Genetics Breeds

• American Polled Hereford cattle originated in Iowa and are modern Herefords without horns, with white faces and red bodies
• They are superior foraging ability, vigor, and hardiness, producing more calves under adverse conditions
• American Simmental cattle, an old breed dating back to the Middle Ages, originated in the Simmen Valley of Switzerland
• They have white to light straw faces with red to dark red, spotted bodies, are horned with medium-sized horns, and are adaptable to a wide range of climates
• Angus cattle, officially known as Aberdeen-Angus, originated in Scotland, are black with a smooth hair coat, polled, alert, vigorous, and produce high-quality, well-marbled meat
• Charolais cattle, one of the oldest French beef cattle breeds, are white to light straw with pink skin, heavily muscled, and naturally horned
• Limousin cattle, named after a province in France, have light yellow hair with a small head and broad forehead, noted for carcass leanness and a large loin area
• Ayshire cattle, originating in Scotland, may be in any shade of cherry red, vigorous with excellent grazing ability, and rank third among dairy breeds in average milk produced per cow
• Brown Swiss cattle, originating in Switzerland, are solid brown, have a quiet temperament, are the longest-lived of dairy breeds, and rank second in average milk production and third in average milkfat produced
• Guernsey cattle, originating in the Isle of Guernsey in France, have fawn color with white markings, are early maturing, adaptable, and rank fourth in average milk produced and second in average milkfat produced per cow
• Jersey cattle, originating in Jersey, France, are cream to almost black, the smallest among dairy breeds, with excellent udders and grazing ability, and rank fifth in average milk produced and first in average milkfat produced per cow
• Milking Shorthorn cattle, originating in Northern England, were formerly known as Durhams, originally a dual-purpose breed for milk and meat production
• Columbia sheep, a crossbred wool sheep originated in the US, developed from a cross of Lincoln rams and Rambouillet ewes, considered the largest among crossbred wool breeds
• Dorset sheep, a medium wool breed from southern England, have a blocky body type, produce a medium-coarse fleece and a muscular carcass
• Hampshire sheep, also a medium wool breed from southern England, are large with a blocky body type, good milkers, and produce lambs ready for market at weaning
• Polypay sheep, a medium wool breed developed in Idaho, established for superior reproduction through twins and triplets, combining bloodlines from Rambouillet, Targhee, and Polled Dorset
• Rambouillet sheep, a fine wool breed from France, developed from the Spanish Merino, popular among fine wool breeds, white in color, and produces a meatier carcass
• Alpine goats, originated in France from Swiss foundation stock, range from pure white to black, have erect ears, and are noted for their hardiness and milk high in milkfat content
• La Mancha goats, a newly developed breed in the US, may be in any color, have straight faces and short hair, and are noted for their milk high in milkfat content
• Nubian goats, originated in Africa, have a short sleek coat of black and tan colors and drooping ears, known for their gentle nature and milk high in milkfat content
• Oberhasli goats, originated in Switzerland, are medium-sized with solid-red or black markings and a few white hairs
• Philippine Carabao, a swamp type of buffalo used primarily for draft and meat purposes, generally light gray in color with curved horns
• Murrah, a river type of buffalo introduced after World War II, jet black in color with a soft and fine skin texture and tightly spirally curled horns
• Chester White pigs, originally named Chester County White, are white in color and originated in Chester County, Pennsylvania
• MURRAH:

  • A river type of buffalo introduced after World War II
  • Jet black in color with soft and fine skin texture
  • Horn is tightly and spirally curled
• CHESTER WHITE:

  • Originally named Chester County White after its place of origin
  • Colored white with drooping ears
  • Noted for mothering ability, prolificacy, and high-quality, lean carcass with large hams
• DUROC:

  • Originated from red hogs raised in Eastern US
  • Colored red, from light to dark with cherry red as the preferred shade
  • Noted for excellent rate of gain, feed efficiency, good mothering ability, and large litters
• LANDRACE:

  • Originated from Denmark, responsible for Danes’ reputation as pork producers
  • White in color with ears loping forward and down
  • Known for good mothering ability, large litters, good feed conversion, bacon, long carcasses, square hams, and short legs
  • Longer than other breeds due to an extra vertebra
• POLAND CHINA:

  • Originated in Ohio, originally called the Warren County hog
  • Colored black with six white points in the face, feet, and tip of the tail, with forward drooping ears
  • One of the largest breeds, produces carcasses with low backfat and large loin eyes
• SPOTTED:

  • Developed in Indiana by crossing hogs of Poland China with spotted hogs
  • Color is black and white, body type similar to Poland China with forward drooping ears
• HORSE BREEDS:

  • APPALOOSA: Developed by Indians in what is now Washington State, known for distinct color pattern and used for pleasure riding, racing, parades, and as a stock horse
• ARABIAN:

  • Probably originated from Egypt but developed in Saudi Arabia
  • Colors mainly bay, gray, or chestnut, with some white or black
  • Known for speed, stamina, beauty, gentle disposition, and used for pleasure riding, racing, showing, and as a stock horse
• QUARTERHORSE:

  • Originated in the US, used for pleasure riding, showing, racing, and as stock horses
  • Among its colors are bay, black, brown, gray, and chestnut
• STANDARDBRED:

  • Contains blood from Arabians, Barbs, Hackneys, and Morgans
  • Used in harness racing, known for needing to make a standard mile time before registration
  • Colors may be bay, black, brown, and chestnut
• THOROUGHBRED:

  • Originated in England, developed by royal families
  • Known for speed, stamina, and used mainly for racing, but also for crossbreeding programs
  • Common colors are bay, brown, black, and chestnut
• POULTRY BREEDS:

  • WHITE LEGHORN:
  • Small in size, hardy, prolific egg layers, non-sitters, and noted for white egg production
• WHITE PLYMOUTH:

  • Dual-purpose fowls for egg and meat production, with brown egg shells
• WHITE PEKIN DUCK:

  • Originated in China, used in commercial meat production, with white feathers, orange-yellow bills, and yellow skin
• WHITE TURKEY:

  • Developed from crosses of the Breasted Bronze turkey and White Holland
  • Plumage is white, shanks, feet, and beak are white to pinkish white, and throat wattle is red
• BRONZE TURKEY:

  • Largest among turkey varieties, black plumage, dark pin feathers, and light to dark beak
  • Artificial insemination is generally used due to heavy males not being good breeders