# Livestock Breeds Part of the Animal Science Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/animal-science/guide/index.md) > **1.** Name two breeds of livestock in each of the following classifications: horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, and goats. Tell their principal uses and merits. Tell where the breeds originated. This requirement asks you to survey seven categories of livestock and pick two breeds from each. You need to know what each breed is best at, why farmers choose it, and where it came from. Below is a guide to help you explore each category — but remember, the goal is for **you** to select the breeds that interest you most and research them. ## Horses Horses have been bred for centuries for specific jobs — speed, strength, endurance, or temperament. When you choose your two horse breeds, think about what makes them different from one another. Some well-known horse breeds include the **Quarter Horse**, which originated in the American colonies and is prized for sprinting and cattle work; the **Thoroughbred**, developed in England for racing; the **Arabian**, one of the oldest breeds in the world, known for endurance and a distinctive dished face; and the **Clydesdale**, a Scottish draft breed famous for its size and strength. > **Tip** > > When describing a breed's merits, focus on the traits that make it valuable for its principal use. For a beef breed, that might be marbling quality and feed efficiency. For a horse breed, it could be speed, stamina, or temperament. ## Dairy Cattle Dairy breeds have been selected for high milk production, butterfat content, or both. The **Holstein** (from the Netherlands) dominates commercial dairy production worldwide, producing more milk per cow than any other breed. The **Jersey** (from the Isle of Jersey, England) is smaller but produces milk with exceptionally high butterfat content — ideal for cheese and butter. Other dairy breeds include the **Guernsey**, **Brown Swiss**, and **Ayrshire**, each with its own strengths. > **Did You Know?** > > A single Holstein cow can produce over 23,000 pounds of milk per year — that is about 2,700 gallons, enough to fill a small swimming pool. ## Beef Cattle Beef breeds are selected for growth rate, meat quality, and adaptability to different climates. The **Angus** (from Scotland) is the most popular beef breed in the United States, prized for its marbling and calving ease. The **Hereford** (from England) is known for its hardiness and foraging ability on rough pasture. Other important beef breeds include the **Charolais** (France), **Simmental** (Switzerland), and **Brahman** (India), which thrives in hot, humid climates. ## Sheep Sheep breeds fall into three general categories: wool breeds, meat breeds, and dual-purpose breeds. The **Merino** (from Spain) produces the finest, softest wool in the world. The **Suffolk** (from England) is a popular meat breed with a black face and fast growth rate. The **Dorper** (from South Africa) is a hair sheep that sheds its coat and is valued in hot climates. The **Rambouillet** (from France) is a dual-purpose breed offering both fine wool and good meat production. ## Hogs Hog breeds are selected for lean meat production, litter size, and mothering ability. The **Yorkshire** (from England) is the most common breed in American pork production, known for large litters and lean meat. The **Duroc** (from the United States) has a distinctive red color and is valued for fast growth and excellent meat quality. Other notable breeds include the **Hampshire**, **Berkshire**, and **Landrace**. ## Poultry Poultry includes chickens, turkeys, ducks, and more. For chickens, the **White Leghorn** (from Italy) is the top egg-production breed, laying around 300 white eggs per year. The **Cornish Cross** is the dominant meat bird (broiler) breed. The **Rhode Island Red** (from the United States) is a popular dual-purpose breed for both eggs and meat. For turkeys, the **Broad Breasted White** is the commercial standard. > **Did You Know?** > > The White Leghorn chicken is so efficient at converting feed into eggs that it can produce about 10 times its own body weight in eggs each year. ## Goats Goat breeds are grouped by their primary product: milk, meat, or fiber. The **Boer** (from South Africa) is the premier meat goat breed, known for rapid growth and muscular build. The **Nubian** (from England, with African and Middle Eastern ancestry) is a popular dairy breed with long, floppy ears and high-butterfat milk. The **Angora** (from Turkey) produces mohair, a lustrous fiber, while the **Saanen** (from Switzerland) is the highest-producing dairy goat breed. ![A visual comparison showing representative animals from each of the seven livestock categories: a horse, dairy cow, beef cow, sheep, hog, chicken, and goat standing side by side](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/animal-science/guide/breed-comparison-chart?v=aeceebe8) ## How to Prepare For your counselor meeting, you will need to name **two breeds** from each of the seven categories and be ready to discuss: **For Each Breed** — Be ready to discuss these points - [ ] Principal uses: What is the breed mainly raised for? - [ ] Merits: What traits make this breed stand out? - [ ] Origin: Where did this breed come from? > **Tip** > > A great way to learn about breeds is to visit a county or state fair. You can see the animals in person, talk to breeders, and compare different breeds side by side. Breed association websites are also excellent sources of detailed information. [Oklahoma State University — Breeds of Livestock](https://breeds.okstate.edu/): A comprehensive database of livestock breeds from around the world, with photos, history, and breed characteristics for cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and more. --- Now that you know about the diversity of livestock breeds, let's look at the diseases that can affect these animals — and how to prevent them. --- - Previous: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/animal-science/guide/index.md) - Next: [Livestock Diseases](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/animal-science/guide/req2/index.md)