This Cattle Breed Identification Quiz Is Really Hard, So We'll Be Impressed If You Even Get Four Right

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
This Cattle Breed Identification Quiz Is Really Hard, So We'll Be Impressed If You Even Get Four Right
Image: Anthony Lee / OJO Images / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Did you know there are actually over 1,000 breeds of cattle in the world? That's pretty intense for a creature that so few of us will ever even see up close in real life. Fact is, most people don't pay a lot of attention to cattle. They've been relegated to livestock so thoroughly that the average person knows very little about them. We see them in the country if we go for a drive, standing out in fields chewing some cud, but most people never interact with them and find out the differences between one breed and another.

We know our cat breeds and our dog breeds; some of us even know a lot about animals like horses and snakes and tarantulas. But cattle? They just don't get the love and respect they deserve. Not from most people anyway. 

But you're different, right? You know your Angus from your Guernsey. Your Holstein from your Black Hereford. Your Jersey from your Longhorn. You know enough about cattle that you could ace any quiz on the subject, especially one that includes images, right? Well, we'll see about that. If you're a real cattle expert, then show us your stuff and see if you can even get four in this quiz!

Texas Longhorn
Dean Fikar / Moment / Getty Images
Do you know this breed that's descended from the first cattle brought to the New World by Columbus?
Texas Longhorn
Beefmaster
Beefalo
Watusi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Texas Longhorns are some of the most easily recognizable cattle in the world, thanks to their massive horns that can grow to an utterly baffling size. The world record holder for the longest horns is a steer named Poncho Via, whose horns measure 10 feet, 7.4 inches from tip to tip.

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Beefalo
Wiki Commons by Karl Young
Which breed was first created by the warden of a Canadian penitentiary?
Selembu
Tux cattle
Beefalo
Argentine Criollo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beefalo, which are a crossbreed of bison and cattle, have a most unusual pedigree. Colonel Samuel Bedson, warden of Stoney Mountain Penitentiary in Winnipeg, Manitoba, bought eight bison in 1880 and bred them with some domestic cattle.

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Charolais
Karen Murray / Moment / Getty Images
If you want to breed beefier cattle, so to speak, then including this breed will help. What is it?
Charolais
Devonshire
Piedmontese
Ayrshire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Charolais cattle come from France originally but have become very popular in the U.S. as well. They're pretty durable cattle that can handle both warm summers and cold winters. Because they tend to be stockier than British breeds, they're crossbred frequently with other cattle to improve their size.

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Hereford
John P Kelly / Stone / Getty Images
Which breed first came to the U.S. around the year 1817?
Holstein
Guernsey
Hereford
Canchim
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Herefords are a British breed of cattle that are popular because they mature quickly relative to many breeds and bulk up quickly. They were originally bred to meet rising demands for beef, so their purpose was just to be bigger and meatier than older breeds.

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Jersey
debibishop / E+ / Getty Images
Do you know which breed comes from the Channel Islands originally?
Danish Red
Wagyu
Jersey
Lincolnshire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jersey cows are known as incredibly prolific milkers. A cow can actually produce 10 times its weight in milk, which is known for having an exceptionally high butterfat content, per lactation. Since a cow can weigh over 1,000 pounds, that's pretty amazing.

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Guernsey
Ed Reschke / Stone / Getty Images
What breed's registered population continues to decline?
Kangayam
Senepol
Shorthorn
Guernsey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Guernsey cows originally come from the Channel Islands, just like Jersey cows. Their milk has a yellowish-orange tinge, thanks to high levels of beta-carotene, which is the same stuff that makes carrots orange.

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Black Angus
Lianne B Loach / Moment / Getty Images
Do you know which breed is the most common in the United States?
Texas Longhorn
Guernsey
Black Angus
Jersey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Black Angus cattle are extremely popular, with over 350,000 of them registered in the United States alone. They're popular mostly for the quality of their meat, but they're also easy to raise compared to many other breeds, as they eat well and are usually good mothers.

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Simmental
Photograph taken by Alan Hopps / Moment / Getty Images
This breed is related to the Swiss Fleckvieh. What is it?
Simmental
Watusi
Belted Longhorn
Longmire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though relatively new in the U.S., Simmental cattle have been around for a very long time in Europe, with references dating back to the Middle Ages. They've been exported all over the world and were at one time the most popular breed in the Soviet Union.

