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Breeds of Livestock
Breeds of Livestock
Sheep
Delaine-Marino Rambouillet Suffolk Hampshire Shropshire Southdown Dorset Cheviot Columbia Corriedale Barbados Blackbelly Dorper Katahdin St. Croix
Delaine-Merino
Origin SpainHardy long lived
gregarious, & adapted to usassisted lambing.
Adaptable to warm climates & under relatively poor feeding conditions
Med size & moderate growth rate Highest quality & finest
fleeces Fine wool breed
Rambouillet Sheep
Origin in France Descended from Spanish Merino Dominate commercial range sheep industry
~50% of all sheep in US carry some Rambouillet breedingAdaptable to various climates & forage conditionsLarge, rugged fast growing, long lived, gregarious
sheepAcceptable meat conformationFemales are polled but males usually have long spiral
hornsProduce fine-quality fleeces with long staple, fair
density, good uniformity & moderate shrinkage.
Suffolk Sheep
Suffolk county, EnglandSouthdown X NorfolkHighly adapted to farm-flock productionProduce high quality, heavy-muscled
carcassesNoted for alertness & active dispostionUnsurpassed as a grazer & rustlerEwes are excellent mothersHighest # of registered sheep in USSolid black head and legs
Hampshire SheepOrigin in EnglandSouthdown X Cotswold X
Wiltshire & Berkshire KnotEctensively used for
crossbred lamb production Renowned for rapid growth
rate & excellent meat-typeEwes good milkers with
good maternal instinctsHave wool-cap on forehead
and wool on legsMedium wool breed
Shropshire Sheep Orginated in western England Excellent utility breed in farm
flock operations Noted for good crossing ablity Hardy, early-maturing, long
lived, prolific, easy lambers, good milkers, & good mothers.
Produce meaty, heavy musceled carcasses at light weights
More wool on head and legs that Hamps
Originally smaller than Hamps Medium wood breed
Southdown SheepOrigin in EnglandOldest & smallest of Down
breedsEarly maturing Adapable to varied & wet
climatesNoted for ability to produce
very heavy-muscled carcasses
Mouse brown on muzzle and legs
Black nose and hoovesShort ears w/ woolMedium wool breed
Dorset Sheep
Origin in southern England Is not a down breed
Both horned and polled strainsHardy and long livedOut of season breeders
Can produce more than 1 lamb crop per year.Noted for prolificacy & heavy milk productionWhite head and legsPink nose and white hoovesMedium wool
Cheviot Sheep
Origin in ScotlandDeveloped for hardiness, viratliy, ablility to
withstant very cold climates and heavy snow.Easy lambers/good mothers with exceptional
maternal instinctsSmall breed with rapid growth ratesDo not herd well-not gregariousVery erect earsWhite face and legsBlack nose and hoovesContributed to several composite breeds
Columbia Sheep First breed developed in US
1912 WY Lincoln X Rambouillet Hardy sheep, adapted for use
on better ranges in western US
Ewes are prolific, good mothers
Lambs are acceptable meat type
Both sexes are polled and posses good herding instinct
White face and legs Pink nose and white hooves Medium wool
Corriedale Sheep Origin in New Zealand Lincoln & Leicester rams X
Merino ewes Gregarious & early maturing Highly efficient Mid-length breeding season Good prolificacy & milking
ability Med to large is size Wool noted for exceptional
length, brightness, softness, & distinctive crimp
Black nose and hooves Medium wool
Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
Origins in AfricaIntroduced to
Caribbean region in 1500’s
Resistant to parasitesTolerates low-grade
forage Used for brush control
Out of season breederHair sheep
Dorper Sheep
Origin in South AfricaBlackhead Persian X
DorsetHighly fertile & very
prolificLong breeding seasonhardy; adaptable to hot,
dry, humid, & cold conditions
Non-selective grazersLamps have a rapid
growth rates & yield heavy-muscled carcasses
Katahdin Sheep Originated in Maine St. Croix X Suffolk X
Wiltshire Horn Excellent maternal instincts,
prolific, & good milk producers.
Usually tolerant to heat and humidity, as well as cold environments
Largest of hair-sheep breeds Produce lean, well-muscled
carcasses with excellent meat flavor
Hair sheep
St. Croix Sheep
Origin in Virgin Islands
Climate adaptable early maturing (puberty at 6-7 months) fertile, and excellent foragers.
Docile, calm temperment, with good flocking instincts.
Rams have a large throat ruff.
Hair sheep
Goats
AlpineLamanchaNubianOberhasliSaanenToggenburgAngoraBoerSpanish
Alpine Goat
Originated in Alps between Switzerland & FranceMay range in color from pure white to shades of
gray, brown, black, or red.Bucks have a patch of long hair along the spine &
beards of males are quite pronounced. Ears should be of med. size and erect.Females are excellent milkers, with large, well-
shaped udders.Alpine goats are hardy, adaptable animals that
thrive in any climate while maintaining excellent health and production.
LaMancha GoatLaMancha goats actually
originated from Oregon form Spanish milk goats.
Excellent dairy temperament & is an all-around sturdy animal that can withstand a great deal of hardship & still produce.
2 types of LaMancha ears. Gopher ear- Max. length of 1in.
but preferably non-existent; end of ear must be turned up or down.
Elf ear- max. 2in. & end of ear must be turned up or turned down.
Nubian Goat Originated in England from
crossing British goats with bucks of African & Indian origin. Takes its name from the Nubia
area in northeastern Africa Is an all-purpose goat (useful
for meat, milk, & hide production)
Is not a heavy milker, but has a high avg. butterfat content (4-5%)
Very long pendulous ears that hang close to head. Forming bell shape
Very distinct nose.
