Milking Shorthorn Cattle Breed – Everything You Need to Know

The Milking Shorthorn has been providing milk and working the land for generations. This beautiful docile and easy to handle breed of cattle has proved its worth and continues to do so with the breeds every evolving improvement.
The Milking Shorthorn is a very impressive breed that shows at most exhibitions and in the quality of its products it produces.

MILKING SHORTHORN BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW
The Milking Shorthorn has been around for generations and has much to offer farmers of all statures
Country of Origin:	England
Other Names:	English Dairy Shorthorn
Main Purpose:	Milk
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Can be used for	Breed, Milk
Ideal Climate:	Heat, Cold, Most Climates
Conservation Status:	Not listed by the *ALC Status/Rarity: Not at risk
Health Issues?	No known health issues
Good Starter Cattle?	Novice to intermediate Cattle farmer/keeper level
Cattle Associations:	American Milking Shorthorn Society, Canadian Milking Short Horn Association, NZ Milking Short Horn Association and The Shorthorn Society of United Kingdom and Ireland
Cattle Clubs:	Please refer to the American Milking Shorthorn Society, Canadian Milking Short Horn Association, NZ Milking Short Horn Association and The Shorthorn Society of United Kingdom and Ireland for more information on the Milking Shorthorn cattle breed
Where to buy them?	Please refer to the American Milking Shorthorn Society, Canadian Milking Short Horn Association, NZ Milking Short Horn Association and The Shorthorn Society of United Kingdom and Ireland for more information on the Milking Shorthorn cattle breed
Child Friendly?	Livestock should not be left unattended around unsupervised children
General Information:	The Shorthorn is the oldest recognized breed in the world. The White and Roan coloring pattern of the Shorthorn cattle are found on no other cattle breed. They are one of the most versatile, adaptive and hardy breeds around. They are very productive and have so much to offer any type of farm or homestead. They are hardworking, powerful cattle that have a gentle, docile nature. Over the past 15 years, the breed has been one of the most improved breeds with the promise of even greater improvements to come. They have improved dairy qualities, udder qualities to name but a few improvements.
Note: *ALC stands for American Livestock Conservancy

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Milking or Dairy Shorthorn is a beautiful breed with a unique coloring pattern. They are of a medium frame with the females having a perfectly proportioned blockish frame, long sturdy legs and a medium sized face with a straight profile. The bulls of the Shorthorn are stockier, more muscular and as such have a more rounded appearance that the cows.

Size:

Medium

CATTLE ⇒	COW	BULL
Breed Color:	White, Roan, or red with white markings	White, Roan, or red with white markings
Breed Weight:	640 to 680 kgs	680 kgs to 780 kgs
Breed Height:	140 cm	140 cm
Horns:	They do not have horns	They do not have horns
Temperament:	Calm and docile	Calm and docile remember to always watch your back around bulls as they should be treated with caution
Matures at age:	6 to 8 months or 9 + months	6 to 8 months or 9 + months
Puberty Age:	6 to 15 months	9 to 1o months
Breeding Age:	13 to 15 months	1 year
Breeding Traits:	See Cow breeding & Milking Info	Cover 25 to 30 Cows in 1 season

COW BREEDING & MILKING INFORMATION
Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. Cows only calve once a year and should have 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. They are an excellent dairy cow with a good quality of milk. They are also a fertile cow that has easy births with little to no need for intervention. They are good mothers as most cows are and their maternal instincts are very good.
Breeding Period/cycle:	Usually lasts 6 to 24 hours Most ave. 12 to 16 hours Cows usually come on heat every 21 days.
Estrous cycle:	Ave. 17 days to 24 days Heifer – usually ave. 20 days Cows – usually ave. 21 days
Gestation Period:	Usually, around 279 to 287 days but most gestation is 283 days. Cows that are carrying bull calf’s their gestation period is usually a little longer than cows that are carrying heifer calves.
No. Calves/Litter:	1 calf at a time. Cows rarely have twins or triplets, but it can happen
Lactation Period:	Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days.
Milking From:	1 to 6 weeks after Calving
Drying off Period:	The cow should have a 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. Drying off period for around 60 days before she can calve again.
Milk Quality:	Good, Butterfat = 3.8%, Protein = 3.3% Quantity: 7000 kgs Per: Lactation period
Milk Ideal for:	Calves, drinking, and other dairy products
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CATTLE MEAT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Most Cattle breeds can be used for meat and produce an acceptable quality of meat. The Milking Shorthorn is not bred for its meat

Meat Production?

N/A

CATTLE ⇒	VEAL	BEEF
Ave. Maturity Age:	6 to 8 months	9 months up to 4 years

CATTLE SKIN PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Most meat Cattle will have a skin by-product, and these are usually used in some form or just as a hide. The Milking Shorthorn rarely produces any leather by-products

Skin Production?

N/A

Skin is used to Produce:

Calf/cow skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, handbags, belts, furniture, rugs, etc.

CATTLE ⇒	CALF	ADULT
Age they Produce from:	6 to 8 months for Calf skin	1 to 2 years old for Normal leather

HISTORY

The Shorthorn cattle breed originated in the Northeastern coast of England. They were mainly found in Lincoln, York, Northumberland, and Durham. In the 1600s there were large cattle that grazed on the rich fertile pastures of the lush valley of the Tees River. These cattle became known as Teeswater cattle.

In 1783 the breed was brought to America and they were first known as Durham cattle. They were the first improved breed to be imported to America and they became very popular among the farmers. They were favored by the pioneers for their ease of adaptability, their strength for working the land and pulling carts or wagons, their good quality beef and their excellent milking qualities.

There are several responsible parties throughout the history of the breed responsible for the development through careful selection to what to breed is today.
Most of the early breed to be imported to America came from English herds of the Bates and Booth type Shorthorn cattle.

The Shorthorn breed is basically broken into two segments the beef variety which is known simply as Shorthorn in America and then the Milking Shorthorn. If you trace the roots of these two varieties, you will find that they have the same lineage.

The first Shorthorn breed book was begun in 1846 with the first American Shorthorn Breeders’ Association started in 1882. By 1912 some breeders of Milking Shorthorn organized a club within the American Shorthorn Breeders’ Association for those that were interested in promoting the Milking Shorthorn variety of the breed.

In 1948 the American Milking Shorthorn Society was incorporated, and they took over the registration of Milking Shorthorns.