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Red Angus
Raphael Coutinho / Moment Open / Getty Images
Which breed is prized not just for its meat but also for being pretty docile and tolerant of heat?
American Milking Devon
Luing
Malvi
Red Angus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Red Angus are obviously closely related to Black Angus, but they are distinct in their coloration. In fact, aside from the color, there's no genetic difference between the two breeds whatsoever, even though they're considered distinct.

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Gelbvieh
Wiki Commons by Michael w
Even though these cattle were bred for beef, milk and draft work, they're mostly just beef cattle now. What are they?
Tasmanian Grey
Gelbvieh
Ayrshire
Hereford
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gelbvieh cattle are originally from Germany, and their name actually means "yellow cattle" in German. Thanks to extensive cross-breeding over the years, you can also find plenty of black Gelbvieh cattle, though, making the name a little less on the nose.

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Holstein
MarcelTB / Moment / Getty Images
Which breed is known for being the highest producing dairy cattle in the world?
Holstein
Piedmontese
Limousin
Blue point
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chances are, when you picture a cow, you're picturing a Holstein. These black and white dairy cows have been in the U.S. since the 1800s. A single Holstein can produce over 60,000 pounds of milk in its life.

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Limousin
Vincent Jary / Moment Open / Getty Images
This cattle breed's origin is linked to the auroch, a kind of prehistoric cow. Do you know what it is?
Bedford
Lancashire White
Limousin
Wagyu
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Limousin cattle get their name from a region in France. In French, they add the E on the end, so the cattle share the name of the fancy car we all associate with the rich and famous, which also gets its name from the same place.

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Highlands
georgeclerk / E+ / Getty Images
Which sturdy breed has adapted to the harsh climate of Scotland?
Angus
Belvedere
Polled Hinterland
Highland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Highland cattle are native to the Highlands of Scotland. Though they're not super popular in North America or other parts of the world, the beef they produce is actually lower in cholesterol than most beef and is gaining popularity as a result.

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Belted Galloway
Hal Beral / Corbis / Getty Images
Sometimes this breed is kept for vegetation management, because it'll eat grass other cattle won't. What is it?
Shorthorn
Belted Galloway
Dexter
Devon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Belted Galloways, so named because they tend to have a single band of color around the midsection that looks like a belt, are usually raised as beef cattle. Sometimes a Galloway will be used for lawn maintenance because they're willing to eat any rough, dry, awful grass other cows avoid.

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Brahman
John Coletti / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Which breed is prized for its ability to withstand very high heat and also resist most parasites and insects?
Bazadaise
Zubin
Brahman
Hofstetter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brahman cattle are beef cattle, bred from a mix of Indian breeds. They're remarkably sturdy animals that can withstand heat, and their loose skin ensures they don't feel most bug bites, either. They're generally pretty docile, and you can ride them, too.

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Dexter
Wiki Commons by Pieter Delicaat
Which of these is the smallest breed in Europe?
Dexter
White Park
English Longhorn
Belgian Blue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dexter cattle come from Ireland and are much smaller than most common breeds. They're generally about one-third the size of a Holstein, which still means a bull can grow to be about 1,000 pounds. They used to be rather rare, but they're becoming more popular.

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Piedmontese
Wiki Commons by Aleks
Do you know this breed, known for hypertrophic muscle growth, or "double muscling"?
Corsican
Kurgan
Piedmontese
Senepol
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Piedmontese cattle come from Italy and are often recognizable because they look like masterful bodybuilders. Not all Piedmontese will look this way, but they carry a gene that allows extra musculature in the thighs. The result is some extra beefy cattle.

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Shorthorn
JasonDoiy / E+ / Getty Images
Can you name this breed that eventually grew into two different breeds?
Shorthorn
Red Poll
Blue Belgian
Raimont
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Shorthorns, as you can guess, have short horns. They were bred to be dual-purpose cattle, so you could farm them for beef or dairy, but eventually breeding led them to become two distinct breeds. Now you can get Beef Shorthorn and Dairy Shorthorn.

