There are seven main breeds of dairy cows that each have their unique characteristics.
Every dairy cow farmer has a strong belief in what breed is the best. We all have our favorites and our reasonings behind it. The Udder Chaos show team is no exception to these preferences, although we have a vast array of breeds in our string. Each of us will argue what the best breeds of dairy cows are.
There are seven main breeds of dairy cows that each have their unique characteristics. Each is the best at something, but which one is the best in our opinion? Read on to learn about the breeds we show and the reasons why we love them.
The Redhead Ayrshires
Our show team started due to those “redheads” my younger sister fell in love with. If you ask her, they are by far the best. Bridey Nolan says that they remind her of her. They are “sassy, cute, and can be sweet, but they will ‘throw hands’ if they need to.” She ended that quote with some terms I switched out for you so everyone can enjoy this article, but you get the point.
Ayrshires are not exactly known for their sweet demeanor. Some are sweet, like our Breezy, but others have tempers and are quite ‘light on their feet.’ For instance, Larry Nolan’s favorite cow, Ava, was beautiful and competed at many international shows but you never wanted to stand too close behind her because she could break your leg for sure with one of her powerful kicks.
Ayrshires are what bring us to many of the shows we compete in and definitely have stolen the hearts of many on our show team. There is no denying that they are some ‘tough cookies’ though.
The Scotland Cow
Are Ayrshires the best breed? Well, if you need more information than just how cute they are and their sassy temperament to make your decision, here’s a little more information on the breed. Ayrshires originated in the County of Ayr, Scotland, and were originally known as Cunninghams and then Dunlops before receiving their Ayrshire name. If you come to our barn, they are referred to as the “redheads,” “the white ones,” and “the good ones” according to Larry.
Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle that are known for their ability to adapt to rugged environments and their efficiency in milk production. Ours are best known for being the toughest to halter break on the farm, but I guess they are great milk producers. I’d say they are worth considering as your favorite breed, although they are not mine.
The Jersey Floppers
My oldest sister loves the Jersey breed and got me into loving them too. Growing up, Jerseys had a bad rap that I relentlessly heard about in the wash rack, at the milking parlor, and on my way to the show ring at the local county fairs. Called “barn rats,” they were known for their stubbornness and small size.
I personally love Jerseys because they can be so sweet, caring, and they are the perfect size for a short individual like me. It’s true, almost every Jersey calf I’ve ever halter broken has done the Jersey flop (legs go tense and they flop themselves onto their side), but they tend to halter break quickly (especially if you use treats!). I’ve very rarely had Jerseys that were not kind. In fact, I can only think of one. The rest have been so loving that I would trust my three-year-old niece to go in and pet them by herself.
Nowadays, Jerseys are gaining more positive attention and I’ve seen an uptick in individuals owning and exhibiting them at the county fairs. Our own Jersey herd has opened up a new world of opportunity for us as well as we continue to get excited about exhibiting in the Jersey jug this year and partake in our Eastern New York Summer Jersey Show that our friends and family help put on.
Isle of Jerseys
To give you a little more information on the breed, Jerseys originated on the Isle of Jerseys and were introduced to England in the 1740s and the U.S. in the 1850s. Queen Elizabeth had a herd of 200 registered Jersey cows herself. Our herd is not quite that big but maybe one day it will be!
Jerseys are known for their butterfat-rich milk and sometimes their large bug eyes. They tend to be more tolerant of heat than the larger breeds, although some of ours have proven that not to be true throughout the years. Whether or not they are the best breed is up to you, but I’d say they are fair contenders.
Classic Holsteins
I can’t lie, there is just something about a black Holstein glistening in the ring that steals my attention every time. Our herd does not contain many black and whites, but they are very high on my favorite list with their cute faces and beautiful markings. My siblings do not share the same love for them, but I’m sure a lot of you do.
Now, I’m not saying all Holsteins are the sweetest. It has truly been a toss-up on our farm about the demeanor of the breed. Some are loving and some will try to kill you in the pasture. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much attention you give them; they step foot in the ring and decide to toss you right into the judge’s booth! This breed doesn’t seem to fit any stereotypes, at least not on our farm.
It’s true most farms have Holsteins on them, and it is difficult to compete in the Holstein classes at shows due to this reasoning (40 in a March calf class takes a hot minute to get through). However, just because they are popular and great milk producers, doesn’t make them the best. Even if I’m a little biased toward them, you must make that decision on your own.
The Netherland Cow
About 2,000 years ago, the Holstein breed came about in the Netherlands. They can adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions, which I can attest to as my Holsteins stand out in the pouring rain chewing their cud while the Ayrshires break the fence to get into the barn.
Holsteins account for nearly 20% of all U.S. cattle, but about 2% of our herd. Where they fall in your ranking of the best dairy breeds, I don’t know. I do know they fall towards the top of mine!
New Edition: Red & White Holsteins
It hasn’t been that many years since shows started offering a Red & White Holstein class separate from the Black & White class. Our little herd just recently acquired our first Red & White two years ago and now we are up to four!
I’ve seen quite a few headstrong Red & Whites go through the ring in the past years. They tend to be strong-willed, at least in my experience. Of course, there are always exceptions, but these “redheads” kind of remind me of the other “redheads” in their demeanor.
