Which breed of cattle is best? That depends ...COUNTRYSIDE: I am in need of some information on what type of beef calf I should get for our small homestead. We have Boer-mix goats, and we have decided to get calves calves 1n. Plural of calf1. calves Noun the plural of calf , too. I was thinking of the white face breeds or maybe the Scotch Highlands or Charolais. Which one would be better?--Dianne Plume, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Making a blanket statement as to which breed is best for a particular homestead is almost impossible. Not only do breeds vary somewhat in temperament and productivity, but individuals among the breeds vary even more. Therefore, it is best to choose and inspect your individual choice of animal carefully. Here are some thoughts on some of the more popular beef breeds from Heather Smith Thomas' book: Hereford: Large frame with heavier bones than many breeds. Angus: Popular for meat quality, fast finishing. Shorthorn Shorthorn or Durham Blocky, short-horned breed of beef cattle developed in the late 18th century by crossbreeding of local cattle in the county of Durham, Eng. Colour can be white, solid or white-marked red, or roan. : Calves are born small, but grow quickly; well-muscled beef animal. Galloway: Very hardy with a heavy winter coat; again calves are born small (hence fewer birthing difficulties) but grow fast. Scotch Highland: Smaller in size than most cattle, hardy in snow and cold weather. Dexter: Smallest cattle (750-1,000 lbs., 36-44" high at shoulder), high-quality cuts of meat; good for small acreage. Charolais: A thick-muscled breed, originally bred as draft animals, then bred for beef. Often used in crossbreeding crossbreeding /cross·breed·ing/ (-bred-ing) hybridization; the mating of organisms of different strains or species. crossbreeding hybridization; the mating of organisms of different strains or species, e.g. . The following are heat-tolerant with good beef production: Brangus, Beefmaster, Charbray, Braford, Brahmasin, and Gelbray. (All of the previous were produced by crossing various breeds with Brahmans.) Some great references to get you started are Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle by Heather Smith Thomas with foreward by Baxter Black Baxter Black (born January 2, 1945) is an American cowboy, poet, philosopher, former large-animal veterinarian, and radio commentator. Black grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. , DVM DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. DVM abbr. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. , and Barnyard in Your Backyard, edited by Gail Damerow. Both of these titles are available from the Countryside Bookstore. (See page 111.) |
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