Jersey cows are our favorite - mini jerseys to be exact! They make an excellent family milk cow. They are very efficient at converting grass to milk. You will find jersey cow in micro, mini, mid and full size options. The benefits to having a mini jersey is that you can feed them 1/4 less feed than what you would a full size cow and they produce a good amount of milk (with quality milk fats, butter fats and proteins). Jersey cows can be used as dual purpose as well but aren’t the first choice for dual purpose because they take an additional 2 years to grow out and be ready for the butcher which ends up costing more in feed. Their meat, however, is marbled and one of the most delicious meats.

Holsteins are sweet tempered and gentle giants clocking in around 1,500lbs . These cow are a dairy breed that has been bred to produce large amounts of milk but have the lowest milk fat. They are often bred to meat cows to calve babies that can grow up and act as a delicious meat source to serve as food for a family.

Brown Swiss cows are one of the larger dairy breeds. These cows have a good milk, protein and butterfat production which makes them a great choice for cheesemakers. They are also another dual purpose (milk and meat) option and they do well in many climates.

Ayrshires are one of the larger cow breeds in the diary category. They are a step up from Holsteins and a step down from Jerseys when it comes to milk production. This breed is a great dual purpose option.

Guernsey cows are another great small family farm option. This breed is the most similar to the Jersey cow in terms of butterfat content in their milk. Their milk is said to contain large amounts of beta carotene.

Dexter cows are becoming more popular for small farmers due to their great milk and beef. They produce the most milk for their body weight compared to other cows. They are smaller and very gentle and require less feed than other breeds.

Popular Breeds of Dairy Cattle

Unicorn Milk Cow