25 Popular Cow Breeds That Farmers (and Everyone Else) Love

Highland Cattle

If you weren’t raised on or near a farm, you may think there are two types of cows, dairy and beef. Beyond that, there isn’t much difference. However, there are actually more than 250 cattle breeds, bred for milk and meat, but also for work — plowing fields and even pulling wagons.

Cattle exist the world over, from North America to Australia and everywhere in between. Get to know 25 of the most popular cow breeds right here.

Black Angus

Small group of cows standing in grass field

Temperament: Docile, good-natured

Weight: 1,000-1,800 pounds

Lifespan: 15-20 years

The Black Angus is a breed that even non-cow people most likely know. Their meat is prized and said to be the best. They are loved by farmers for their docile nature, which is a result of careful breeding. The American Angus Association requires breeders to submit yearling cattle temperament scores.

Red Angus

Red Angus

Temperament: Gentle nature, easy to handle

Weight: 1,400-1,900 pounds

Lifespan: 15-20 years

The Red Angus is as popular as its black counterpart. They are also known for good meat, and the cows are prolific milk makers. The Red Angus Association notes that the Reds are a bit more resistant to heat and have fewer cases of eye cancer than the Black Angus.

Hereford

Hereford

Temperament: Docile, easy to handle

Weight: 1,200-1,800 pounds

Lifespan: Around 15 years

The American Hereford Association is the second-largest cattle association, proving just how popular these cute, white-faced cows are. While they’re known as meat cows, they also produce quite a bit of milk. Some are naturally polled — no horns — which appeals to many farmers.

Holstein

Holstein

Temperament: Calm

Weight: 1,500-plus pounds

Lifespan: 20 years

If you have driven through any dairy states, then you have seen a Holstein. According to Michigan State University, over 90 percent of dairy cows in the United States are Holstein. One Holstein cow can produce around 2,900 gallons of milk per year.

Jersey

Jersey Cow in Barn

Temperament: Docile

Weight: 800-1,200 pounds

Lifespan: 25 plus years

The Jersey cow is a small milk cow that is popular among hobby farmers due to its temperament and size. They come in four sizes according to the Heritage Jersey Organization: micro, which is 31- to 35-inches tall; mini, 35- to 43-inches; mid, 43- to 51-inches; and full size at 51 to 59 inches at the withers (the point where the neck meets the back).

Guernsey

Guernsey Cow

Temperament: Kind, gentle

Weight: 1,400-2,000 pounds

Lifespan: 10-12 years

The Guernsey is a milk cow that is popular on small farms for its rich, golden-colored milk. Farmers that own them site their good-natured disposition as a huge plus. The breed is known for growing strong bonds with its owners. They are now on the watch list of The Livestock Conservancy.

Charolais

Charolais Cattle In a Late Summer Pasture At Sunset

Temperament: Somewhat calm, but bulls can be aggressive

Weight: 1,500-3,600 pounds

Lifespan: 15-20 years

The Charolais is recognizable as the “white cow” with a semi-curly coat. They are a meat cow and a favorite for their fast growth. The American International Charolais Association says the breed is old, with evidence of the Charolais being alive as early as 878 A.D.

Simmental

Simmental cows in a row

Temperament: Docile, good-natured but wary of strangers

Weight: 1,500-2,800 pounds

Lifespan: 10-12 years

The Simmental is a beef cattle breed but also has high milk production. They are known for being docile with those they know, though they can be wary of strangers, and the cows are protective of their calves. This breed is known as the “science breed” because cattle are allowed to be purebred or a certain percentage of Simmental DNA, known as SimGenetics.

Texas Longhorn

Longhorn steer in grassy field under blue sky

Temperament: Can be wild and stubborn but also docile if raised right

Weight: 900-1,500 pounds

Lifespan: 20-25 years

The Texas longhorn is a popular breed of beef cattle that was developed in the United States. They are known for their huge horns, which should have at least a 40-inch-wide spread on cows and at least a 50-inch-wide spread on bulls.

Limousin

Limousin Beef Cow

Temperament: Calm and good-natured if purchased from reliable breeders

Weight: 2,200-2,900 pounds

Lifespan: 8-12 years

Modern Limousins are fairly calm and good-natured, thanks to breeders carefully selecting good breeding stock. In Australia, they have been keeping track of docility in Limousin calves since 1995. The breed is known for quality meat, which often places first in blind taste tests.

Scottish Highland

Highland Cow in Flowering Gorse

Temperament: Very docile, low to no aggression

Weight: 900-1,200 pounds

Lifespan: 20 years

The Scottish Highland is a beef cow that is known for its adorable shaggy look. They are sweet and easy to handle. Scottish Highlands can also be used as a family milk cow, and their milk possesses a high butterfat content. They are the oldest registered breed of cattle, having a registry that dates back to the 1880s.

Gelbvieh

Gelbvieh Cattle

Temperament: Quiet, good-natured

Weight: 1,700–2,700 pounds

Lifespan: Unknown

This German breed of cattle was developed for multiuse. Gelbvieh are both a meat and milk cow as well as a draft animal. They are easy to handle and have a quiet temperament. Today, they are sometimes crossed with angus to improve meat quality.

