Meet 3 dairy cattle breeds

In the livestock sector we always talk about milk production and meat production, to achieve the production of these items, some specific bovine breeds are required, but to introduce a bovine breed into any livestock ecosystem, the climatic conditions of the region must be considered so that it has an adequate adaptation and can provide the necessary milk and / or meat yields. In that sense, this publication will make a brief description of three dairy cattle breeds that are known worldwide and that like every living organism has its particular requirements and characteristics.

- Holstein:

this breed we think is the best known worldwide, because it is the most used in children's books and cartoons is a white bovine with black spots. This cattle is originally from the Netherlands, some researchers such as Koesla (2005), point out that in the United States of America a type of this breed that produces more milk and that became distributed to Latin American countries.

In this breed you can also see white specimens with red spots, it is said that the white color should generally prevail on the abdomen, the tail tassel and certain parts of the limbs. The female specimens have an approximate weight of 600 kilograms and the males exceed these weights that may vary according to the handling they receive. These species as can be evidenced by the weight are large, but despite this they are animals that can be handled easily since they are docile.

In temperate areas where there are low temperatures this breed can give its maximum potential with good management, it is said that it is the best breed for milk production, but in tropical areas like ours its production is very low because they have high temperatures, for that reason crosses have been made with other breeds that tolerate these conditions to obtain more resistant mixed animals to agroclimatic conditions.

- Swiss Brown:

this species as its name suggests is native to Switzerland, it can be said that it is a multifunctional breed because there are reports that it can provide adequate yields of milk and meat, in addition to being used on certain occasions for jobs that require strength and traction within the production unit. Some authors mention that there are two types, the European and the American, the European being more rustic and the American more specialized for milk production in the United States of America.

The specimens of this breed can reach weights of up to 600 kilograms or more for females and 800 kilograms or more for males, the color of this breed can vary from dark brown to light brown that's why its name. One way to distinguish them is that the color of the males is darker than that of the females and there are also other aspects about the color, since, they have a light gray color around the muzzle and a line of the same color throughout the center of the back. This type of livestock is widely used in our tropical regions since it can tolerate adverse climates, therefore, they can graze without any problem in the meadows of the tropics.

- Jersey:

the name of this breed of cattle is due to the name of the island from where it originates, Jersey Island is located in the English Channel, according to some reports located specifically between England and France. As for the size of these animals, it can be said that they are smaller than those mentioned above and can reach an approximate weight in females of between 400 and 500 kilograms and males between 650 kilograms.

It is a good breed for milk production and has good fat which is very sought after for dairy production, as for certain of its phenotypic characteristics it can be said that these specimens have prominent eyes, as for their color they have brown with darkening in neck and head. This species also adapts to the humid tropical climates of our region which is an alternative for tropical dairy farming.

Dear readers, as you could see these breeds are milk producers and in certain livestock regions of the tropics they are looking for the crossing of these breeds with zebus animals that are more resistant to tropical agroecological conditions, from these crosses have emerged the animals known in our region as double purpose, it is very common to see mixed animals in these areas where animals can produce milk but not with the yields that a pure animal could have.