Breeds of Beef Cattle

Breeds of Beef Cattle

Terms• Breed - group of animals related by decent

from common ancestors, with similar characteristics

• Bull - a male• Cow - a female • Heifer - an unbred female• Calf - an unmature (young)• Steer - a castrated male

Breed Divisions

• British/English• Continental/Exotic/European• Bos Indicus/American/Zebu

British

• AKA: English• General Characteristics

– Good Maternal Ability– Early Maturing– Adapt Well to Cold Climates

Angus

• Origin - Scotland• Color - Black• Polled• Moderate in Size• Excellent marbling• Early Maturing

Hereford

• Origin - England• Color - Red with

White markings• Horned• Thick Hair Coat• Good Disposition

Polled Hereford

• Origin - Iowa, Warren Gammon

• Color - Same as Hereford

• Polled• Early Maturing

Red Angus

• Origin - U.S.• Color - Red• Polled• Moderate size• Developed from

recessive Gene

Shorthorn

• Origin - England• Color - Red, White,

Red and White, Roan

Shorthorn

• Origin - England• Color - Red, White,

Red and White, Roan• Polled or Horned• Good disposition• Excellent Milk

Production

Shorthorn Plus

• 1/4 – 7/8 Shorthorn • commercial ranks• cattle with black

markings or coat color cannot exceed the 1/2 percentage designation

Continental

• AKA: European or Exotic• General Characteristics

– Growthy– Fast Gaining– Later Maturing

Charolais

• Origin - France• Color - Cream White

with pink skin• Horned• Large size• Fast growing • Muscular• Marbling can be a

Problem

Chianina

• Origin - Italy• Color - White or Black

Hair with dark skin• Horned• Large Frame• Lean Muscular Carcass• Not Maternal Breed• Largest Breed in World

Limousin

• Origin - France• Color - Wheat to Rust

Red• Horned• Ease of Calving• High Carcass

Cutability

Lim-Flex• Combination 25% - 75%

Limousin and 25% - 75% Angus or Red Angus

• Sires and Dams must be registered with either ALBS, AAA, or ARAA

• Maternal• Good Marbling• Carcass yield

Maine-Anjou

• Origin - France• Color - Red with

White Underline• Largest of French

Breeds• Rapid Growers• Dual Purpose Breed

Mainetainer

• 1/4 - 5/8 Maine-Anjou• Can be crossed with

any other breed• Adopted in 2002• Ability to add other

breed traits to Maine-Anjou

Simmental

• Origin - Switzerland• Color - Yellow to Red• and white• Horned• Heavy Milk

Production• Large Frame• Fast Growing

Bos Indicus

• AKA: American• General Characteristics

– Heat Tolerant– Disease Resistant– Loose Skin– Thrive in Harsh Conditions

Brahman• Origin - India• Color - Gray, Red,

Brown, Black, White• Horned• Drooping Ears• Hump over Shoulders• Loose Skin• Thrive in Hot, Humid

Climates

Beefmaster• Origin - Lasater Ranch,

Texas, 1908• 1/2 Brahman,

1/4 Shorthorn, 1/4 Hereford

• Color - Various• Hardy, Rapid Growth• Heavy Weaning Weights• Good on Range

Conditions

Brangus

• Origin - Oklahoma• 3/8 Brahman

5/8 Angus• Color - Black• Polled• Moderate in Size• Show Brahman

Influence

Red Brangus

• Origin - Texas• Brahman X Angus• Color - Red• Polled• Drooping Ears• Males have Crest

Santa Gertrudis• Origin - Texas, King

Ranch• 5/8 Shorthorn

3/8 Brahman• Color - Red• Trace back to Single

Sire• Hardy• Good Mothering Ability

Star 5

• 50% or more Santa Gertrudis

• Sire or Dam must be registered

• Records influenced cattle genetics and performance

• More marketable than purebreed

Simbrah

• Origin - U.S.• Simmental X Brahman• Color - Red and

White, solid• Polled or Horned• Dual Purpose• Rapid Growth

Review Questions• Name Two British Breeds• Angus, Hereford, Polled Hereford, Red Angus, Shorthorn

• Name Two General Characteristics of American Breeds• Heat Tolerant, Disease Resistant, Loose Skin, Thrive in

Harsh Conditions

• What Breed is Largest in the World?• Chianina

Review Questions Continued

• What Breed has a High Cutability Carcass?• Limousin

• Where did the Santa Gertrudis originate?• King Ranch in Texas