Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. Samuel Smiles

Cattle Review Husbandry

Genetic advancement Aka: Purebred breeders

It is believed that all modern domestic cattle evolved from a single ancestor, the Aurochs, which is now extinct. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

What is a breed?  The classic definition of a "breed" is usually stated as a variation of this statement. Animals that, through selection and breeding, have come to resemble one another and pass those traits uniformly to their offspring.

What is a breed?  Unfortunately this definition leaves some unanswered questions. For example, when is a crossbred animal considered a composite breed and when do we stop thinking about them as composites?  Composite crossbreeding is accomplished by developing a new breed composed of other existing breeds. Once constructed, the composite breed can be mated like a conventional (straight) breed.

 The development of the breeds takes different routes also. In some breeds you can see the amount of change that can occur as the result of selection for a small number of traits. E.g., Holstein cattle have been selected primarily for milk production and are the highest milk producing cattle in the world. Other breeds have traits that result from natural selection* pressure based upon the environment in which they were developed.  E.g. N’dama cattle from west Africa. These animals have, through the centuries, developed a resistance to trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness spread by the tse-tse fly, which is fatal to most other breeds of cattle.

Classification and Identification of Beef Cattle Breeds Hereford Black Angus Charolais Brahman

OBJECTIVES  To be able to Classify Beef Cattle Breeds into Bos taurus or Bos indicus.  To be able to Classify Beef Cattle Breeds into British, European.  To be able to Determine or Give the Make up of Certain Composite Breeds.  To Give the Attributes of Specific Breeds.

Classification Why do we Need It  We classify everything. Example Automobiles  We Break them down into Cars and Trucks, How can we break them down even further.

Classification Of Automobiles

CLASSIFICATION OF BEEF CATTLE

BRITISH BREEDS BRITISH BREEDS OF CATTLE  Hereford  Hereford Dairy Cattle  Polled  Polled HerefordsJersey  Black  Black AngusGuernsey  Red  Red AngusAyrshire  Devon  Devon Milking Shorthorn  Shorthorn  Red  Red Poll  Galloway  British  British Whites  Scotch  Scotch Highland  Welsh  Welsh Black  Wagyu

EUROPEAN BREEDS OF CATTLE  Simmental  Simmental Dairy  Limousin  Limousin Brown Swiss  Maine-Anjou Holstein  Dutch  Dutch Belted  Salers  Charolais  Piedmontese  Blonde  Blonde d’Aquitaine  Belgian  Belgian Blue  Chianina  Gelbvieh  MRI  Normande  Pinzqauer  Devon  South  South Devon  Tarentaise

ZEBU BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE  Grey  Grey Brahman  Nellore  Indo  Indo Brazilian  Red  Red Brahman  Africander

COMPOSITE BREEDS OF CATTLE  Brangus  Brangus (RED & BLACK)  Beefmasters  Beefmasters Beefmaker  Simbrah  Simbrah Braford  Bramousin  Bramousin Santa Gertrudis  American  American 7 Way Composite  Salorn

HYBRID-VIGOR BENEFITS  More Climate variable  Increased Growth Rate  Increased Vigor and Fertility

Bos taurus BEEF BREEDS BRITISH / EUROPEAN

Hereford Originated in England Red with white points: dewlap, underline, flank, switch ( Cross breeds: white color dominates) Horned usually White face and red bodies (yellow to dark red) Known for pink eye Docile Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification

Good forages, vigor and hardiness Best at producing more calves in adverse conditions

Black Angus Native to Angus (East Scotland: Aberdeen) Came to U.S. in 1873 Most popular beef breed in the US Always black in color and polled (crossbred: calves mostly polled: dominant gene) Can produce Red Angus Known for Marbling Ability Do well in feedlot No.1 in numbers of registered animals Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification

“Black Brockle - faced”  Angus and Hereford composite

Red Angus Originated in the British Isles Same as Black Angus (red and red cross from black angus) Barred from Angus herdbook Recognized as separate breed Were registered with Black Angus herdbooks until 1917 Red Angus Assoc. of America formed in 1954 Tolerate heat better than black Angus, marbling and do well in feedlots Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification

Texas Longhorn Developed from Spanish cattle, brought to new world by Columbus Roamed free in the southwest until after the Civil War Was replaced by new breeds in 1880s Various colors Horns curve upward ~ 4 feet Almost went extinct Known for Low Birth Weights and Calving ease for Heifers Disease and insect resistant Adapt well to harsh climates Numbers are increasing Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification “living symbol of the Old West”

Red Poll Developed in England Primarily used for meat in US Milk production in other countries Dark red and polled Norfolk and Suffolk mix Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification

Shorthorn Originated in England White to red in color (red are predominant) Roane Color, very popular for show heifers. Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification They are a medium size breed with a truly rectangular shape with a short, broad head and wide set eyes

Small horns that curve inwards or are polled Docile, adaptable to variable climates, crossover, good mums with milking abilities and good carcass

Devon Originated in England Also called North Devon One of the oldest beef breeds At one time used for milk Mature cows weigh lbs. Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification “Red Rubies”

Limousin Native to South-Central France Golden-red to red-brown in color, light tan: muzzle, underline and legs Horn: horizontal > forward > upward. Head and neck is small and short with broad forehead Low fat meats and large loin areas Bos Taurus European Breed Classification

