The Galloway breed is small to medium framed. The hair is long, soft and wavy with a thick undercoat. The most common color is black, and there are also yellowish-gray to light brown animals. New-born calves are mahogany brown.

Gelbvieh (say gelp-fee) originated in Bavaria, in southern Germany in the late 18th and early 19th century. They were first imported into the US in 1971. The classic color is yellow, but some are reddish or black, with light skin pigmentation and short horns. Polled cattle have developed in the United States from the use of naturally hornless foundation females.

The Gyr is a medium to medium large animal, depending on whether they were developed in the Gyr valley region or in the surrounding mountain area. They can be either spotted (very fine spotting similar to roan in shorthorn) or rich red with varying degrees of the two combined.