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Watusi
Fuse / Corbis / Getty Images
Do you know which breed's ancestors appeared in pictographs on the walls of Egyptian pyramids?
Watusi
Devon
Suffolk White
Westingham
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sometimes called Ankole-Watusi, the Watusi is easily identified by its giant horns. Less noticeable but still noteworthy is the milk these cows produce, with a very high butterfat content of about 10%. Most dairy cows produce milk with butterfat content around 4%.

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Wagyu
Fertnig / E+ / Getty Images
Which cattle produces the most expensive beef in the world?
Zebu
Ayrshire
Welsh Grey
Wagyu
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wagyu cattle produce the world-famous and extremely expensive Kobe beef, but that's not the only kind of beef you get from Wagyu. They also produce Matsuzaka, Yonezawa, Mishima, Omi and Sanda beef, depending on where in Japan the cattle are raised.

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Waguli
Wiki Commons by Mmontanamcintosh
What's the name of this breed, created at the Unversity of Arizona?
Brangus
Waguli
Adelaide
Tulsa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Waguli is a breed of cattle that was created by crossbreeding Japanese Wagyu with Zimbabwean Tuli cattle. The purpose was to try to make a superior meat-producing breed that could also handle hotter climates than typical Wagyu.

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Yakutian
Wiki Commons by HalanTul
Do you know this breed that can handle the harsh conditions of the Arctic circle?
White Park
Yakutian
Braford
Lostein
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yakutian cattle are a Russian breed that can withstand brutally cold temperatures, dipping as low as -40 degrees. Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of these cattle left in the world and only about 28 purebred breeding bulls left in Russia.

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Zubron
Edwin Remsberg / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Basically, this breed is the European equivalent of a Beefalo. Do you know what it is?
White Park
Oswegan
Zubron
Lincolnshire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Zubron is a crossbreed between domestic cattle and a wisent, otherwise known as a European bison. The name "Zubron" is Polish and was actually chosen in a contest that ran in a magazine back in 1969.

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Akaushi
Panhandle Ag Extension via YouTube
Which of these is also known as a Japanese Brown?
Akaushi
Hanwoo
Simmental
Shetland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Akaushi cattle are native to Japan and are now being raised in the United States as well. The quality of beef is considered higher than most beef, as Akaushi cattle are a kind of Wagyu beef, which is pretty much the top of the line in the beef world.

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American Milking Devon
Wiki Commons by Son of Groucho
Tell us the name of this breed which came to America in 1623?
Brown Swiss
Galloway
American Milking Devon
Hammerstein
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

American Milking Devons, despite the name, are not necessarily milk cows. They can be used for that purpose, of course, but they also serve as beef cattle and draft animals. The breed is not particularly popular in the U.S. these days.

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Ayrshire
Chris Hepburn / Photodisc / Getty Images
This breed was known as the Dunlop and also the Cunningham. What is it known as now?
Caracu
Iberian
Ponwar
Ayrshire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ayrshire cattle are native to the Ayrshire region of Scotland, though it's believed that sometime in the past they originally came from Holland. The breed grows horns, but they're often removed for safety reasons, as they can grow rather large, up to a foot long, and the cattle can have some aggressive tendencies.

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Belgian Blue
Wiki Commons by agriflanders
Which of these breeds is known for its exceptionally lean meat?
Belgian Blue
Estonian Red
Gascon
Ongole
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Belgian Blue cattle have the same condition that causes excessive muscle development as Piedmontese cattle. It allows them to easily convert fat to lean muscle tissue, and the result is beef that's remarkably lean but not particularly tender.

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Brown Swiss
Richard Fairless / Moment / Getty Images
The milk from this breed is exceptionally well-suited for cheesemaking. Tell us what it is?
Holstein
Brown Swiss
Guernsey
Charolais
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brown Swiss cows produce milk with a high butterfat content that has unique properties, making it well-suited for cheese. They're farmed all over the world, with a population in the millions.

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Brangus
Fernando Velloso via YouTube
Which of these breed names is a registered trademark?
Dhanni
Jamaica Hope
Brangus
Mongolian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Brangus cattle are a crossbreed of Angus and Brahman cattle. To become a registered Brangus, the cattle need to be bred to exacting standards, including parentage that makes them 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus.

