Livestock Breeds

Sheep Breeds

100

Origin:

– Hampshire, England

– derivative of the Southdown breed and other old British breeds

Hampshire

200

Characteristics:

– both sexes can be horned or polled

– face, ears and legs are white

– free from wool blindness, but maintains both cheek wool and a full wool cap

– nostrils, lips and skin are pink and the hooves are light in color

Dorset

300

*DOUBLE POINTS*

Wool Character:

– classified as a hair sheep

– grow a mixture of hair and wool

Characteristics:

– solid white or white with a black head

– highly fertility

– hardy and adaptable

– perform well under extensive and intensive production systems

Dorper

400

Origin:

– New Zealand and Australia in the late 1800s; developed through a cross between a Lincoln or Leicester ram with a Merino ewe

Size:

– moderate in size and somewhat smaller than the Columbia

Corriedale

500

Characteristics:

– no wool on the head or legs

– face and lower legs are white and may be blue tinged or black spotted

– lips and nostrils are black and both rams and ewes are polled

Size:

– moderate in size

Border Leicester

Goat Breeds

100

Usage:

– true meat goat

– weaning rates are more than 160 percent

– has been managed with cattle due to its browsing ability and low impact on grass

Boer

200

Origin:

– unknown, but indigenous to the United States and mostly found in Tennessee and Texas

- people are fascinated by their unique fainting; has been suggested to crossbreed to the Boer, but fainting gene is recessive, and therefore is not usually expressed when crossbred

Wooden Leg Myotonic/ Tennessee Fainting Goat

300

Origin:

– India; named after the Indian state of Kashmir

– can be found naturally in Mongolia, Tibet, Northern India and Western China

– were imported to the U. S. in the late 1980’s

• Usage:

– produce one of the world's finest fibers – cashmere

Cashmere

400

• Usage:

– dual purpose breed producing both milk and meat

– wethers are good meat animals with rapid growth rates and high dressing percent

– known for its multiple births with triplets and quads being  routine; quintuplets and sextuplets are common

Kinder

500

Usage:

– extremely adaptable dairy goat

– maintains both excellent milk production and health in stressful climates

Characteristics:

– medium to large sized breed

– short to medium hair coat in all colors and color combinations; breed discriminates against Toggenburg and pure white

Alpine

Cattle Breeds

100

Origin:

– Scotland

• Usage:

– used as a dambreed because of calving ease and mothering ability

– works well in crossbreeding by giving polledness, dark pigment and mothering ability

– foundation breed for Brangus and Amerifax

– weather adaptable, good natured and mature early

Angus

200

Origin:

– Falfurrias, Texas

– Edward C. Lasater developed the breed in 1908

- 1/2 Brahman, 1/4 Shorthorn and 1/4 Hereford

Usage:

– selected for fertility, conformation, milk production, hardiness,

weight and disposition

Beefmaster

300

Usage:

– superior growth ability and have economically gratifying terminal weights

– used in crossbreeding

Characteristics:

– white, golden wheat or straw in color with pink muzzle and hooves

– naturally horned, but there are polled strains

Origin:

– Charolles, France

Charolais

400

*TRIPLE POINTS*

• Origin:

– Scotland

• Usage:

– noted for their hardiness in cold weather and adaptability to rough terrain

– cows are good mothers, docile and reach puberty early

Galloway

500

*DOUBLE POINTS*

Origin:

– southwestern region of Scotland

– developed through selective breeding of polled beef cattle in the early 1800s

Characteristics:

– have a double coat of hair

– naturally polled

Belted Galloway

Swine Breeds

100

*TRIPLE POINTS*

Origin: United States; developed in the Northeast by crossing Jersey Red and Red Duroc breeds.

Characteristics: Color ranges from light golden to dark red; slightly dished face, medium-length snout, drooping ears. Preferred traits include good rib spring, wide chest, and deep body. Highly adaptable to various

Duroc

200

Origin:

United States, originated in Indiana; developed from the Glauces Spotted hog of England and Poland China bloodlines, formerly known as Spotted Poland China.

Spot

300

Origin:

– Denmark; origin traces to Danish Landrace which were first imported into the U.S. by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1934

– exceptionally long bodied with 16/17 ribs with large, drooping ears

– face is long and narrow

American Landrace

400

• Characteristics: The breed is entirely white with an ideal body conformation featuring good length of side, depth, and width, shown by a wide stance at the chest and hind legs. It has a semi-level topline from head to tail, a medium-length head with a slightly dished face, and drooping ears.

Chester White

500

Origin:

United States, originated in Kentucky; developed by crossing Russian, Berkshire, and Grazer hogs.

Characteristics:

Medium length and rugged build; some have short, steep rumps but usually have deep, wide hams. Medium-length, slightly dished face with drooping ears. Black with white points on all four feet, nose, and tail tip.

Poland China

General Information

100

What is livestock production?

Raising and selling livestock animals for either meat, wool, or milk.

200

What two species, that we have discussed, have a breed that shares the same name?

Swine and Sheep (Hampshire)

300

What are common methods used in livestock breeding?

AI, ET, Hand mating

400

What are the challenges faced by livestock producers today?

Up to instructor

500

*TRIPLE POINTS*

What are the key factors to consider when selecting livestock breeds?

up to instructor