There are huge types of cattle breeds that are diverse in their characteristics and importance. Some strains are raised to obtain the best milk productivity and others to obtain high-quality meat.
There are also some breeders who are looking for a rapidly growing breed in order to obtain close profits from their project in raising cattle. We did our research, and we collected the fastest growing breeds and the most important data about them. Let’s dig deeper.
What Cattle Breeds Grow The Fastest?
Here are 7 cattle species that we think are the fastest growing one according to our researches:
- Holstein Friesian
- Hereford
- Angus
- Charolais
- Simmental
- Galb Feeh
- Wagyu
Now, let’s get into more details about each one of the species we mentioned above:
1. Holstein Friesian
One of the fastest growing cattle breeds, calves grow very quickly and mature early. Holstein steers can grow up to 1,400 pound market weight in around 18 months.
It can be managed well as it is a social breed that does not like isolation and is easy to deal with humans and other members of its herd. It resists stress, It does not show any fertility problems.
The gestation period for Holstein cows is about nine months. The adult cow is about 58 inches tall and weighs about 1,500 pounds.
Holstein calves can be raised at a fairly early age around 15 months, when they weigh an average of about 800 pounds. But it is preferable to delay the females a little more than the calves, so that the first birth is between 24 and 27 months of age.[1]
Healthy cows give birth to calves with good weights, as the Holstein calf weighs about 90 pounds or more at birth.
One of the most important features of Holsteins breed is its very high milk and meat productivity. It is considered the highest milk producing cow in the world, producing an average of 17,000 lbs of milk, 600 lbs pounds of butterfat through the 6 years of its productive life span.
You can breed Holsteins in any system available to you. It adapts to all systems of management. Where they can be raised in closed barns or used for grazing in wide pastures.
On the negative side, they do not tolerate heat, and it leads to a decrease in their productivity. They may be expensive to the budget as they need food in large quantities due to their large milk production. Also, Holstein cows aren’t considered good mothers.
But fairly these cannot be considered a defect if the profits that you get from milk compensate for that.
2. Hereford
Hereford is known for its early maturity and rapid growth. They grow with an average daily weight gain of 0.8kg starting from their birth. It is a docile breed and is characterized by producing high quality meat. Hereford is strong and has a great ability to forage. They Live long and remain productive even in old age.
Some females can give birth to healthy calves after the age of 15. Bulls are able to mate and produce until the age of 12 or more. They are Easy to handle, can adapt to wide pastures and it is also good in confinement. It has a high rate of reproduction and fertility and grows rapidly.
It produces highly marbled meat and good fat. Unlike Holstein, Hereford can withstand different temperatures. It tolerates heat and has good cold tolerance as well. Unfortunately, It can sometimes be difficult to get and somewhat expensive.
Related Article: What Cow Breeds Are Brindle?
3. Angus
Angus is widely spread internationally, being the main cattle breed in many countries such as the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia. She is still very popular in Britain, and it doesn’t end there.
It has also spread to South Africa, Brazil, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Spain. it is well known for its very early maturing, it is also adaptable, docile and hardy to harsh weather conditions.
It is one of the most famous breeds that produces delicious marbled meat and is mainly bred for slaughtering to obtain high-quality meat. Angus usually reach puberty between 9 to 10 months, however, you can use them for breeding purposes after they reach 15 months or even 18 months old. It is characterized by high fertility and remains able to conceive and give birth efficiently even at the old ages of 12 and 13 years. Cows are wonderful mothers and are famous for their easy birth.
Their calves rise quickly and have a high ability to suckle and absorb colostrum from the first minutes after birth. It produces milk very well and her milk increases every year with the birth of a new calf.
4. Charolais
Charolais has been around for a long time. Some believe that their existence dates back to 878 AD. However, according to official records, its origins date back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It has its origins in the Nizores and Charolles region of France and is named after it. By the twentieth century, it had spread a lot in Europe.
Charolais is Famous for its light white color and fast maturation, it is raised to produce high quality meat. it gives birth easily and her young grow well quickly and turn her food into large muscle masses of delicious meat. Charolais has a good temperament, is easy to manage and can be integrated into any system. It is also used for hybridization. As it contributed to the development of the characteristics of the huge body and large muscles in many other cow breeds.
Related Article: How often should your cattle be drenched?
5. Simmental
This strain originated in Switzerland in the eighteenth century and then spread to Europe. Simmental cattles are usually ready for breeding at the age of 14 to 16 months. It is distinguished by its color, which ranges from yellowish brown to straw to dark red. There are white markings on the head, chest, abdomen and legs.
Simmentals are characterized by their rapid maturation and strong muscles. They are heavier than other European breeds. They have a high meat production, They produce hard, low-fat red meat. They have a good temperament, are easy to handle, very adaptable and have a high milk production.
They have a high fertility rate, can live long, and cows are excellent mothers. It is an ideal breed for crossbreeding, especially with Herefords, resulting in equal generations of red and white cattle.
6. Gelbvieh
Gelbvieh is a European breed that originated in northern Germany and later moved to North America in the seventies of the last century through semen. It may reach puberty at the age of 13 months which is considered very early. It also can be used in breeding purposes between the age of 13 to 22 and it differs from one to another. It has a short coat, with fine hair and strong pigmentation that ranges in color from reddish-golden (honey that may be dark or light) to burgundy or black. This colorful coat makes them adaptable to any climatic conditions, and they have been reported to tolerate the heat of South Africa.
Gelbvieh has a calm, docile temperament and is easy to deal with. Very fast in growth especially in the pre-weaning stage. Their sizes range from medium to large in size, the average weight of a mature bull is 1000 kg while that of a mature cow is 750 kg. And 37.5 kg for newborn calves.
One-year-old young veal are marketed due to their rapid growth rate, high quality meat and low fat content. Gelbvieh enjoys a high fertility rate, as males have the largest testicles compared to all other breeds. Female fertility is also high and they mature early. They have large udders and a high milking capacity.
7. Wagyu
Wagyu cattle were imported to the United States for the first time in 1975, with two black and two red bulls imported. They mature very quickly, as females cycle at a very early age, before they reach a year. You can let them grow and reach around 700kg in 3 years period and you can slaughter them starting from the age of 18 months old.
Male calves are highly fertile, as service bulls have cows at a rate of more than 50% compared to other breeds. It has a greater ease of childbirth. This is due to the low birth weights of 30-40 kg for the weights of wagyu calves. Their temperament is peaceful, and adapts to any circumstances.
Wagyu beef is very tasty and is used by skilled cooks in fine restaurants. In addition to its delicious taste, it is also very healthy. Its fats are healthier than the fats of other breeds, as they contain a higher percentage of unsaturated fats compared to saturated fats. Their saturated fats also have certain properties that make them not raise cholesterol levels by much.