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Chianina
Wiki Commons by Monica
Can you name this breed, which is the largest in the world?
Jersey
Dexter
Weldon
Chianina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chianina cattle are absolutely massive, the tallest and heaviest breed of cattle in the world. Bulls can weigh over 3.500 pounds, while oxen can grow to stand 6 feet, 7 inches at the shoulder, dwarfing all other cattle.

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Beefmaster
TvAgro via YouTube
Which breed was created to withstand harsh conditions in Texas?
Beefmaster
Scottish Highland
Senepol
Norfolk Red
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beefmaster cattle have the most superhero/supervillain name of all cattle, so that's something. The breed was created in the 1930s as a cross between Hereford, Shorthorn and Brahman. The result is a stout breed that's good for beef or milk.

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White Park
John B R Davies / Moment Open / Getty Images
This breed is known for producing some very high-quality meat. Name it?
Gelbvieh
Barzona
White Park
Horro
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

White Park cattle are thought to be an extremely old breed in Great Britain, with roots dating back literally thousands of years. They're generally easy to pick out of a crowd — they tend to be completely porcelain white with only a few black accents.

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Santa Gertrudis
Wiki Commons by Jose Reynaldo da Fonseca
Do you know which breed was the first to be officially formed in the United States?
Welsh Black
Santa Gertrudis
Beefalo
Holstein
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Santa Gertrudis cattle are the result of crossbreeding Brahman with Beef Shorthorn cattle. They have been exported all over the world, thanks to their tolerances — they can handle high heat, ticks and illness better than many other breeds.

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Chillingham
Wiki Commons by yellow book
You can find these wild cattle in Northumberland, England. What are they?
Chillingham
Salers
Jersey
Red Angus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chillingham cattle are found on the grounds of Chillingham Castle; hence, the clever name. They're very rare, and most live in a small, wild herd on the castle grounds. As they're not actually tame, they offer some insight into how wild cattle may have lived before domestication.

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English Longhorn
Ashley Cooper / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Which breed is sometimes called Lancashire cattle?
Coriscan
Ibizan
Riviera Blue
English Longhorn
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

English Longhorns bear a bit of a resemblance to their American cousins, the Texas Longhorns, but their horns don't extend out like the Texans'. Rather, they curve inward. Despite the appearance of these animals, they tend to not be particularly aggressive.

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North Devon
Wiki Commons by Cgoodwin
One of the nicknames for this breed is Red Ruby. Any idea what it is?
North Devon
Eastern Finncattle
Braford
Charlston
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

North Devon cattle are adaptable, and as such have left their native England and been established in North and South America, as well as Australia. They're known for their ability to forage and eat things many other cattle won't, but they do tend to be slower to mature than some breeds.

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Senepol
Wiki Commons by Scott Bauer, USDA ARS
Which breed of cattle comes from the Carribean island of St. Croix?
Deoni
Senepol
Wellington
Brack
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Senepols were bred to handle the climate of a tropical island better than traditional European breeds. The result was a breed that has since taken up residence throughout many African nations, South and Central America, Australia and the Southern United States.

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Maine-Anjou
Wiki Commons by Jean-Bpatiste Bodinier
In 2004, the official name of this breed was changed to Rouge des Pres in France. What is it known as elsewhere?
Square Meater
Tux
Maine-Anjou
Aubrac
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Maine-Anjou cattle come from northwestern France. They were originally bred for both milk and beef, but over the years the dairy industry has slowed, and now they're principally bred just for beef.

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Camargue
Yann Guichaoua-Photos / Moment / Getty Images
Even though this breed is used for meat, it's also bred for sport. What is it?
Camargue
Devon
Belted Galloway
Ibizan Blue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Camargue cattle are native to marshlands in parts of France. They're sometimes bred for a sport called "Course Camarguaise," which is like bullfighting without the fighting. Instead of hurting the bull, the human participants try to snatch a rose that has been placed on the bull's horns.

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Droughtmaster
Wiki Commons by Jim Bendon
Do you recognize this breed that was developed in Australia?
Dexter
Brahman
Droughtmaster
Corsican
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Droughtmaster is the result of crossbreeding between Brahman and Beef Shorthorn cattle. As the name suggests, it was bred to withstand harsher temperatures than most cattle, and it was also bred to be resistant to ticks.

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