Beef Cattle – Biological Types

Biological Type

● Bos taurus vs Bos indicus● Temperate vs Tropically Adapted● Early vs Late Maturing● High vs Low Maintenance (aka easy keeper)

Bos taurus

● English– Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn

● Continental (Exotics)– Charolais, Limousin, Simmental

● Composite breeds (non indicus)

Bos indicus

● Brahman● American breeds (Brahman composites)

– Brangus, Beefmaster, Santa Gertrudis

Adaptation

● Temperate climate– Bos taurus

● Tropical or Humid, Sub-Tropic– Bos indicus– Tropically adapted Bos taurus

● Senepol, Romosinuano, Tuli

Maturity

● Maturity– Physiological maturity

● Age of puberty

– Growth curve - weight gain shifts toward lesser lean and greater fat deposition.

– Rate of gain– Frame size

Early Maturing

● Reach puberty by 12 months of age● Smaller frame size● Slower rate of gain● Deposit fat earlier and finished at a lighter final

body weight● Historically English type Bos taurus, however,

through breeding and selection management, larger framed, greater growth rates, and heavier finished carcass weights can be observed within these breeds.

Later Maturing

● Reach puberty at 12 months or older– Bos indicus usually 14 months or older

● Remaining points generally associated with Bos taurus breeds of Continental (Exotics) type– Larger frame size– Faster rate of body weight gain– Reach targeted feedlot finished body composition

(0.25 to 0.5” backfat) at heavier final body weight.

Later Maturing

● Reach puberty at 12 months or older– Bos indicus usually 14 months or older

● Remaining points generally associated with Bos taurus breeds of Continental (Exotics) type– Larger frame size– Faster rate of body weight gain– Reach targeted feedlot finished body composition

(0.25 to 0.5” backfat) at heavier final body weight.

Maintenance

● High maintenance– Lower feed efficiency– Greater milk production– Certain Bos taurus breeds have greater NEm

● Simmental, Gelbvieh, Braunvieh, Shorthorn

● Low maintenance– Greater feed efficiency– Lesser milk production– Bos indicus influenced – have lesser NEm

Putting Biological Types to Work● Different biological types permit the expression of hybrid vigor in

crossbreeding systems.

● Benefits to crossbreeding systems may include balancing environmental adaptation, growth, and carcass merit.

– Bos indicus influence in cows can be beneficial in the Southern US; however, greater than 25% indicus influence in calves results in market discounts do to impacts on finished carcass weights quality grades, and beef tenderness.

– Bos taurus continental influence can be beneficial in improving calf size and growth rate but may result in greater mature cow size over time which in turn would affect maintenance input costs.

● Secondary characteristics– When selecting breeds for a crossbreeding system,

also consider secondary characteristics and their influence on calf value and additional management requirements

● Temperament – some breeds have EPDs for docility● Coat color – spotted cattle are heavily disounted● Horns – additional management or sale barn discounts

Putting Biological Types to Work