Breeds of Dairy Cattle

1. Breeds of Dairy Cattle

2. Focus • What details can you tell me about a dairy cow? • How is milk produced?

3. Lifecycle of a Dairy Cow

4. A Calf Is Born • The calf weighs 90-100 lbs at birth. • The calf is immediately fed colostrum, which is the nutrient-rich first milk produced by a cow. • At 3 days the calf is fed milk replacer • At 4-8 weeks the calf is weaned from milk

5. Calf Hutches Wooden

6. Six-Month-Old Heifer • The heifer is fed silage, hay, and grain. • The heifer weights around 400 lbs. • The dairy farmer wants the heifer to gain 1.6 to 1.8 pounds per day.

7. Yearling Heifer • This heifer is called a yearling because she is over a year old. • She still has a lot of growing to do before she enters the milking herd.

8. Two-Year-Old • This is what dairy farmers call a first-year heifer. • This means that she has just had her first calf. • She is producing milk. • She weights 1,200 lbs.

9. Mature Cow • The mature cow weighs approximately 1,500 lbs. • She has just had her 4th calf. • She can eat over 100 lbs a day and produces 12 gallons of milk each milking in early lactation

10. Cow Facilities Tie stall Free stall

11. Life of a Dairy Cow Gestation: 9 months Lactation & Calving Cycle

12. Dairy Cattle Characteristics • Video

13. Holstein History • The Holstein cow originated in Europe • The major historical development of this breed occurred in what is now the Netherlands • Winthrop Chenery brought the first Holstein over so the sailors could have milk • He noticed her high production and started to bring over more

14. Holstein Characteristics • Holsteins are large, stylish animals with color patterns of black and white or red and white • Average production for all Holsteins enrolled in official U.S. production-testing programs in 1987 was 17,408 pounds of milk, 632 pounds of butterfat and 550 pounds of protein per year • 90% of all dairy cattle in the U.S. are Holstein • Largest of all dairy cattle - 1500 lb. cows • First in milk production

15. Brown Swiss History • Brown Swiss breed originated in the mountain pastures of the Swiss Alps • The Brown Swiss breed in the United States was declared a dairy breed in 1906

16. Brown Swiss Characteristics • light silver to dark brown with dark points • 15,883 lbs of milk per lactation; 3.97% fat • a mature female weighs 1400 lbs • particularly strong feet and legs because of the mountains • docile, people-friendly demeanor • One of the oldest dairy breeds • 2nd in average milk production

17. Guernsey History • The Isle of Guernsey, a tiny island in the English Channel off the coast of France, is the birthplace of the Guernsey cow • The Monks from France brought Frances best bloodlines and came up with the Guernsey • Introduction of the Guernsey to America occurred around September 1840, when Captain Belair of the Schooner Pilot brought three Alderney cows to the port of New York

18. Guernsey’s Characteristics • The Guernsey cow is known for producing high-butterfat and high-protein milk • Guernseys produce their high quality milk while consuming 20 to 30 percent less feed per pound of milk • The Guernsey is also an excellent grazer • Produces 14,667 pounds of milk, 659 pounds of butterfat and 510 pounds of protein

19. Jersey History • The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel • The island of Jersey was very protective of this breed. Because of this the breed stayed distinctive for many years

20. Jersey Characteristics • Jerseys are adapted to a wide range of climatic and geographical conditions • Jerseys vary greatly in color, but the characteristic color is golden fawn, with or without white markings • smallest of the dairy breeds • its nutritive content is 28.46% greater than ordinary milk • Came from island of Jersey off cost of France • Smallest dairy breed • Cows weigh around1000 lbs

21. Ayrshire History • The Ayrshire breed originated in the County of Ayrshire in Scotland, prior to 1800 • Prior to 1800 many of the cattle of Ayrshire were black, although by 1775 browns and mottled colors started to appear. • early breeders carefully crossed and selected the various strains of cattle • Cows weigh 1200 lbs. • Ranks 3rd in milk production

22. Ayrshire Characteristics • red and white • medium-sized cattle and should weigh over 1200 pounds at maturity • strong, rugged cattle that adapt to all management systems including group handling on dairy farms with free stalls and milking parlors • 12,000 pounds of milk with a 3.9% Butterfat • Calves are strong and easy to raise

23. Milking Shorthorn • One of the oldest recognized breeds in the world, a segment of the Shorthorn breed • Provided milk, meat, and transportation to pioneers • Red, red & white, white, or roan in color • In the feedlot, these cattle attain 1,000 to 1,200 pound weights at an early age • ease of calving • docile • healthy calves

24. Quiz Time!!!!!!!!!!

25. What is this breed?

26. What is this breed?

27. What is this breed?

28. What is this breed?

29. What is this breed?

30. What is this breed?

31. Answers • 1.Holstein • 2.Brown Swiss • 3.Guernsey • 4.Jersey • 5. Ayrshire • 6.Milking Shorthorn