MILKING DEVON

This hardy, multipurpose American breed is adapted to survive in extreme weather, even on a low-quality, high-forage diet.

Photo: jim richardson

ZEBU

Also known as Humped or Brahman, this breed is relied on by farmers in the tropics because it can withstand severe heat.

 Photo: Jim Richardson

PINEYWOODS

True survivors, these cattle are small and rugged and can live and breed without human assistance.

 Photo: Jim Richardson

ANKOLE WATUSI

Its horns—spanning six feet and honeycombed with blood vessels—help this African breed stay cool.

Photo: Jim Richardson

RANDALL LINEBACK

Sturdy, distinctly marked survivors of a herd indigenous to Vermont, the breed nearly went extinct in the 1980s but is rebounding.

Photo: Jim Richardson

TEXAS LONGHORN

Prized for their lean beef, the iconic cattle of the American West have horns that can span more than seven feet.

Photo: Jim Richardson