Hog, Sheep, Goat, and Poultry Breeds

Hog, Sheep, Goat, and Poultry BreedsBrahma

Orpington

Dorset

Boer

(Barred) Plymouth Rock

Berkshire

Originated in England and first imported into the United States in 1823

Medium size hog with an acceptable carcass

Black in color with six white points (four legs, head, and tail)

Erect ears

Disqualification from the American Berkshire Association include swirls on the back or sides, large amounts of white hair on the body, and red hairDuroc

Originated from red hogs from the eastern United States

Red in color with shades from light to dark, with a medium cherry being preferred

Good mothering ability, growth rate, and feed conversion

Disqualifications for registry include having more than 3 black spots, spots larger than 2 inches in diameter, cryptorchidism (retention of one or more testicles in the body cavity), fewer than 6 teats on each side of sows, or white hair on the bodyWyandotte

Cheviot

Originated in Northern England and Southern Scotland and imported in the United States in 1838

Small body with blocky build

White face and legs with black nostrils and alert appearance

Breed is all polled

Fleece grows 4-5 inches per year

Does not have a strong flocking (staying in a group) instinct

Merino

Leghorn

Obserhasli

Angora

Australorp

American Landrace

New Hampshire

Hampshire

Cochin

Rambouillet

Yorkshire

Originated in Yorkshire, England and imported to the United States in the 1800s

White in color sometimes with pigmented spots called freckles

Erect ears

Early bacon breed

Noted for large litters, good mothering ability, high feed efficiency rapid growth, and a long carcass

Often used in crossbreeding programsDisqualifications from the American Yorkshire Club include swirls on the upper third of the body, hair other than white, less than six teats on each side, cryptorchidism

American Landrace

Originated in Denmark, then imported by the USDA in 1934 for experimental purposes

White in color

Long Bodied

Long ears that lop forward and down

Noted for mothering ability and large litters

Disqualifications from the American Landrace Association include black hair, erect ears, and less than six teats on each sideAlpine

Originated in France and imported to the United States in 1922.Ranges in color from pure white to black, with many varied color patternsErect earsShort hairedNo dewalpBoth bearded and non-beardedBucks: 170-180 lbsDoes: 125-135 lbsAverage Milk Production: 1500-1600 lbs per yearRhode Island Red

Toggenburg

Ferrell Hog

Rhode Island Red

Chester White

Originated in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1848

Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Chester breeds mixed to form Chester White

Solid white in color

Forward drooping ears

Disqualifications for registry include swirls on the back or side and any color other than white

Cheviot

Dorper

Developed in South Africa

White bodied with a white or black head

Coat is a mixture of hair and wool that sheds in the spring

Heavily muscled lambs that grow rapidly

Have the ability to breed out of season to produce fall lambs

Interest for Dorper sheep has built in the United States in recent yearsBerkshire

Cornish

Hampshire

Pygmy

Plymouth Rock

Merino

Originated in Spain and imported to the United Stated in 1793

A, B, and C type (A=very wrinkled skin, B=somewhat wrinkled skin, C= little to no wrinkles)

White fleece growing about 2.5 to 4 inches in length

Horned or polled rams and polled ewes

Medium in size with angular bodies

Able to do well in poor grazing climates and all types of climates

Their fleece demands a high price around the world, therefore it is known as the Golden Fleece36Orpington

Dorset

Originated in southern England and imported in the United States in 1887

Medium size with a blocky build

Ears, nose, face, and legs are all white

Produce a medium-coarse, light weight fleece

Popular with breeders because the ewes breed out of season, meaning lambs can be born in the fallLaMancha

Developed in the United States from a strain of the Nubian breed

May be any color

Two types of earsGopher- 1 inch or less with little to no cartilageBucks must have gopher ears to registerElf- 2 inches long with cartilage shaping and possibly turned up or down

FUN FACT- Due to the lack of a sizeable ear, this breed must be marked on the tail for identification!Cornish

