Dual-purpose Breeds

The dual-purpose breeds resemble the beef breeds in shape—being heavy, short-legged and fairly wide—but produce more milk with a higher butterfat content than typical beef cattle. The common breeds of dual-purpose cattle in the United States and Canada are the following:

Devon

These cattle are known for their excellent milk production and fleshy beef. This breed is nicknamed “ruby” because of its ruby-red coloring. Bulls weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg), cows up to 1,600 pounds (730 kg). They were brought to what is now the United States in 1623 from England.

Milking Shorthorn

This breed was developed in England before 1780 from shorthorn cattle. Bulls weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg), cows up to 1,700 pounds (770 kg). This breed is raised mostly in the Midwest and in the eastern states.

Red Poll

This naturally hornless breed produces good meat and excellent milk. Its body is a brownish-red and the tip of the tail is white. Bulls weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg), cows up to 1,500 pounds (680 kg). This breed was brought to the United States from England in 1873.