Final answer:
The U.S. cattle herd makeup has shifted from predominantly longhorn cattle to a variety of breeds selected for meat production, such as Angus, Hereford, and Charolais, especially in areas suited for grazing, like Texas and the Great Plains. Dairy production, predominantly using Holstein cattle, is also significant in places like California.
Step-by-step explanation:
The predominant breed makeup of cattle herds in the United States has evolved over time. Initially, longhorn cattle, brought by Spanish explorers and settlers, were predominant, especially in regions like Texas, New Mexico, and California. With the eastward expansion, eastern cattle breeds, which were better for meat production, began to replace the longhorn breed.
Today, the composition of herds is more diverse, but certain breeds are heavily favored for beef production. In areas such as Texas, the Great Plains, and parts of California, where the terrain is flat and grassy, beef cattle operations are extensive. In these regions, cattle are often grazed on open land and then later placed in feedlots where they are fed a diet of corn and silage until market weight. Across different states, a mixture of breeds including Angus, Hereford, and Charolais can be found, which have been selectively bred for meat production qualities.
In contrast, in Chino, CA, for example, dairy cattle, predominantly Holstein, are raised in factory farm systems to produce milk. While beef production is central to the cattle industry, dairy farming also plays a significant role in the overall makeup of cattle herds in the United States.