Rambouillet

Originated in France and imported to the United States in 1840Around half of all crossbred sheep contain Rambouillet bloodPopular in the western U.S.Most popular fine wool breedWhite in colorLarge body with a blocky buildMeatier carcass than that of the Merino, however as good as meat production breedsFleece grows approximately 3.5 inches per yearCochin

Chester White

Southdown

Alpine

Ferrell Hog

Appear basically the same as domesticated hogsMajor problem in the southeastern United StatesNon-game animal that may be taken any time of the year, by any method, with no limitClick the link to learn about the problem in Texas!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ntKyFWOoNI

Yorkshire

Angora

Ancient breed originating in Turkey and first imported to the United States in 1849.Most popular in the southwestern United StatesMost individuals are horned, however a small number are polledLong, thin, droopy earsBucks: 125-175 lbsDoes: 80-90 lbsFleece of the Angora goat is called mohairKid mohair is higher value because it becomes coarser as the goat agesAverage mohair production: 6-7 lbs per yearBoer

Originated in South Africa and imported to the United States in 1993Color: White with a red head and shouldersAll individuals are hornedVery popular and rapidly growing meat breed in the United States making it popular for farmersBucks: 240-380 lbsDoes: 200-265 lbsAverage daily gain: 0.3-0.4 lbs per day

Southdown

Originated in southern England and first imported in the United States in 1803

One of the oldest sheep breeds in the world

Moderate size sheep

Face, ears and legs are grey or brown

Tend to become overly fat at an early age

Adaptable to all climates and environments

Fleece of 5 to 7 lbsNubian

Originated in Africa and imported to the United States in 1896May be any color or combination of colorsShort hairLong, droopy earsDoes are beardlessBuck: 175-180 lbsDoe: 130-135 lbsAverage Milk Production: 1300-1500 lbs per yearHampshire

Originated in England and imported between 1825 and 1835

Major development of the breed occurred in Kentucky!

Black in a color with a white belt around the forepart of the body

Erect ears

Noted for muscle and carcass leanness

Popular in crossbreeding programs

Disqualification for registry occurs from cryptorchidism, incomplete belt, or a belt that covers more than two-thirds of the body

Plymouth Rock

Dorper

Brahma

Wyandotte

Oberhasli

Originated in SwitzerlandAlert in appearance because of their forward pointing earsColoration of bay ranging from a light to deep red bay with black on the head, belly, knees, and hocksWattles-a projection of skin hanging from the chinBucks: minimum of 150 lbs and 30 inches tallDoes: minimum of 120 lbs and 28 inches tallAverage Milk Production: 2000 lbs per yearLeghorn

Pygmy

Originated in the French Cameroon area of Africa16-23 inches tall at the withersCan be any color, however white or black is preferredUsed mainly in zoos or for 4-H and FFA projectsNational Pygmy Goat Association standards:Muzzle, forehead, eyes, and ears are accented in lighter tones than bodyFront and rear hooves are darker than the remainder of the bodyCarmel colored goats must have faint stripes on the front sides of their darker front hooves

New Hampshire

LaMancha

Toggenburg

Originated in Switzerland and first imported to the United States in 1893Color varies from light fawn to dark chocolateEars are white with dark spots in the middleTwo white stripes on face from eyes to muzzleBucks: 150-175 lbsDoes: 100-135 lbsAverage Milk Production: 1500-1600 lbs per yearLeghorn

Hampshire

Originated in southern England and first imported in the United States before 1840

Large in size with a blocky body type and entire breed is polled

Face, legs, ears, and nose are black

Known for their good milking ability and medium maturation rate, with lambs ready for market at weaning

Produce 6-7 pounds of medium-fine textured wool

One of the most popular medium wool breeds in the U.S., especially in the midwest

Australorp

Cornish

Nubian

Duroc

Rhode Island Red