Common Cattle Breeds

ANSC 4109

list important factors in breed selection

• all breeds have both strong and weak traits

• must select traits specific to needs of farm/industry

• each breed has a wide range of genetic variation

• geographic regions

• breeding stock needs to be priced reasonably

_____ _________ and _______ ________ are more important than the breed selected

good management and breeding practices

list beef cattle breeds

• black angus

• red angus

• Beefmaster

• brahman

• Brangus

• charolais

• hereford

• limousin

• santa gertrudis

• simmental

• longhorn

• shorthorn

• braford

• wagyu

• chianina

there are two descendants of cattle today. what are their names?

Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus

where are Bos Taurus from? describe their appearance.

originated in Europe and British Isles

no hump

where are Bos Indicus from? describe their appearance.

originated in tropical regions

humped cattle

more resistant to disease, parasites, and heat

list physical attributes of Black Angus

• large, muscular, polled

• avg mkt weight: 1000 - 1300lbs

• solid black

• small calves

list characteristics of Black Angus

• produce high quality, well-marbled meat

• good mothers

• resistant to harsh weather

• good natured

history of Black Angus

• originated in Scotland

• brought to US in 1873

physical attributes of Red Angus

• polled, hardy

• red color is a recessive trait

characteristics of Red Angus

• good maternal qualities

• calve easily

• excellent meat quality

• can tolerate heat better due to coloring

history of Red Angus

red angus herds began in US in 1945

physical attributes of Beefmaster

Cross: Hereford (25%), Shorthorn (25%), Brahman (50%)

• good disposition, fertile, hardy

characteristics of Beefmaster

• good mothers and milk production

• able to thrive in harsh climates

  • hereford - docile, good mothers, good meat production

  • shorthorn - excellent milk production

  • brahman - heat resistant

history of Beefmaster

originated in 1931 in Texas

characteristics of Brahman

• heat tolerant

• high yielding carcass with limited fat

• lean meat

• adaptable to environment

• disease resistant

• calve easily

• protective mothers

• great cross breeders due to heat tolerance, disease resistance

scientific name of Brahman

Bos indicus

physical attributes of Brangus

• cross: 3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus

• black or red

characteristics of Brangus

• more heat tolerant than Angus

• better suited to hot/humid climates than Angus

history of Brangus

• much of original cross breeding took place in Louisiana

• developed for the exceptional beef quality of the Angus and the adaptability of the Brahman

Angus vs Brangus

Angus - short, compact head, no hump

Brangus - longer face, longer ears, hump, longer body, looser skin

physical attributes of Charolais

• large frame, long bodied

• white/cream color

• heavily muscled

• horned or polled

characteristics of Charolais

• avg weight cow: 1600 - 1800

• avg weight bull: 2000 - 2500

• often crossed with other breeds

• bulls will produce larger calves

physical attributes of Hereford

• muscular

• polled or horned

• red body with white head and belly

characteristics of Hereford

• calm temperament

• docile

• good meat quality

• good maternal instincts

physical attributes of Limousin

• black or red with lighter circles around with eyes and muzzle

• polled or horned

• lean carcass

• head is small and short with a more broad forehead

• short neck

• old breed

characteristics of Limousin

feed efficient

history of Limousin

• originated in France over 7000 years ago

• first imported to US via semen from Canada in 1968

physical attributes of Santa Gertrudis

• cherry red color

• most horned

• all are descendants from a 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn bull called a Monkey

characteristics of Santa Gertrudis

• efficient feedlot candidates

• produce desirable carcasses with little waste fat

• insect and disease resistant

history of Santa Gertrudis

developed on the King Ranch in Texas

The Santa Gertrudis Breeders International required that an animal be inspected by an _________ _________

association leader

In Santa Gertrudis, if the standard of excellence is met, what happens?

the animal will be branded with an “S” and is certified as purebred

Who is Monkey? What’s his history?

The first Santa Gertrudis Bull

• foundation sire for all Santa Gertrudis

• born around 1920

• became the first new breed in the world when it became registered in 1940

physical attributes of Simmental

• muscular

• black and red with white faces

• large body

characteristics of Simmental

• high milk production

• good temperament

• rapid growth

what is the most popular cattle breed in Europe?

Simmental

physical attributes of Longhorn

• many shadings and colors

• most noted for horns

characteristics of longhorn

• easy calving, hardy

• well adapted to harsh environments

• resistant to many diseases

• high fertility

• produce leaner meat

history of Longhorn

• brought over by Columbus on second voyage in 1493

• Spanish explorers took them back to Mexico, but some escaped back to Texas

• almost went extinct — govt. made a protected herd with 20 cows, 3 bulls, and 4 calves on a wildlife refuge in OK

physical attributes of Shorthorn

• polled or horned

• red, white or roan

• short horn curve inward

• good dispositions

characteristics of Shorthorn

• excellent for cross-breeding

• have been used in over 30 different bloodlines of other recognized breeds

history of Shorthorn

• Originated in England

• originally a dual-purpose breed

physical attributes of Braford

• red cow with Hereford color pattern

• can produce a tiger stripe color pattern that is known to bring higher prices when sold

characteristics of Braford

• high fertility

• ease of fertility

• superior mothers

• high calf survival rate and rapid growth

• adaptable

history of Braford

• originated in Florida in 1947

• Original cross Hereford bulls on Brahman cows

• Today, the breed is 5/8 Hereford and 3/8 Brahman

physical attributes of Wagyu

• black or red

• smaller frame

characteristics of Wagyu

• Japanese breed

• slower growth/ low milk supply

• excellent meat quality: Kobi beef

• superior marbling

• beef is expensive

history of Wagyu

• bred for pulling carts

• becoming a popular breed

physical attributes of Chianina

• white body with black switch (tail)

• mature bulls can be as tall as 6ft at the withers and weigh as much as 4000 lbs

characteristics of Chianina

• tremendous growth in calves

• good forages

• good mothers

• adaptable to hot and cold climates and rough terrain

• must have high fences

history of Chianina

• one of the oldest breeds of cattle in the world

• originated in Italy

• first semen was brought to US in 1971