Brahman

Brahman cows

Temperament: Shy, inquisitive, intelligent

Weight: 1,000-2,200 pounds

Lifespan: 15-20 years

The Brahman, sometimes called the American Brahaman, is a large cattle breed with a distinctive “hump” over the top of its neck and long folds of skin hanging below it. They are a familiar site at rodeos, as they make excellent bucking animals. They are shy, but inquisitive and intelligent.

Australian Lowline

Australian Lowline Cattle

Temperament: Even-tempered, easy to handle, calm

Weight:  650-1,350 pounds

Lifespan: 12-25 years

The Australian Lowline is a popular cattle breed due to being naturally polled and easy to handle. They are also smaller than some other beef cows, making them great for hobby farms, too.

Shorthorn

Cattle Herd and Ranching on the Great Plains

Temperament: Docile

Weight: 1,200-1,400 pounds

Lifespan: 20 years

The Shorthorn, or American Shorthorn, is a breed of beef cattle developed in the United States. They are known for being easy to handle and great mothers. You can also use them for milk, and they are known for their longevity, with cows producing milk even at age 20.

American Brangus

Brangus cow portrait

Temperament: Calm, easy to handle

Weight: 1,100-2,000 pounds

Lifespan: 15-20 years

The American Brangus were developed by crossing Brahmans with Angus. The result was a hardier breed of cattle, more tolerant of heat and disease but having quality meat thanks to the Angus influence.

Droughtmaster

Herd of Droughtmaster Beef Cattle, Atherton Tableland, North Queensland

Temperament: Docile

Weight: 1,500-2,200 pounds

Lifespan: 15-20 years

The Droughtmaster is a breed of cattle developed in Australia by crossing Brahman with Shorthorn. The resulting cattle are hardy, good mothers and have a great temperament. They are meat cows but also produce a good amount of milk that is good enough quality to use for drinking and dairy products.

Brown Swiss

Brown Swiss

Temperament: Docile and calm

Weight: 1,300-1,400 pounds

Lifespan: 15-20 years

Brown Swiss cattle are a dairy breed whose milk is particularly great for cheesemaking, due to the fat to protein ratio. In one year, a Brown Swiss cow can produce 2,600 gallons of milk.

Devon

Devon Cow on a Farm

Temperament: Very docile, easy to handle

Weight: 1,000-1,700 pounds

Lifespan: 10-12 years

The Devon cattle breed is a beef breed from England. Because they did not become as popular in the United States, their genetics have not changed much, making it the most genetically pure cattle breed in the world.

Beefmaster

Beefmaster cattle bull

Temperament: Gentle, easy going

Weight: 1,100-2,500 pounds

Lifespan: 11 years

The Beefmaster breed of cattle was developed by crossing Brahmans with Hereford-Shorthorn hybrids. The resulting breed is hardy and easy to handle, while producing quality meat. They are easy to care for, which help ranchers increase their profits.

Belted Galloway

Small group of Belted Galloway Cattle

Temperament: Generally quiet, can be protective

Weight: 1,500-2,300 pounds

Lifespan: 17-20 years

If you’re driving down the road with your kids, they would probably call this breed the “Oreo cow.” Black with a big band of white through the middle, the Belted Galloway are quiet; however, the cows will be protective of calves. They are known for being hardy, disease resistance and producing high-quality, low-fat beef.

Santa Gertrudis

a closeup shot of Santa Gertrudis cow in a field

Temperament: Playful, good-natured

Weight: 1,350-2,200 pounds

Lifespan: 13-15 years

The Santa Gertrudis is a breed of beef cattle developed in the United States, descending from one mixed-breed bull named Monkey. He was a mix of Brahman and shorthorn. The breed is popular for is good temperament, adaptability to climate and hardiness, along with good beef.

Chianina

Chianina breed cattle during morning hours of the day

Temperament: Docile, easy to handle

Weight: 1,700-2,900 pounds

Lifespan: 20 years

The Chianina is a large, white dual-purpose cattle breed from Asia. They were originally used as a daft animal, working the farm or pulling wagons, as well as for meat. Now mainly used for beef, they are known for lean meat production.

Wagyu

Japanese Wagyu bill with his herd

Temperament: Docile, easy to handle

Weight: 1,500-plus pounds

Lifespan: About 20 years

Wagyu cattle encompass four types of cattle from Japan that are raised in a particular way to produce superior, high-priced beef. Only two of the types — Japanese Black and Japanese Brown — are available outside Japan.

Ankole-Watusi

herd of ankole watusi cattle

Temperament: Docile, easy to train

Weight: 900-1,600 pounds

Lifespan: 20 years

The distinctive horns of the Ankole-Watusi make it easy to recognize. They are an African breed of cattle that you may even see at your local zoo. They have been used as draft animals as well as for their lean beef and high butterfat milk. They are listed as recovering on The Livestock Conservancy list.