Livestock Skill-a-thon: Beef Breed ID

American Braford

-Developed in FLORIDA 1947 (Brahman Hereford Cross)
-Red with white on head, belly, and feet (red over eyes)
-Great fertility and maternal qualities, heat and insect resistance.

Angus

-Originated in SCOTLAND, introduced to US in 1873.
-Solid black (polled), medium sized.
-Great marbling and early maturity.

Beefalo

-Developed in CALIFORNIA during 1970s (American bison cattle mix)
-Dense fine coat varied in color, large breed, weather resistant
-Beef is low in fat and cholesterol, ABWR approval needed to claim beef product as beefalo.

Beefmaster

-Developed in TEXAS during early 1950s (Brahman, Hereford, and Milking Shorthorn mix)
-Light to dark red, medium sized.
-Heat and insect resistant, high fertility and first American composite breed.

Belgian Blue cattle

-Originated in BELGIUM
-White or has markings, large sized
-Double muscled

Belted Galloway

-Originated in SCOTLAND
-Black with white "belt" on barrel (polled), large sized
-Easy calving, disease resistant, adaptable

Brahman

-Originated in INDIA
-Light grey to red with loose skin in neck area, prominent hump, medium size
-Heat, drought and insect resistant, weak calving intervals

Braford

-developed both in AUSTRAILIA in 1946 and in FLORIDA in 1947. (Brahman Hereford cross)
-Red with white underbelly, head, and feet similar to the Hereford, stockier than a Hereford due to the Brahman influence
-Strong maternal ability, early puberty and calving ease, heat and insect resistance, tend to thrive in warmer climates

Brangus

-Developed in US in 1949 (Brahman Angus mix)
-Black with hump (polled), medium to large size
-• Weather resistant, good maternal traits, late maturity
-Registered brangus must be 3/8 brahman and 5/8 angus.

Charolais

-Developed in FRANCE, introduced to US in 1936
-White, large size
-• Fast growth, muscling, late maturity
-All color variations of the breed are considered "recorded" by the American Charolais Association except for black

Chianina

-Originated in ITALY
-White to grey with black nose, eyes, tongue and switch, large size
-Resistant to eye problems, heat, insect and disease resistance, growth rate, small udders, late maturity the largest breed of cattle in the world

Devon

-Originated in ENGLAND
-Chestnut or light to deep red, medium size
-Heat and disease resistant, early maturity, growing calving difficulty amongst offspring with larger sires
-• Coats are short during summer and grow longer for winter

Dexter

-Originated in IRELAND
-Mainly black but can be red or dun • Small size
-Longevity, early maturity, good temperament
-Known to the Irish as the "Poor man's cattle"

Florida Cracker cattle

-Developed in FLORIDA
-Black, red or spotted with varied coloration, horns that curve upward, small to medium size
-Heat and disease resistant, small scale meat production
-Purebreds are endangered due to excessive crossbreeding

Galloway

-Originates in SCOTLAND, introduced to US in 1866
-Black, dun, red or white with long curly coat (polled) medium size
-Tolerant of harsh colder climates, excellent maternal traits

Gelbvieh

-Originates in GERMANY, introduced to US in 1971
-Reddish gold to russet or black (polled), medium to large size
-Early puberty, large scrotums

Hereford

-Originates in ENGLAND, introduced to US in 1817
-Horns pointing downward, red with white face, belly, feet and tail, large size
-High libido, fertility, adaptable

Limousin

-Originates in FRANCE, introduced to US in early 1930s
-Golden-red with lighter pigment around eyes, muzzle, belly and rear area, large size
-Carcass quality, high fertility, known as the "butcher's animal" in France

Maine-Anjou

-Originates in FRANCE, introduces to US around 1917 by AI
-Black or red with white markings on head, belly, rear legs and tail, medium to large size
-Feed efficiency, aggressive bulls, one of the largest French cattle breeds

Murray Grey

-Originates in AUSTRALIA, introduced to US around 1972
-Dark grey to light silver, dun or black, medium size
-Good temperament, good marbling

Piedmontese

-Originates in ITALY, introduced to US around 1979
-White to light grey with black horns, hooves, eyes, ears, mouth and tail, medium size
-Carcass quality, early maturing, low fat beef
-The myostatin gene is naturally mutated which allows unrestricted muscle development or double muscling

Pinzgauer

-Originates in AUSTRIA
-Dark chestnut with white marks on back, flanks and belly, medium to large size
-Fertility, easy calving, high weaning weights, adaptable

Polled Hereford

-Developed in IOWA
-Polled, red with white belly, face and feet, large size
-Docile temperament, fast maturity, adaptable
-Breed began with a mutation that left offspring without horns.

Red Angus

-Originates in ENGLAND/SCOTLAND
-Red (polled), medium size
-Maternal traits, longevity, high fertility, intramuscular marbling
-The founder believed black was the proper color for the breed instead of the red recessive gene

Salers

-Originates in FRANCE, introduced to US in 1975
-Polled or horned, dark mahogany to black
-Large, well shaped pelvic area, calving ease, good soundness

Santa Gertrudis

-Developed in TEXAS in 1920s (Brahman Shorthorn mix)
-Cherry red with short smooth coat
-Tick and bloat resistant, ease of calving
-All present day Santa Gertrudis descend from Monkey; the breed's foundation sire

Scottish Highland

-Originates in SCOTLAND, introduced to US in late 1890s
-Red, black, yellow, dun and white with long silky hair, big horns pointing upward, small to medium size
-• Introduced to US in late 1890s, tolerant of extreme colder temperatures, great mothering ability, less tolerant of tropical settings, late maturity
-Beef breed of choice for the British Royal Family; the family keeps a large herd

Shetland

-Originates in SCOTLAND
-White with black to brown markings (resembles a Holstein), small to medium size
-Rapid growth, fertility, ease of calving
-Classified as at risk by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in Britain

Shorthorn

-Originates in ENGLAND, introduced to US in 1783
-Red or roan and white (sometimes speckled), medium to large size
-Calving ease, fertility, rapid growth

Simmental

-Originates in SWITZERLAND, introduced in US in 1967
-Gold to red with white markings, large size
-• High and long term fertility, short calving intervals, great mothering ability, considered one of the oldest cattle breeds in the world.

Sussex

-Originates in ENGLAND
-Dark red with a white tail switch, small horns (like triangles), medium size
-High fertility, easy calving, great mothering ability, can travel long distances on rough terrain

Tarentaise

-Originates in FRANCE, introduced to US in 1973
-Tan with darkening around eyes and neck, black nose, udder and hooves, medium size
-Early puberty, good pelvic size, adaptability, used solely for milk production in France

Telemark

-Originates in NORWAY
-Early puberty, good pelvic size, adaptability, used solely for milk production in France
-Good grazers, Norway's oldest breed of cattle

Texas Longhorn

-Developed in TEXAS
-Long horns pointing upward, color variation and spotting, medium to large size
-Disease and parasite resistant, aggressive, lean meat. breed fashioned entirely in US

Wagyu

-Originates in JAPAN, introduced to US in 1976
-Straight horns that darken with length, black or red, medium size
-Early maturity in females, low birth weights, exceptional marbling

Watusi

-Originates in UGANDA, introduced to US in 1960
-Long and thick horns, brown and white pattern variations, medium size
-Tolerant of extreme weather, low birth weights, lean meat
-Breed was primarily used for milk in Africa because large herds were a symbol of wealth

White Park cattle

-Originates in WALES
-White with black ears and muzzles, medium size
-Good grazers, good marbling