Breeds of Beef Cattle

1. Breeds of Beef Cattle An excellent resource is http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds exhibiting 258 breeds (use google, search for: breeds of livestock)/

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

3. 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.

4. ANGUS

5. Angus are BLACK (or red), are naturally polled, and have excellent muscle quality, marbling and grading well. Angus are naturally polled (without horns).

6. A more modern Angus Bull, Indiana Bull Test Station

7. Hereford

8. Hereford - Horned

9. 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”.

10. An animal fitted for show, many years ago. Hereford (old)

11. Polled Hereford

12. Polled Hereford

13. Polled Hereford

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

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

16. Shorthorn

17. Red Angus A mutation from black Angus resulted in Red Angus.

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

19. Brown Swiss Mainly a dairy breed, can be dual purpose. Huge.

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

21. “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”

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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).

25. Charolais

26. Charolais

27. Charolais

29. Charolais • White, muscular, from France • Very heavy muscled, especially heavy forequarters, makes calving difficulties for some cattle and crosses.

32. 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.

33. Brahman - Zebu

34. Brahman Bull - “correct”

35. Brahman Female “correct”

36. Santa Gertrudas Shorthorn x Brahman Braford Brahman x Hereford Beefmaster Brahman x Hereford x Shorthorn Brangus Brahman x Angus

37. THE EXOTICSand other breeds

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

39. Simmental (US cross)

40. Simmental - present day in US can be of many color patters.

41. Swiss Simmental Cow

42. Fleckvieh (German Simmental)

43. Pie Rouge(French Simmental)

44. Maine Anjou (French)

45. Maine Anjou

46. Blonde d’ Aquitaine

47. Blonde d’ Aquitaine

48. Limousin

49. Limousin

50. 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.