their horns have been removed through cross
breeding. They usually have broad forehead and muzzle and short head. They have lighter
area around the eyes and muzzle. And have fine horns which are curved forward and slightly
raised at the tip (if present). Their chest is broad and rounded and have short neck. The
Limousin bulls on average weight about 1000 – 1100 kg, and average body weight of the
cows is about 650 to 700 kg.
 Brahman They are very highly meat productive cow breed.
Their mouth become long sized.
They have a high hunchback.
Two big hanging ears.
Dewlap is very thick and covered with skin.
The color of the body of brahman cow become gray or red.
Brown, black or white colored cow also seen.
Simmental Simmental cattle are large animals with a wide variations in coat color. Their coat color varies
from gold to red with white, and may be evenly distributed or clearly defined in patches on a
MULTI white background. They also can be of any single color depending on the type. Actually their
color can vary depending on country and type. Head of some animals are white and usually a
white band appears over the shoulders. Most of the Simmental cattle have pigmentation
around the eyes, which help to reduce eye problems. They can be either horned or polled,
and the horns are up turned in the horned variety. They have good muscling, their frame is
large and they have a heavy dewlap. Average height of the bulls is about 150-160 cm, and
135-150 cm for the cows. The bulls on average weight around 1300 kg, and average body
weight of the cows is around 700-900 kg.
Hardy, strong, fast growers, well adapted to a wide variety of climatic conditions, excellent
grazing abilities, excellent mothering abilities, very easy to handle

CRITERIAS FOR BREEDING

SELECTION CRITERIAS FOR BEEF BREEDING

 Reproductive Performance or Fertility – is commonly measured in terms of calf crop percentage

 Maternal Ability – ability of a cow to wean a healthy, vigorous calf is vital to efficient beef production

 Growth Rate – is important high association with economy of gain and its relation to fixed costs of production such as
veterinary, building and labor costs, etc.

 Feed Efficiency – should be measured in feeding tests designed within the framework of present day cattle feeding and
marketing practices

 Body Measurements – Some common measurements of cattle include back fat, height at the shoulder, height at the
hips, length of body, depth of body, scrotal circumference and pelvic size

 Longevity – the longer animals remain productive in a herd, the fewer replacements will be needed. Thus, the cost of
growing replacements to productive age is reduced

 Carcass Merit – the desirability of the beef product determines the price consumers are willing to pay and the amount
they are willing to purchase at that price

 Conformation and Structural Soundness – are performance traits to the extent that they contribute to functionality and
longevity, feed efficiency and carcass merit

 Conformation in live cattle is normally a subjective evaluation of thickness of natural fleshing or muscling. Structural
soundness is particularly important for productive grazing and pasture breeding

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR DAIRY CATTLE

 Milk Yield

 Concentration of milk solids

 Longevity
  Udder Shape

 Speed of Milking

 Good feet and legs

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR DRAFT CATTLE

 Body Measurements

 Temperament

 Conformation and Structural Soundness

 Longevity

 Climate Adaptation

 Draft Power

You know, the great thing about the cow is that she can eat plants we don't, on land the farmer might not own, and convert
milk into cash for the farmer. So a cow was often the most valuable thing a farmer owned. Even during a drought, they would
hold some value. So cows became an icon for value; they were simply the most valuable animal around (PBS 2004). John
Webster, British expert on animal welfare says:

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cattle#History

https://www.wired.com/2012/03/cattle-ox-origins/

https://www.roysfarm.com/cattle-breeds/