DAIRY BREEDS

HOLSTEIN
The Holstein cow or Friesian cow is a cattle breed from the
Friesa-Saxon region ( Friesland and North Holland, in
Germany and the Netherlands , respectively), which stands
out for its high production of milk , meat and its good
adaptability. These characteristics made it adopted in
livestock farms in numerous countries, currently being the
most common breed in the world on farms for milk
production. This animal is born with an approximate weight
of 40 kg . Holstein cows weigh around 600 kg, while bulls
reach up to 1000 kg.

SWEATER
Physical characteristics
The Jersey is the lightest of the breeds as well as
the most refined type (angularity and proportion);
The skin is thin and the hair is short.
The color varies from fawn to brown or blackish
brown, which may be complete or show some
small white spots.
The head is small and has a characteristic frontal
indentation or concavity; The eyes are bulging
and the muzzle is dark.
Its body conformation reflects an accentuated
“dairy temperament” and good udder
conformation.

Functional features

As far as weight is concerned, this breed in its adult state is the lightest of all dairy breeds. The
adult cow weighs an average of 430 kg and has a height of 1.20 m and the bulls 680 kg and
height 1.51 m. However, its milk yield in relation to its weight competes neck and neck with that
of the Holstein-Friesian breed. Regarding their milk, it is the richest in fat and total solids of all
breeds: 3.7% protein and 4.7% average fat. Non-fat solids (protein, sugars and minerals) total
9.7% for an average of 14.1% of total solids

AYRSHIRE

The Ayrshire breed of cattle, bred especially for the

dairy industry , comes from Ayrshire in Scotland . A
normal adult Ayrshire breed weighs between 450 and
600 kg. The typical color of the breed varies between
red, orange and dark brown, the legs can be both
colored and white. The main characteristics are low
levels of leukocytes (a measure of milk quality), high
efficiency of converting grass into milk, and physical
resistance. The breed's strengths are considered its
calving ease and longevity. They are also very fiery in
nature, which depending on the case can be a desirable or negative trait.
This breed was also previously known as Dunlop or Cunninghame cattle. It has been exported
to all parts of the world.

SWISS BROWN

The expression Swiss brown refers to a

breed of dairy cattle native to the Swiss
Alps .

For centuries it was naturally selected for the

following characteristics:

 Rusticity
 Health of legs and hooves
 Longevity
 Good fertility
 Heat and cold tolerance

In ancient alpine stables it adopted characteristics of:

 Maximum meekness , which led to its triple purpose use:

1. Milk
2. Meat
3. Traction (used to drag cars)

 Excellent milk quality

It is considered the cheese breed par excellence . It led to the origin of the famous
Swiss cheeses . This is because its percentage of solid components is excellent: 4 fat +
≈ 4 protein + 5 lactose . Of these figures, the optimal ratio, close to values of 1:1, of
fat/protein stands out, in addition to the low content of somatic cells .

MEAT BREEDS
BEEFMASTER
Origin
Beefmaster cattle began their training on the
Lasater ranch, first located in Falfurrias,
Texas, and currently in Colorado. The breeding program for the formation of the breed was
initiated by Ed. c. Lasater in 1908, date of acquisition of Brahaman bulls; those used mainly
belonged to the Nellore lineage. In 1925, blood from the Guzerat lineage was introduced into
the herd.
Lasater also obtained a herd of registered Hereford cattle, which had red circles around each
eye. He placed great interest in the milk production of his Brahaman and Hereford breeders and
some registered Shorthorn bulls were also used.
Physical characteristics
The animals of the Beefmaster breed are large, have horns and achieve high growth rates.
They resist varied climates and are eager to obtain food. They produce channels of magnificent
condition. The skin is loose and the coat color is chestnut red.