I think the Red & Whites have beautiful markings and make a nice addition to any show string or farm, but are they the best? They are less competitive than the Black & Whites at shows while still offering that beautiful Holstein udder and high milk production, but they definitely “live in the shadows” of the Black & Whites.
Unfavorable Red Cows
The red coloring was not favored by many Holstein breeds before, so they excluded red and white cattle from the registration books. The Red and White Dairy Cattle Association was established in 1964 by a group of Shorthorn cattle breeders as a response to this. Nowadays, Red & Whites are becoming more popular again, probably sparked by Lavender Ruby Redrose-Red who made history as the first Red & White to be named Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo in 2005.
Now, many farmers I know are interested in bringing red back into their lines to be able to compete at local shows in the Red & White classes. We hopped on the trend, but will you?
Guern Dog Guernsey
Guernseys, or as they are known on our farm, “Guern Dogs,” don’t always get a lot of attention, although they are for sure very interesting cows. I never thought I’d see the day that we had a Guernsey living in our barn, but Bridey just recently introduced a march calf to our string and now we are Guern Dog people.
This breed is known for their unique ability to get themselves into difficult situations. In other words, their main stereotype is that they are difficult to keep alive. There’s no doubt some are beautiful, and their coloring is unique, but there is just something about a Guernsey that makes me go “Ehhhh I don’t know.”
I must admit, I’ve never met a Guernsey I didn’t like. They seem to be a docile breed, not causing much trouble in the ring or in the string. I’m sure there are exceptions, but from my experience, I’d say they are worth considering as your favorite.
Isle of Guernsey
Guernseys originated on the small Isle of Guernsey in 1700. They have retained their A2 genetics over the years, making their milk more easily digestible and the milk helps lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure according to several studies. As a person who suffers from lactose intolerance, A2 milk from Guernseys can be quite nice on the tummy.
Rarely do you see a farm filled with just Guernseys, but who knows! Maybe in the future, they will start to grow in popularity due to their ability to handle the heat and their milk being more easily digestible.
Elusive Brown Swiss
If there is one breed my sister Bridey will not stop talking about, it’s the Brown Swiss. The dopey giants with the easily identifiable floppy ears sure are cute to look at. These “Swissers” are powerhouse animals but are best known for their lack of intelligence. They can be loving, but they can definitely take you for a ride if they want to. Mostly though, they are the very essence of “not a thought in that brain.”
Now of course this is a stereotype and I’m sure there are smart Swiss out there, but you can’t deny that the breed looks like dumbo and just has that “what?” look to them. They are beautiful animals and probably Bridey’s next purchase if the boss allows it, yet I can’t help but wonder if they are a little like the Guernsey stereotype.
We’ve had Swiss in our string, but never in our barn before. Are they the best breed with their cute looks and giant size? Or does their stereotype knock them down a few places? That is up to you to decide.
Switzerland Cow
Brown Swiss originated in the Swiss Alps and are known for their friendly disposition. Many historians consider them to be one of the oldest types of milk cows. I consider them to be the ones most likely to be mistaken for Dumbo.
Swiss are the classic “chocolate milk” cow (no, they don’t give chocolate milk just so you know), and the topic of discussion in our house often as Bridey continues to beg for one. Are they your favorite breed though?
Finally: Milking Shorthorns
We have even had Milking Shorthorns in our string at shows, but not in our own personal herd. This breed has an unfortunate nickname that I won’t share but I’m sure you are familiar with. If I’m honest, I do not have a lot of experience with the breed, although I think they have the same temperament as the Ayrshires.
I’ve watched Shorthorns be the cause of the drama in the ring and I’ve also seen them walk flawlessly with young kids. I’ve seen pretty ones and I’ve seen average ones. I don’t think we will ever purchase one, but I understand why some love them.
Some Shorthorns have beautiful markings. Especially when they start to get the roan spots, their coat is quite nice to look at. Is coloring enough to bump them up to the top of your list though?
Long Production Life Cows
Milking Shorthorns originated in the northern part of England in the late 1700s. This breed is best known for its long production life, making them a valuable asset to many farmers. You don’t see a lot of Milking Shorthorns on dairy farms these days, but I think their unique characteristics make them a good consideration to start including.
Shorthorns don’t fall very high on my list, but that might just be because I haven’t spent a lot of time with them. Where do they fall on yours?
Establishing The Best Breed of Cow
Other breeds go through the dairy ring, like Linebacks and Dutch Belteds, that you can make an argument for being the best. We’ll never come to a mutual agreement on what breed is the best, as this is all based on your personal opinion. Every breed of cow offers a unique benefit to the dairy industry, which is why all are so important.
It’s fun occasionally to have light-hearted discussions about what breed you think is best. Here on the Udder Chaos Show team, we all have different answers to that question and that’s okay! It’s fun to see the different breeds in our string go through the ring on show day and have fun together celebrating our dairy cows.
Lila Nolan is a dairy farmer in White Creek, NY who works at Morning Ag Clips. She avidly attends dairy shows and draws from those experiences to write about the Udder Chaos that occurs.
