There are many types of cows in farming, but dairy cows are used specifically for their milk. The breeds in this list are a group of animals that differ quite a bit in appearance and sometimes behaviour, but what they have in common is that they all produce high-quality milk. The ability to produce milk is not consistent across every type of cow.

There are certainly some that are better than others at that. For dairy farmers, dairy cows are truly a special breed of cattle. If you’re a farmer considering investing in a dairy cow, here are the types of dairy cows to consider.

Type #1: Holstein Dairy Cows

Holsteins have a classic black-and-white spotted body. They are what most people think of when thinking about what a type of dairy cow is. Holsteins are extremely large cows and weigh roughly 1,500 pounds.

This type of dairy cows was first brought to North America in the 1850s and is originally from the Netherlands. Holsteins are considered to have the best milk production of all dairy breeds. A fun fact about them is that no two Holsteins are alike. The spots on one Holstein form a different pattern than the next.

Type #2: Guernsey Dairy Cows

Guernsey come in brown or fawn tones and have white spots of various sizes covering their body and face. Guernsey cows are medium size at roughly 1,200 pounds at maturity. The milk you receive from a Guernsey is golden in colour due to the high presence of beta-carotene in it.

Guernsey cows also contain a high amount of butterfat and protein. Trademark Golden Guernsey premium milk has circulated across Canada and the US since the 1950s.

Type #3: Jersey Dairy Cows

Jersey cows have large eyes and are adorned in a light brown colour. Jersey cows are widely known for having broad faces, prominent eyes, and long eyelashes. Their aesthetic is very endearing to many people. They provide milk that is high in butterfat.

It is typically the milk of a Jersey cow that gets used in ice cream production. Jersey cattle are slightly smaller and only weigh up to 1,000 pounds once they reach maturity. Jerseys were brought from the UK to North America over a century ago.

Type #4: Canadienne Dairy Cows

The Canadienne is the only dairy cow on this list to have developed in North America. They are descendants of crows bought to Canada first in the mid-1500s and early 1600s. Canadiennes were Canada’s main milking cow before the 1950s though many modern farmers use other breeds. Currently, there are less than 200 purebred female Canadiennes left in Canada.

A hardy cow can survive, reproduce, and give milk on poor feeds and through harsh conditions. However, these cows will give better quality milk when raised in a human environment. Consider installing barn fans to ensure their living space is well-ventilated. Canadienne milk can be relied upon to be rich in fat and protein, often used for producing specialized cheeses.

Type #5: Ayrshire Dairy Cows

Ayrshire cows have reddish-brown mahogany spots over a white body. Originally from Scotland, Ayrshire cattle are medium-sized and weigh approx. 1,200 pounds when mature. They are a moderate butterfat cattle breed, with top-producing Ayrshires producing over 20,000 pounds of milk in their lactations.

This cattle breed was the go-to for Scottish dairymen across decades as the composition of their milk was perfect for making butter and cheese. Ayrshire is a highly-efficient pick for a dairy cow.

Type #6: Brown Swiss Dairy Cows

Brown Swiss is one of the oldest milk cows in North America. They date back to long before other breeds were used. Brown Swiss dairy cows are originally from Switzerland, weighing about 1,500 pounds in maturity. They get to be fairly large and have a grey-brown colouring that’s hard to mistake for anything other than a Brown Swiss.

In their homeland, they are routinely moved to high mountain regions during summer, and all wear large cowbells so that their farmers can locate them in the foggy pastures of Switzerland.

Type #7: Milking Shorthorn Dairy Cows

The Milking Shorthorn was one of the first dairy cows brought to North America in the early 1780s. The Milking Shorthorn cow is medium-built, weighing about 1,100 pounds when mature. They can be red, red and white, or white and roan in colour.

This type of dairy cow forms a key element of several red types of milk cows used worldwide, including Swedish Red cattle, Angeln cattle, and Illawarra cattle.

Type #8: Red and White Holstein Dairy Cows

The Red and White Holstein differs from your regular black Holstein and is widely recognized in North America as a dairy cow. They first came into North America’s dairy cow culture in the mid-1960s. They are large at over 1,400 pounds in maturity.

Red and White Holsteins are also the only dairy cow recognized by the Purebred Cattle Association as purebred. Red And White Holsteins originated in Canada and the US when farmers began to select dairy cows based on the recessive red hair colour trait found in some Holsteins.