ANGUS
Physical characteristics
The color of the coat is uniform black, the
hair is short or of medium length, silky and
of medium thickness; The skin is also
pigmented black. This breed, despite its
purity, also produces red-coated animals
that are already differentiated as a genetic
group. In all their characters, both physical
and functional, red animals are as good as
black ones.
The head is short to medium in length,
broad on the forehead and wide on the
nose and never has horns; The body is
long with a straight and wide back, great
body and thoracic depth and with the ventral line parallel to the dorsal; The sternum is
prominent, the loin broad and the hindquarters long, wide and muscular.
The legs are short and fine boned. Aberdeen Angus are smaller animals than Herefords and
Shorthorns and their body is more cylindrical.
Modern lines of Angus cattle show greater height which allows them to move easily on the
grasslands.
Functional features
The weight of the calves at birth is low, but their rapid growth allows them to quickly overcome
this slight disadvantage. The weight range of males at birth is 28 to 34 kg and that of females is
26 to 29 kg.
The average live weight of mature bulls is 800 to 950 kg, while cows weigh 500 to 550 kg.
Angus are hardy, docile and good grazing animals. Yearling steers can reach up to 500 kg.
Heifers give birth for the first time at 2 or 2.5 years and are usually long-lived.
Where Angus is abundant, the objective of farmers has been to produce quality meat for the
best sector of the butcher trade, and this breed produces top quality meat with a high
percentage between carcass weight, live weight and a low percentage of bone in the pieces.
The cows produce enough milk to give a good initial boost to the development of the calves and
as long as the level of nutrition is maintained at a level, the young animals can soon become
fattening animals at a young age or continue their development into mature animals. of meat.
The muscles present a good normalization and the losses due to cooking of the meat are
minimal.
The fat layer is thinner than in other breeds and is better distributed in the muscle tissue.

HEREFORD

Colored from bay to cherry, with white spots on

the head, back of the ears, chest, belly, lower
part of the limbs and tip of the tail, they identify
it like no other, adding economic value and ensuring purity.
These morphological characteristics identify the breed and guarantee repeatability in its
descendants of the desired productive conditions.
Its white face is a seal of quality.

Fertility and maternal ability

In bulls it manifests itself as the constant ability to impregnate a high percentage of females.
The measure of your fertility is determined in some way by Scrotal Circumference and testicular
tone.
The Hereford cow is extremely reliable in its ability to produce one calf a year, become pregnant
again, and raise it to an optimal weight.

Growth and feed conversion

Excellent grass and grain converters. No race can do it better. This biological efficiency
generates profits at all stages of production.

BOS TAURUS
The cow , in the case of the female, or bull in the case of the male ( Bos primigenius taurus /
Bos taurus ), is an artiodactyl mammal of the bovid family . The scientific name is the one
assigned to the European and North Asian domestic cattle , a group of domestic bovids
descended from the Eurasian wild aurochs subspecies known as Bos primigenius primigenius ;
while Bos primigenius indicus is called zebu and other domestic bovine breeds coming from the
same stock, and descendants of the wild aurochs subspecies of Southeast Asia , called Bos
primigenius namadicus . It is a large ruminant mammal with a robust body, measuring about
120-150 cm in height and 600-800 kg in average weight.

COOL BREEDS

BRAHMAN
Origin: It originated in the state of Texas (United States) and is the result
of crossing races of Hindu origin such as Nelore, Guzerá, Red Sindi on
Herdford mainly.
Characteristics: The Brahman zebu is a large cattle, with a wide head, a
straight profile, with slanted black, bright, protruding and elliptical eyes,
well protected by skin wrinkles. The ears are medium-sized, sharp, with a
wide external pavilion ending in a rounded tip. The neck is short and
thick with a developed dewlap. The horns are short, medium thick,
directed backwards and outwards; The hump is medium kidney-shaped,
well set, directed backwards, resting on the back. The ribs are arched,
the belly voluminous denoting great body capacity.
The trunk is cylindrical with wide and muscular hips, slightly inclined haunches and its
insertion with the tail is high and thin. The well-developed udder, with well-disposed
teats, reveals its milk capacity.
The predominant color, on fully pigmented skin, is white, however there are also medium
gray, dark gray and Brahman Red, which originally has Gyr blood.
The weight standard established for the adult male animal is 800 to 1000 kg. For the
female, 450 to 600 kg.

