COMMON BEEF BREEDS

and other important stuff!

WHAT IS A BREED?

A breed consists of animals which have been selected for certain characteristics and which breed true for those characteristics

Depending on the reference…

There are somewhere between 300 and 1,000 breeds and strains of cattle worldwide!

Most are found in very isolated regions. Did you know that cattle are NOT indigenous to

North America?

PRIOR TO 1965… There were very few different breeds of cattle

in the United States. Dominant breeds included:

Texas Longhorns (from Spanish Longhorns)AngusHerefordShorthorn

Composite breeds were also being developed.

WHAT’S A COMPOSITE?

A composite breed is developed from two or more previously established breeds.

Examples would include:

Santa Gertrudis (Longhorn X Shorthorn)

Brangus (Brahman X Angus)

Braford (Brahman X Hereford)

BEFORE THE 1960’s…

Approximately 20 different breeds were available in the United States.

Today, there are over 70 breeds found in the United States.

The development of the feedlot industry created the catalyst for the increase in the number of breeds.

CURRENTLY…

The number of breeds in the United States will vary.

Importations from other countries will affect the numbers.

Only about 12-15 breeds of the approximately 70 actually have a major influence on the cattle industry!

CROSSBREDS

A large portion of the U.S. cattle industry relies on crossbreeding to improve and/or enhance the genetics of purebreds.

However, a large problem then exists with management and consistency in product quality.

COMMON U.S. BREEDS

The next group of slides represent breeds common in the United States.

You will need to take notes about each breed!

ANGUS

BEEFMASTER

BRAHMAN

CHAROLAIS

HEREFORD

LIMOUSIN

LONGHORN

POLLED HEREFORD

SANTA GERTRUDIS

SHORTHORN

SIMMENTAL

OTHER BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE

The next group of pictures represent breeds of cattle that can be found in smaller numbers in the United States.

Some are composite breeds.

BRANGUS

CHIANINA (CHIANGUS, ETC.)

GELBVIEH

MAINE ANJOU

RED ANGUS

TO LEARN MORE…

For more information on any of these breeds of cattle or for rarer breeds, please visit the following website:

www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/

Once there, click on beef breeds and select the breed you would like to know more about!