The best performing dairy cattle breeds

Dairy cattle breeds are vastly reared for milk production, from a small herd at ones’ backyard to state of the art commercial farms around the world.

To achieve high milk outputs, several factors are put into consideration such as breed characteristics, adaptation to the environment, feed type and management.

Well, today we shed more light on different dairy cattle around the world.

The success of most dairy cows is attributed to artificial insemination (AI), since the 1940s. AI technology has made it easy for a good sire (bull) to father up-to a hundred thousand calves, across the globe. Preservation of semen can be done prior to transportation from one continent to the other in liquid nitrogen. With the advent of artificial intelligence, breeders and geneticists can share vital information that strives towards the preservation and successful mating of cows in the dairy industry.

Best performing dairy cattle breeds

Holstein Friesian

• Originate in Netherlands, from the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland
• Renowned for high milk production
• Holstein cows have a recognizable pattern of black and white or red and white
• Excellent conception rates, with a higher number of calves per lifetime in comparison to other cattle
• Suitable for different grazing systems environments
• Calves are fast growing and are easy to care for
• Top producing cows can be milked at least three times a day

Jersey

• Originate in the isle of Jersey, in Great Britain
• Jersey cows are fawn in colour but darker shades are common
• They are heat tolerant
• Jersey cows are easy to manage
• Adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions and vastly distributed around the world
• Milk from Jersey cows is rich in butterfat

Ayrshire

• Originate in Scotland
• Ayrshire cattle make use of poor grazing lands which they efficiently convert to good quality milk
• They are red and white in colour
• Cows are renowned for their excellent udder conformation
• Easy to raise

Guernsey

• Guernsey cattle originate in the Isle of Guernsey in France
• They are yellow to reddish-brown with white patches in colour
• Guernsey cows are known for minimal complications when calving
• Quite adaptable to most climatic conditions

To conclude, let's talk about the nutritional benefits of cow's milk as a key element in a varied and balanced diet.

Milk is a rich source of calcium, an essential nutrient for strong healthy bones and teeth. Milk is a good source of protein that contains essential amino acids such as, phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized de novo, therefore, acquired through consumption of dairy products

An effective transport system that maintains a cold chain until the processing plant is imperative. Furthermore, there are several niche markets for the different dairy products that are produced, such as fermented or fresh cheese and butter.

To sum it all up, dairy cattle rearing is widely practiced around the world. Therefore, take good care of your herd, in order to produce good quality milk.

References

• https://www.thatsfarming.com/news/friesian-cows
• ALE | Cattle Breeds 101: Holstein Cow Characteristics
• Dairy cattle NZ - Holstein Friesian cows

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