The milking shorthorn originally came from the shorthorn, which is a breed of beef cattle. This means that milking shorthorns are not as effective at producing milk as other dairy cows, such as the Holstein or Jersey. shorthorns also do tend to have longer hair, which can either be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the climate in which they are raised. However, the pros of a milking shorthorn outweigh the cons. They do produce a good bit of milk, but can also produce quality meat. They are a hardy breed, like many European cattle, and are raised across much of the U.S. because of it.