Animal Science

 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

Beef Cattle Dairy Cattle Duel Purpose Cattle

There are three different classifications of beef cattle.  British  American  Continental

 “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.

 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.

 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.

 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.

 Originated in Herefordshire, 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

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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 5/8 Limousin and 3/8 Brahman  Combine all of the great characteristics of each breed

 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.

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

 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)

 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.

 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).

 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.

 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.

Holstein  They are from the Netherlands and Germany.  They are black and white.  Large sized and heavy milkers

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.

Guernsey  They are red and white.  They are a medium framed cow.  They have a high feed to milk conversion.  Their milk is high in beta-carotene.

Brown Swiss  They are solid brown varying from dark to light.  They are large sized.  They have a light colored band around their muzzle.  They have above average milk fat content.

Gir  They originated in India.  They are grey in color wit a hump.  They have a average milk production.  They have an medium to large frame, with beef characteristics.

Devon  They originated in England.  They are red in color.  They have slight dairy characteristic.  They are medium to large frame.