Beef Cattle Breeds

Angus

Color: BlackOrigin: Scotland Traits:high carcass quality

Polled Most registered breed

Hereford

Color: Red w/white face

Origin: EnglandTraits:

Polled or Horned Docile Good foragers

Charolais

Color: white to light straw

Origin: FranceTraits:

Horned Large

Brahman

Color: light gray to black or red

Origin: IndiaTraits:

Hump Loose dewlap Resistant to insects Tolerant to heat

Chianina

Color: white to steel gray w/black switch

Origin: ItalyTraits:

Horned Black pigmented skin Tallest beef breed Heavy muscling

Dairy Cattle Breeds

HolsteinColor: Black & white is

most common (can also come in red & white)

Origin: Europe (specifically Holland)

Traits: Largest Dairy breed High feed efficiency Highest milk production

Jersey

Color: light gray/mouse color to dark fawn/almost black

Origin: British Isle of Jersey

Traits: Smallest Dairy breed 2nd highest milk producer High butterfat production Docile

Ayrshire

Color: Red & whiteOrigin: ScotlandTraits:

High quality of udder Milk ideally suited for

butter and cheese Strong & rugged Fewer leg & feet

problems

Brown Swiss

Color: grey, dark brown, tan or almost white

Origin: SwitzerlandTraits:

Big, floppy ears Docile

Guernsey

Color: golden red & whiteOrigin: British Isle of

GuernseyTraits:

Rick flavor of milk “Golden” color to milk

(due to high butterfat, high protein content)

High feed efficiency

Swine Breeds

American Landrace

Color: whiteOrigin: DenmarkTraits:

Long body Big loped forward ears Large litters Mothering ability

Duroc

Color: redOrigin: Eastern US,

corn beltTraits:

Drooped ears Fast growth rate High feed conversion

Hampshire

Color: black w/white belt

Origin: Southern Scotland and Northern England

Traits: Erect ears Muscle & carcass

leanness

Yorkshire

Color: whiteOrigin: EnglandTraits:

Erect ears Large litters High feed efficiency High growth rate Mothering ability Long carcasses

Poland ChinaColor:  black with six white points

(face, feet and switch) Points required 

Origin: USTraits:

Dropped ears Oldest American breed High feed efficiency Substantial bone Soundness Docile

Spotted Swine

Color: black and white spots

Origin: USTraits:

Drooping ears Large breed Fast growth rate

Tamworth

Color: golden red to dark red

Origin: IrelandTraits:

Erect ears Most desirable bacon-

type carcass Long, straight snout Depth of side/deep

bodied

BerkshireColor: black & white with

white points points not required

Origin: EnglandTraits:

Erect Ears Juiciness, flavor and

tenderness of meat, due to marbling

High feed efficiency Excellent carcass quality

Chester WhiteColor: solid whiteOrigin: US

Chester County, PA

Traits: Drooped ears Mothering ability Durability Structural soundness Longevity Skin is easily removed

during packing

Vietnamese Potbelly

Color: White or black more common, but also red, gold, spotted

Origin: VietnamTraits:

Used as pets Considerably smaller than

farm pigs (100-300lbs) Can be used as service pets

Poultry Breeds

Chickens - Layers

White Leghorn

Color: WhiteOrigin: Leghorn, ItalyTraits:

Lays White Eggs High egg production Good foragers Large comb & wattles

Rhode Island Red

Color: RedOrigin: US, RITraits:

Dual-purpose (eggs and meat)

Lay brown eggs Hardy

Chickens - Broilers

Plymouth Rock

Color: white, buff, barred

Origin: USTraits:

Hardy Docile Excellent meat (&

egg) production

Cornish

Color: dark, white, buff

Origin: EnglandTraits:

Ultimate meat bird Broad, well-muscled

body Protective mothering

ability

Turkeys

Broad-Breasted Bronze

Color: shimmering-green bronze/black

Origin: USTraits:

Commercial breeds must be bred by A.I.

Docile Fairly rare now

Broad-Breasted White

Color: whiteOrigin: USTraits:

Known for meat production

Must be bred by A.I. More popular than BB

Bronze Harder to handle/manage

than BB Bronze

Beltsville Small WhiteColor: whiteOrigin: Beltsville,

MDTraits:

Meaty carcass Small enough to fit

in average fridge

Royal Palm

Color: White w/bands of black

Origin: FLTraits:

Ornamental bird Currently on the

endangered “watch” list Docile

Other Poultry Breeds

Houdan Chicken

Color: mottled, whiteOrigin: FranceTraits:

Mostly ornamental, but can produce eggs and meat

5 toes (chickens normally have 4) give them “skipping” gait

Silkie Bantam Color: Black, Blue,

Partridge, Buff, White, Gray Origin: unknown, possibly

China Traits:

fur/silk-like feathers Topknots/crests on their

heads & abundant feathers growing down their legs & middle toe

5 toes

Sheep Breeds

Goat Breeds

Horse Breeds

Llama Breeds

Other Breeds