Breeds of Cattle

1. Breeds of Cattle Animal Science

2. Objectives • Identify the different breeds of beef cattle, origin, color patterns and characteristics that make up the breeds. • Identify the differences between each classification and the breeds beef cattle. • List the advantages and disadvantages of each breed in commercial production

3. Breed – a group of animals having certain characteristics that are common to individuals within that group and that distinguish them from other groups of animals within the same species

4. Types of Cattle Beef Cattle Dairy Cattle Duel Purpose Cattle

5. Beef Cattle There are three different classifications of beef cattle. • British • American • Continental

6. British Breeds

7. Angus • “Aberdeen – Angus” • Originated in Scotland • Only breed selected for beef from the beginning • Black in color, polled (no horns), small ears. • Maternal, popular for cross-breeding. • Medium sized frame, heavy muscled, and good carcass merit.

9. Belted Galloway • Usually solid black with a white belt encircling the midsection (belt is a dominant trait) • Introduced by an infusion of Dutch Belted blood into the Galloway • Larger in size, milk heavier, and grow more rapidly, than the paternal breed.

11. Devon • Originated in south–western England in the counties of Devon and Somerset • Rich-red in color, orange – yellow skin, especially around the eyes an muzzle and creamy white, black-tipped horns • Forage well, calving ease, and fertility • Very hardy and adaptable to any climate • Possibly the earliest pure bred cattle in the U.S.

13. Galloway • Originated in Scotland • Polled (strongest by genetics) • Black, Red, Dun, White (with black points around eyes, ears, nose, hooves, and teats • Great foraging ability, long hair, and heavy undercoat.

15. Hereford • Originated inHerefordshire, England. • Deep red with white head, neck, brisket, belly and four white socks. • Good maternal traits, docile, hardiness, calving ease • They are a medium sized frame. • Early maturing, superior foraging ability, and can produce more calves under adverse conditions. • Can be horned or polled

18. Highland • Originated in Scotland • Red, black, brindle, yellow, dun, and silver colors. • Very hardy, horned • Long lashes and forelocks shield eyes

20. Red Angus • Similar to the Angus • Crossed by breeding a recessive red gene Black Angus to another red recessive gene. • More heat tolerant than the black Angus

22. Shorthorn • Originated around the Tees River Valley of Northern England • Red, white, or roan (most of the time) in color • Dual purpose breed – used for both meat and milk production • Cows are very good milkers, horned or polled

24. American Breeds

25. Beefmaster • Developed in U.S. by combining three breeds – Hereford, Brahman, and Shorthorn (exact percentages is not known) • Color is variable, but some shade of red or dun is usually dominant. • Polled or horned

27. Brangus • Crossing of Angus and Brahman (early crossing down at USDA Experiment Station in Louisiana) • 5/8 Angus and 3/8 Brahman (obtained by crossing a ¾ Brahman and ¼ Angus with an Angus • Red or Black, polled, larger than Angus with some Brahman characteristics. • Loose skin (dewlap and sheath), heat tolerant, good maternal characteristics

29. Brahman • Originated in the southwestern part of the U.S. • Light gray, red to almost black. • Hump over shoulders, loose skin (dewlap) under the throat and large drooping ears • Bos Indicus – (also known as Zebu) have a hump over the shoulders. • Selected for hardiness, and ability to produce in the climate of the Southwest, early maturing

31. Brahmousin • 5/8 Limousin and 3/8 Brahman • Combine all of the great characteristics of each breed

33. Santa Gertrudis • They were developed in Texas at the King Ranch. In 1920, a bull named Monkey was born. (All Santa Gertrudis are descendents of this bull. • They are deep cherry red color. They are 5/8 Shorthorn and 3/8 Brahman. • They are horned and polled. • Adapted to humid, hot areas where ticks and insects are a problem.

35. Simbrah • Experimental breed of Brahman and Simmental • Easily adapt to rigid temperatures, as well as hot, humid climates. • Grow rapidly and will gain efficiently

37. Continental or Exotic

38. Charolais • Oldest of the French breeds. Developed around the Charolles in central France • White or cream colored with pink skin. • Most are horned, excellent growth rate, and heavily muscled. • Disadvantages – low milk production, calving problems, low fertility, genetic “trash” (double muscling and cleft palate)

40. Chianina • Originated in the Chianina Valley of Italy. • Solid white with black skin (black nose, eye pigment, tongue) and black tail switch. • Oldest breed in Italy and the world. • Originally used as draft animals, can gain 4 to 5 pounds a day and are the largest cattle in the world.

42. Limousin • Originated about 7,000 years ago in west– central France. • Solid light yellow to tannish red, with lighter circles around the eyes and muzzle or black color. • Heavy muscling, large loin area, and leanness (may not have enough fat cover to withstand harsh conditions).

44. Maine Anjou • Originated in France. • Color patterns vary, most are deep red generally with moderate amount of white spots, white socks, with a white spot on forehead. • Large frame, growth, cows are good milkers.

46. Simmental • Originated in the Simmen Valley of Switzerland. • Usually have a white to light straw faces with red to dark red, spotted bodies. Some are black or gray with white markings. • Milk production, large framed, horned or polled, meat and carcass traits. • About ½ of all cattle in Switzerland are Simmentals and is the most popular breed of cattle in Europe.

48. Dairy Cattle Holstein • They are from the Netherlands and Germany. • They are black and white. • Large sized and heavy milkers

50. Dairy Cattle Jersey • They are light grey to dark fawn in color. • They are a medium sized animal • They milk the more for their body weight than any other cow.