Breeds of Beef Cattle

An excellent resource is

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds

exhibiting 258 breeds(use google, search for: breeds of livestock)/

LonghornLonghorn helped tame the west, and were the predominant first cattle in the US. Hardy but tough (in every way).

British Beef Breeds

• Three breeds known as the British beef breeds predominated in the US before 1960.

• Almost all beef were HEREFORD, ANGUS or SHORTHORN.

• All known for good eating and fattening characteristics.

ANGUS

Angus are BLACK (or red), are naturally polled, and haveexcellent muscle quality, marbling and grading well. Angusare naturally polled (without horns).

A more modern Angus Bull, Indiana Bull Test Station

Hereford

Hereford - Horned

Hereford - Horned

Herefords are red with white face, underline and socks.They are hardy, and grade well. They were the most predominant breed for many years, before “exotics”.

Hereford (old)An animal fittedfor show, many years ago.

Polled Hereford

Polled Hereford

Polled Hereford

Some naturally polled Herefords were used to start the PolledHereford breed. This animal at the Indiana Bull Test Station.

Shorthorn

Shorthorn were never as popular as Hereford or Angus, in theUS. They fatten well. They can be red, white, or roan.

Shorthorn

Red Angus

A mutation from black Angus resulted in Red Angus.

Beef Friesian

Derived from the dairy breed, Holstein-Friesian. Large.

Brown Swiss

Mainly a dairy breed, can be dual purpose. Huge.

Red Poll

Red Poll were a good, but minor breed. Not highly popular.

“EXOTICS”

• Breeds introduced from Europe that were much larger and more muscular than the 3 traditional British Beef Breeds were labeled as EXOTICS when they were introduced. I will keep that nomenclature, though many now are “mainstream”

My Own story on exotics

• In MY mind, the large breeds came into importance as they did following recognition in the US that crossbreeding with HOLSTEIN (dairy breed) resulted in fast growing, efficient, lean animals.

• Though they failed to grade choice, they could make money anyway.

• Soon it became obvious that crossing with large breeds did not have to utilize dairy breeds; muscular draft breeds from Europe could increase size, growth rate, and leanness.

• Charolais had been in the US since 1949, but until crossbreeding became popular in the 1970’s, it had little impact.

• Then in the 70’s and 80’s many of today’s breeds were introduced to the US (or they became more popular).

Charolais

Charolais

Charolais

Charolais

• White, muscular, from France

• Very heavy muscled, especially heavy forequarters, makes calving difficulties for some cattle and crosses.

ZEBU

• Before the era of exotics, and in tropical areas, ZEBU cattle (humped) are popular.

• Though they have poor growth and meat characteristics, they are heat and insect tolerant.

Brahman - Zebu

Brahman Bull - “correct”

Brahman Female “correct”

Santa GertrudasShorthorn x Brahman

BrafordBrahman x Hereford

BeefmasterBrahman x Hereford x Shorthorn Brangus

Brahman x Angus

THE EXOTICSand other breeds

Simmental

Swiss, original type, out of favor in US now.

Simmental (US cross)

Simmental - present day in US can be of manycolor patters.

Swiss Simmental Cow

Fleckvieh (German Simmental)

Pie Rouge(French Simmental)

Maine Anjou (French)

Maine Anjou

Blonde d’ Aquitaine

Blonde d’ Aquitaine

Limousin

Limousin

Limousin

• Limousin may have had more impact than most other breeds, perhaps because of good promotion activities. They have been heavily involved in crossbreeding, especially with Angus.

Chianina - Italy - Largest

Chianina

Chianina - Old, Large

Old, meaning one of the oldest breeds known

RomagnolaItaly, Very OLD

MarchigianaItaly

Marchigiana

Gelbvieh Germany

Pinzgauer

Dual PurposeGerman

Tarentaise

FrenchRaised inthe mostmountainousareas

Salers

Very old breed, polled orhorned, France

Salers

Norwegian Red

Normande

Normande, large, docile

Galloway

Scotland - small to medium framed, polledlong, soft, thick, wavy hair. Hardy. Calm.Good carcass, cross well.

Murray Grey

Murray Grey

• From an accidental mating of Angus x Roan Shorthorn.

• Developed in Australia for Australian conditions.

Devon

SouthernEngland

Devon

First purebred cattle imported into US; amongthe oldest breeds known. From South England.

South DevonNot related to Devon (North Devon)

Scotch Highland

Scotch Highland

Short, stocky, hardycattle with shaggyhair to protect themfrom severe weather.Top quality meat.

Luing

From a Scottish island of that name.Cross of Highland x Shorthorn. 1947