GYR
Origin: It comes from the Kathiawar peninsula in India, a region with a
very hot climate, very poor and dry soils. This race actively participated
in the formation of the Red Brahmin race and Indubrasil.
Characteristics: They are medium-sized animals, with a well-
proportioned body with clear lines and a robust constitution. The
average weight of adult females is 450 kg. and males weighing 800 kg.
This breed is characterized by having a prominent head, long and ultra-
convex forehead; the horns are thick, sometimes twisted. The ears are
very long, pendulous and cushioned.
The foreskin, navel and dewlap are developed and pronounced. The coat
varies from chestnut red to white, interspersed with black and red.
Females have good-sized udders, with medium or large teats, standing out from other
breeds for their milk production and great docility. Due to its dairy temperament, it is
frequently crossed with European breeds such as Holstein and Brown Swiss to produce
milk in warm areas.
Advantages: This breed with great dairy potential has the ability to survive, grow and
reproduce efficiently in our average climate, resisting high temperatures, low quality
forage and diseases. Gyr Lechero cows can produce up to 6,000 Kgs. of milk / year, and
there is a group of females that have surpassed the barrier of 10 thousand and 13
thousand Kgs.

GUZERA
Origin: Its region of origin is the state of Mumbai in India. Like Gyr, it
comes from a warm climate area with dry and poor soils.
Characteristics: It has a vigorous body, with a broad chest, straight back
and developed hump. It has lyre-shaped horns, a flat or concave
forehead, elliptical eyes and wrinkles in the prominent supraorbital arch.
The ears are medium in size and have rounded tips; The navel and
foreskin are straight in size.
The Guzerá breed has great thoracic and abdominal capacity with very
good muscle masses. The coat of the cattle varies from light ashy to
very dark, with greater intensity of color being observed in the anterior
and posterior thirds. The color and spots are lighter in females. The skin should be thin,
with short, silky hairs. It is one of the heaviest indica breeds. An adult cow weighs
between 500 and 550 kg. and a bull between 700 and 1000 kg.
Colombian ranchers have imported a good quantity of Guzerá cattle, as well as semen
from the best bulls in Brazil.
Advantages: In addition to its longevity and rusticity, the Guzerá easily adapts to adverse
environments, and has a great capacity for growth under grazing. It resists thermal
variations from 5 to 45 °C, digests low quality forage, coexists with ticks and other ecto
and endo parasites. In addition to being a good meat producer, through selection it has
proven to be a milk-producing breed. The females have well-formed udders and are
excellent milk producers. A cow can produce 6,000 kg. /year.
Crossbreeding: Crossing with European dairy breeds is recommended for better
production. Some Holstein breeders use them to cross with the best cows in their herds
for the production of Guzolando (Guzerá x Holstein).

NELORE
Origin: This breed originated in the province
of Ongole, India.
Characteristics: Its forehead is wide and
seen from the front it resembles a coffin lid;
The profile is rectilinear, with bright,
protruding elliptical, almost rounded eyes.
The ears are short, mobile, directed forward
and to the sides with a straight lower edge.
The horns are short, conical, directed
backwards with divergent tips.
Its fur is fine, short and silky; loose and
flexible black skin. The neck is proportional
to the body, muscular and harmoniously
united to the trunk and head. The dewlap is short and forked below the lower jaw.
It has a long, deep, broad trunk with arched ribs, long and separated from each other. Its
limbs are long and well supported.
Advantages: Its rusticity, resistance and ability to travel long distances in search of food
and adaptability to high temperature areas stand out.
Crossbreeds: Crossbreeds with European breeds specialized in meat are recommended.

INDUBRASIL
Origin: This breed originated in Brazil through crossings of Gyr and
Guzerá.
Characteristics: Its forehead is wide, smooth and prominent; elliptical,
half-closed eyes, black eyelashes, well protected by skin wrinkles. Their
ears are long pendulous with the inner side facing forward and the tip
curved inward.
The horns are of medium dark size, directed backwards and upwards, to
converge in the center.
Their short, silky fine fur varies from light to medium gray in color, with
males being darker on the front and back of the body.

The neck is of medium size, muscular and harmoniously positioned with the trunk. The
trunk is long with good depth and breadth; with well sprung ribs. Its hump is developed
in the shape of a kidney.
Advantages: They are large, resistant and long-lived animals.
Crosses: Crosses can be made with specialized European breeds to improve their
production.