Cattle

Cattle are a staple of any Hobby Farm.  Even if you only have an acre or two of grazing pasture, having a couple of bucket calves can be a fun way to “start small” and work your way up.  If you have a lot of pasture land, then a few head (or a full herd) of cattle can be a great way to utilize the acreage and provide an additional source of income off your land.

The breed of cattle that you choose will depend greatly on what you want to accomplish.  If you are looking for a couple of cows that will provide Milk for your family, then dairy breeds such as: Holstein, Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorn, or Jersey would be a good place to start looking.

If you are interested in raising cattle for meat production (for yourself or to sell) then breeds like: Angus, Charloias, Simmental, Limousin, or Hereford would be good first choices.

Still, some Hobby Farm owners like the unique characteristics of some of the more unique breeds of cattle, and are less interested in their milk or meat production.  Unusual breeds such as: Scottish Highlander, Texas Longhorn, Ankole-Watusi, Belgian Blue, Dexter, Zebu, and Brahma all have their own special place in people’s hearts.

Check below to see the listings for cattle by specific breed near you!

PictureBreed
AkaushiAkaushi:
Origin: Japan
Coloring: Red
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Great marbled meat
AngusAngus:
Origin: Scotland
Coloring: Black or Red
Production: Meat Production
Breed Note: Most common breed of beef cattle in the US
Ankole WatusiAnkole-Watusi:
Origin: Africa
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Horns can reach up to 8ft in length, Also regulate heat
AyrshireAyrshire:
Origin: Scotland
Coloring: Red, white
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Fully grown horns can reach up to a foot in length
BeefmasterBeefmaster:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Red, white
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Very resistant to disease and parasites
Belgian BlueBelgian Blue:
Origin: Belgium
Coloring: Blue, gray, white, black
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Great at converting less food into more muscle
Belted GallowayBelted Galloway:
Origin: Scotland
Coloring: Black, white, red
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Considered a "light grazer" meaning they don’t damage land while grazing
Black BaldyBlack Baldy:
Origin: Unknown
Coloring: White, black, red
Production: Meat, breeding
Breed Note: Noted for their great motherhood. Great calf survival rate.
Black HerefordBlack Hereford:
Origin: British Isles
Coloring: White, black, red
Production: Breeding, meat
Breed Note: Mature early in life providing more breeding
BrafordBraford:
Origin: Australia( 1946) - U.S.(1947)
Coloring: Red, white
Production: Meat, sport
Breed Note: Heat and insect resistance because of increased sweat glands
BrahmanBrahman:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: White to gray
Production: Breeding, milk
Breed Note: Known for extreme tolerance to heat and insects
BrangusBrangus:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Black
Production: Breeding, milk
Breed Note: Noted to resistance of hot and cold temperatures
BraunviehBraunvieh:
Origin: Switzerland
Coloring: Black, gray, brown
Production: Breeding, meat
Breed Note: Social breed, like to stay in larger groups
British WhiteBritish White:
Origin: Britan
Coloring: White mostly, black, red
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Will eat almost anything they are near. Can clear an entire tree or shrub with ease
Brown SwissBrown Swiss:
Origin: Switzerland
Coloring: Brown, tan, white, almost black
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Known for large gestation period, size, and large furry ears.
CharolaisCharolais:
Origin: France
Coloring: White, creamy, red, black
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Cows and bulls can weigh over two thousand pounds
ChianinaChianina:
Origin: Italy
Coloring: White to gray
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Because of their long bodies and legs they can walk long distances with ease
CorrienteCorriente:
Origin: Unknown for sure
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Sport (rodeo)
Breed Note: Known as escape artists as most can get out of their cages
DevonDevon:
Origin: England
Coloring: Shades of red
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Labeled as an "easy keeper" as they would eat anything and are easy to manage
KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERADexter:
Origin: Ireland
Coloring: Black, red, dun
Production: Milk
Breed Note: These are sometimes sold as a novelty because of their size
Dutch BeltedDutch Belted:
Origin: Switzerland and Austria
Coloring: Black or Red
Production: Milk, breeding
Breed Note: Can live to be about 20 years old
FleckviehFleckvieh:
Origin: Austria, and Germany
Coloring: Yellow, red, white
Production: Milk, meat, breeding
Breed Note: Second largest cattle breed in the world
Florida CrackerFlorida Cracker:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat, competition
Breed Note: One of the oldest U.S. cattle breeds
GallowayGalloway:
Origin: Scotland
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Their fur coat provides a dual purpose of insulation and shedding wind and rain
GelbviehGelbvieh:
Origin: Germany
Coloring: Shades of red, black, yellow
Production: Meat, breeding, milk
Breed Note: Quick in maturity, able to adapt to different climates easily
GuernseyGuernsey:
Origin: Guernsey
Coloring: Orange/red, white
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Inbreeding has become a concern due to a small gene pool in some areas
HeckHeck:
Origin: Germany
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Environmental purposes. basically none to humans
Breed Note: Extremely aggressive, can attack without warning
HerefordHereford:
Origin: United Kingdom
Coloring: Brown, red, white
Production: Meat
Breed Note: One of the most highly adaptive breeds in the world
HighlandHighland:
Origin: Scotland
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Due to their long hair they cannot handle heat as well as other cattle breeds