Oberhasli Goat
Swiss dairy goat that is med. size, vigorous, & alert in appearance.
Color is chamois (ranging from a light to a deep red bay)
Must have 2 black strips down the face from eye to muzzle & a continuous black stripe along the neck and down the back; legs should be black from the knee/hock down.
Saanen Goat
Dairy goat orginating in the Saanen Valley of Switzerland
Does are heavy milk producers (3-4% butterfat)
Saanens are white to light cream
Ears are erect and alertly carried (preferably pointing forward)
Face should be straight to slightly dished
Toggenburg Goat Another Swiss dairy breed
orginated in the Toggenburg valley.
Credited as the olderst known dairy goat breed
Smallest of the Alpine breeds Solid colored with withre ears
with a dark spot in the middle 2 white stripes down face; hind
legs white from hocks to hooves; a white triangle on either side of the tail; forelegs white from knees downward.
Noted for excellent udder development & high milk production
Angora Goat Originated in the district of
Angora in Asia Minor prior to early Biblical history
Angora goats produce mohair Mohair is a much smoother
surface & very thin, smooth scale compared to wool.
Market favors very fine hair, normally shorn form young goats.
Angora does are not prolific (60-70% kidding rate)
Delicate animals very susceptible to internal parasites and cold weather
Boer GoatOrginated from indigenous
goats of the Namaque Hottentots & Bantu tribes in Africa
Recently introduced to the US (1990’s)
Boer goats are primarly meat goats
It is horned with lop ears and shows a variety of colors.
Excellent weaning weightsPuberty is reached early ~6
months in males and 10 months in females
Spanish Goat
Brought to US by Coronado, De Soto & other Spanish explorers.
Spanish or Brush goats are terms used to describe goats of unknown ancestry.
Are the primary source of goat meat.
Myotonic Goat
Nervous Goats, Wooden-Leg Goats, Scare Goats, Fainting Goats, and Tennessee Fainting Goats
Docile temperament Myotonia congenita leading to stiffness and
muscularity Abundance of high quality muscle Good adaptation to low-input forage-based feeding
systems All colors are acceptable, all combinations, and all
patterns or markings. multi-purpose goat derived from a variety of strains of
goats that were originally from Tennessee
The stiffness of these goats relates to their myotonia congenita, which is an essential portion of the breed type. The various levels of stiffness vary. 1. Never observed to stiffen, but other type traits are consistent as is
pedigree. 2. Very rarely stiffens, never falls. 3. Stiffens only occasionally, and rarely falls. 4. Walks normally with no swivel. The rear limbs lock up readily, the
forelimbs less so, and goats with this degree of stiffness rarely fall to the ground.
5. Animal walks relatively normally, although somewhat stiff in rear and with a swivel at the hip. Readily stiffens when startled or stepping over a barrier.
6. Animal always moves stiffly to some degree, and readily becomes “locked up” when startled or stepping over a low barrier.
Pigs
YorkshireLandraceChester WhiteDurocHampshirePietrainBerkshirePoland China PigSpotted Poland China PigTamworth PigHereford Vietnamese Potbelly
Yorshire Pig
Maternal breedVery large in sizeWhite with erect earsVery prolificExcellent mothersLargest # of registers
in USBrought to US in
1830 & breed society est. in 1883.
Landrace Pig
Extremely long bodied
White in color w/ large drooping ears set close to head
Sows very prolificHeavy milkersSatisfactory mothersBrought to US in
1934
Chester White Pig
White w/ small droopy ears
Very hardyEfficient gainersProduce excellent
carcass compositionProlificBad mothersOriginated in Chester
County, Penn
Duroc Pig
Can be a wide variety of red colors
Droopy earsExcellent carcass
composition and qualityGood growth rateCross between the
Berkshire and the Jersey Reds
2nd highest # in registrations.
Originated in Eastern US developed in NY
Hampshire Pig
Black with white bellyErect earsNoted for foraging
ability, hardy vigor & carcass composition.
Oldest original early American Breen of swine
1st recognized in Kentucky
4th highest in # registered
Pietrain Pig
White w/ black spotsLights pigmentation
around spotsErect ears/ med sizeExcellent carcass
compositionQuick maturating &
slow growingBrought to US to
improve carcass traits for the health conscience consumers.
Berkshire Pig
Multipurpose breedBlack w/ erect ears/ 6
white points Good mothersGrowth efficientExcellent carcass
quality3rd highest in #
registeredBrought to US in
1823
Poland China Pig
Black with 6 white points
Droopy earsVery prolificRugged but quiet in
dispositionMarked at the
poorest mothers
Spotted Poland China Pig
Originated from the Poland China in Ohio
Improved feed efficiency, rate of gain, and carcass advantage
Adds productivity gentleness and durability.
Tamworth Pig
Orginated in IrelandCalled the Irish
GrazerBacon type carcassesRed in color that
varies from golden to deep red
Excellent mothersRugged and thrifty
breed.
Hereford Pig
First developed by R.U. Webber in Missouri
Duroc X Chester WhiteRed in colorWhite faceAt least 2 white legsFair mothers, good
feeders and fatten quickly
1920’s when Hereford strain was developed and registered.
Vietnamese Potbelly Pig
Average wt. 70-150 lbs.
Full grown in 5 yearsSolid black to white
and various spots between
Dwarf breed developed in 1960’s
1986 first year to sell in US and became the alternative to dog and cat pets.
