We’re all individuals as far as personality goes, but each dairy cow breed shares certain characteristics.
Most Ayrshire cows:
- Weigh 1,200 pounds
- Produce milk that works well in the production of butter and cheese
- Graze well in any pasture condition; this can be attributed to the rugged terrain of their native Scotland
- Are red and white, with the red varying from light to dark reddish-brown mahogany
Most Brown Swiss cows:
- Weigh 1,500 pounds
- Produce about 5 gallons of milk a day, and are the second-highest producers of milk among cow breeds
- Give milk with a higher protein content
- Vary in color from light to dark brown, and often have light coloring down their backs
I’m a Brown Swiss cow!
I’m a Guernsey cow!
Most Guernsey cows:
- Weigh about 1,150 pounds
- Produce milk that is golden in color
- Produce milk that is high in beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A
- Vary in color from light golden-brown to reddish-brown with white spots
Most Holstein cows:
- Weigh 1,500 pounds
- Produce about 6 gallons of milk a day and are the number-one breed in milk production. Being the largest producer of milk also makes them popular; there are more Holstein cows in the U.S. than any other breed.
- Are black and white — and, just like no two people have the same fingerprints, no two Holstein cows have the same spots.
I’m a Holstein cow!
I’m a Jersey cow!
Most Jersey cows:
- Weigh about 900 pounds
- Produce 4–5 gallons of milk a day
- Give extra-creamy milk with a high percentage of butterfat
- Vary in color from light to dark brown, sometimes with white spots
Most Milking Shorthorn cows:
- Weigh 1,400 pounds
- Are efficient milk producers, but originally were bred for beef
- Are a combination of red and white in color
I’m a Milking Shorthorn cow!
