Items24The creator’s order
  1. 1Holstein FriesianHolstein FriesianLook for large, irregular black-and-white patches on a tall dairy frame. Holsteins can also be red-and-white, and the white areas usually form broad shapes rather than small flecks. If the whole herd is in view, look at the range of markings before relying on one animal’s color.0
  2. 2Hereford cattleHereford cattleStart with the white face against a red body. White commonly continues onto the throat, underside, and lower legs. Both horned and polled Herefords occur, so those patches give you more to work with than the presence or absence of horns.0
  3. 3Belted GallowayBelted GallowayLook for a broad white belt running all the way around the middle, between the forelegs and hind legs. The head and rump can be black, red, or dun. Add the shaggy coat and a naturally hornless head to the belt if the cow is close enough to see clearly.0
  4. 4Highland cattleHighland cattleThe Highland’s forehead fringe can fall over its eyes, especially when the coat is long. Paired with wide-set horns, the fringe is a better clue than the familiar reddish coat. Highlands can also be black, yellow, dun, brindle, silver, or white.0
  5. 5Texas LonghornTexas LonghornThe Texas Longhorn’s long horns usually spread out well beyond the head. They may curve or twist at the tips, and coat patterns vary widely. Start with the span, then check the horn angle if you’re comparing it with an English Longhorn.0
  6. 6English LonghornEnglish LonghornThe English Longhorn has a different silhouette from its Texas namesake. Its long horns typically sweep down as well as out, and a white line often runs along the back on a brindled or roan coat. In a side view, the horn direction is often the first clue.0
  7. 7Aberdeen AngusAberdeen AngusA typical black Aberdeen Angus has a plain dark coat and a naturally hornless head. If the cow has a white face or a white band, look at the rest of the herd before calling it Angus. Coat color alone is a weak clue when several solid-black breeds or crosses graze together.0
  8. 8Jersey cattleJersey cattleA Jersey often has a fawn coat, a dark muzzle with a pale ring, and a relatively small dairy frame. Look for the muzzle and the build together, since Jersey coats can range from pale tan to very dark. A small tan cow with extensive white patches could call for a closer comparison with Guernsey.0
  9. 9Guernsey cattleGuernsey cattleStart with a warm fawn or reddish-fawn coat, then look for white on the legs and underside or in larger patches up the sides. The cow’s angular dairy frame is the other clue. A Jersey can also be fawn, so check how much white you can see and whether the muzzle has a dark center.0
  10. 10Brown Swiss cattleBrown Swiss cattleA Brown Swiss can look smoky gray, tan, or dark brown. Find the dark muzzle first and look for darker hooves and a dark tail switch. Those points are more useful than expecting every animal in the herd to be the same shade of brown.0