HolsteinHolstein:
Origin: Netherlands
Coloring: Black, red, white
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Known for their outstanding milk production. About 2,674 gallons of milk each lactation cycle
JerseyJersey:
Origin: Channel Islands (Europe)
Coloring: Brown, black
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Smallest dairy cattle. Very curious breed of cattle
LimousinLimousin:
Origin: France
Coloring: Shades of red, black
Production: Meat, breeding
Breed Note: Known for muscularity, feed efficiency, and carcass quality
LowlineLowline:
Origin: Australia
Coloring: Black
Production: Meat, pets
Breed Note: These cattle are small in size without having a dwarf gene
Lowline AngusLowline Angus:
Origin: Australia
Coloring: Black
Production: meat, pets
Breed Note: These cattle are small in size without having a dwarf gene
Maine AnjouMaine Anjou:
Origin: France
Coloring: Red, white, black
Production: meat
Breed Note: Bulls can weigh in range from 2,200 to 3,100 pounds
Milking ShorthornMilking Shorthorn:
Origin: Great Britan
Coloring: Red, white
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Known for ease of longevity and calving
Murray GreyMurray Grey:
Origin: Austra
Coloring: Shades of grey
Production: Milk
Breed Note: Their grey skin tone actually helps them reflect more heat than other cattle with different colors
NormandeNormande:
Origin: France
Coloring: Brown, black, white
Production: Milk, beef
Breed Note: This breed tends to darken in color as they age
PiedmontesePiedmontese:
Origin: Italy
Coloring: White, gray, black
Production: Meat, mik
Breed Note: This breed has birthing problems because of the bulkiness of their offspring
PineywoodsPineywoods:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Red, brown, white, black
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: One of the oldest cattle breeds in the U.S.
PinzgauerPinzgauer:
Origin: Austria
Coloring: shades of red, white
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Large in frame, mature bulls can weigh up to 2,000 pounds
Polled HerefordPolled Hereford:
Origin: England
Coloring: Red, white
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Considered one of the most gentle cattle breeds
RandallRandall:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Black, white, blue, gray
Production:
Breed Note: Extremely adaptive to extensive or low input farming systems
Red AngusRed Angus:
Origin: England and scotland
Coloring: Red
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Resistant to harsh weather, undemanding, adaptable, good natured
Red BrangusRed Brangus:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Red
Production: Milk, meat
Breed Note: Because of their color it provides them easier foraging in the heat compared to other colored breeds
Red PollRed Poll:
Origin: Suffolk and Norfolk
Coloring: Shades of red, white
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: The breed is universally polled, meaning without horns
Santa GertrudisSanta Gertrudis:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Red, white
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: The first beef breed formed in the U.S. in 1940
Scottish HighlandScottish Highland:
Origin: Not well recorded
Coloring: Multiple
Production: Meat
Breed Note: One of the oldest cattle breeds in the world
SenepolSenepol:
Origin: Caribbean island of St. Croix
Coloring: Red, black, brown
Production: Milk, meat
Breed Note: This breed has greater immune responses than other cattle breeds according to the USDA
ShorthornShorthorn:
Origin: Northcumberland, Durham, lincoln, york
Coloring: Red, roan, white
Production: Milk, meat, breeding
Breed Note: Some may get a genetic defect that will cripple legs
SimangusSimAngus:
Origin: Unknown
Coloring: Black, red
Production: Meat
Breed Note: This was a crossbreed between the angus and red angus cattle
SimmentalSimmental:
Origin: Switzerland
Coloring: Gold, red, white
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Bred all over the world for their high beef yields
TarentaiseTarentaise:
Origin: France
Coloring: Auburn
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Suited for rough conditions and high elevations
Texas LonghornTexas Longhorn:
Origin: U.S.
Coloring: Red, white
Production: Beef, breeding, sport
Breed Note: This breed can survive in almost any climates
WagyuWagyu:
Origin: Japan
Coloring: Black or Red
Production: Meat
Breed Note: Originally selected for their agricultural and physical endurance
White_ParkWhite Park:
Origin: Ireland, Scottland,England
Coloring: White, black, red
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Cows average 1,000 pounds while bulls average about 1,700
ZebuZebu:
Origin: Asia
Coloring: Gray, white, red
Production: Meat, milk
Breed Note: Very tolerant to intense environments

13 thoughts on “Cattle

  1. Looking to purchase Gelbvieh. R theses the only 2 you have? Where r u located?

  2. Looking for Guernsey cow in milk or bred heifer ,has to be A2A2

  3. Charlene Milnick

    Interested in Wagyu cattle.

  4. Looking for a Charolais for meat.

  5. Looking for red poll cattle in texas

  6. Hanna Like to lease Belted Galloway bull (black and white) for 5 head of cows 60 days
    FFA project

  7. Looking for scottish highlands

  8. Hi,

    We live in Brevard Co FL which has high humidity and highs in teh low 90s from about May through September.

    Thinking of moving onto some land and would love to have some farm animals. I am partial to Scottish Highland cows. Any opinion on if these would thrive and tolerate this heat well?

  9. Michael Hettrich

    Looking for Texas Longhorns for sale near Palmetto, FL

  10. Janit Williams

    Looking for a young Chianina bull for breeding my charalios. Reasonable price

  11. Janit Williams

    Looking for a reasonable priced full blood Chianina bull

  12. Steven DuPlessis

    What is the best way to start a lowline farm and where can I buy some to start I have 4 acres

  13. looking to buy aberdeen (lowline) black angus steers to finish for slaughter later in 2019. Any for sale?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*