Simmental First recorded in Switzerland Large body mass Light red to dark red with white points (red/yellow/black/gray – white) Horned: medium size horns Known for Maternal Characteristics Docile, grow fast, grow carcass without excess fat, adaptable - climates Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification

Charolais Originated from France Color is white to cream with a pink muzzle and pale hooves Large and heavily muscled. Mature bulls weigh lbs Mature Females weigh Known for Size and Muscle Most naturally horned: white, slender tapered Popular for crossbreeding as well suited in many areas Bos taurus/European-Breed Classification

Chianina  Developed in Italy  Came to U.S. in 1971  Used in cross-breeding programs  They have black skin and white hair (white to steel gray in color) and black switch  Largest breed of cattle. Cows up to 2400 lbs. (Bulls ~ 4,000 lbs and 6 feet)  Heat tolerant and gentle, good foragers, good mums and tolerant to insect and diseases Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification

Wagyu Asian/British-European breeds All Japanese cattle: Kobe beef Colors: horned breed and can be either black or red Consists of many Japanese breeds Known for Marbling in the Meat Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification

Piedmontese Originated in Italy Double muscled breed (mutation myostatin gene) white or gray with black hoofs, switch, ears and nose Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification

Blonde d’Aquitaine Originated in France Blonde color Known for Heavy Muscle They are the third largest breed in France after the Limousin and Charolais Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification

Salers Native to France Most horned 1 strain is polled Milk production important in Europe Red to brown in color, some black one of the oldest and most genetically pure of all European breeds Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification

Known for some Carcass Merit, good mothers, forage well on poor range and high weaning weights

Tarentaise Originated in France Used for milk in Europe Red color Salers are native to a mountainous region (rugges) Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification

Maine-Anjou Originated in France Large: Mature bulls weigh lbs. Mature cows weigh lbs. Dark red with white under markings and patches of white on body. Some roan. Light pigmented skin Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification

Horned breed: medium size horns that curve Docile, grow fast and good marbling

BOS INDICUS BEEF BREEDS ZEBU

Brahman Developed in U.S. between Brood stock came from India Used in cross-breeding programs Large hump on back and loose skin They have a high heat tolerance Light gray or red to black Known for Mothering Ability Bos Indicus Classification "sacred cattle of India," Hindu faith will not eat meat from them, will not permit them to be slaughtered, and will not sell them. India has more cows than any other country. Most popular breed in the world

Red Brahman Bos Indicus Classification Heat and Insect Resistant Mothering Ability

Nelore Known form having smaller ears and cleaner lines than other zebu breeds. Biggest populations in South America (esp. Brazil). Heat and Insect tolerant Bos Indicus Classification

Indo Brazilian Bos Indicus Classification Known for Large Ears Heaviest Populations in South America, originally from Brazil High in Maternal Attributes white to dark gray to redish tan in color

Africander Bos Indicus Classification Native to South Africa Usually red with long horns Used for meat and as a draft animal Mature cows weigh lbs. Mature bulls weigh lbs.

Composite Beef Cattle Breeds

American Developed in New Mexico Official breed conformation- 1/2 Brahman: hardy 1/8 Bison: hardy 1/4 Charolais: size and bone structure 1/16 Hereford 1/16 Shorthorn: mothering and milking ability Composite Breed Classification

Brangus Originated in the United States 3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus Solid black and Polled Drooping ears and loose hide Composite Breed Classification LSU: increased their weights during the summer months more adapted to coastal climates. Calves from Brangus were heavier at birth and weaning and for total pounds produced per cow. The Angus had an advantage in conception rate and calved earlier, and the calves were more vigorous at birth and survived better to weaning

Bramousin Originated in the United States Golden to red in color 5/8 Limousin, 3/8 Brahman the animal must be sired by a registered Limousin bull, registered Brahman bull or a registered Brahmousin bull Composite Breed Classification

Braford Developed in Florida 3/8 Brahman, 5/8Hereford Red with white points. Early puberty, fertility, calving ease, optimum milk production, maternal aptitude and productive longevity Composite Breed Classification

Simbrah Originated in the United States Brahman and Simmental breeds used Light to dark red with some white marks The All Purpose American Breed Composite Breed Classification

Beefmaker Originated in the United States 3/4 Hereford, 1/4 Simmental Red with white points high conversion efficiency levels, high carcass yields and low maintenance costs Composite Breed Classification

Beefmaster Originated in the United States (TX) Brahman, Hereford, and Shorthorn Composite Breed Classification: three: Beefmaster Breeders Universal, The foundation Beefmaster Assoc., National Beefmaster Assoc. Droopy ears and loose hide

Color: red and duns (pale: brown to yellow) are most common Weight gain, Conformation, Milking Ability, Fertility, Hardiness and Disposition

Salorn Developed in the United States 5/8 Salers. 3/8 Texas Longhorn Lean meat Environmentally adaptable Composite Breed Classification

Salorn

Texon Originated in the United States Texas Longhorn and Devon breeds used Evolving Composite Breed Classification

Santa Gertrudis *Originated at the King Ranch in Texas *Made up of Brahman bulls and Shorthorn cows Breeds *Cherry red color, drooping ears and loose skin, most horned *Good carcass with little waste fat *Known for Heat tolerance and resistant to disease and insects

Review Of Beef Cattle Classification  Cattle are Classified into Two Groups  The Bos Taurus Classification includes what two Groups.  What are some Composite Breeds and what are their makeup.  What are some Breeds Attributes.

Resources   fyi.uwex.edu/cwas/files/2010/07/BeefCatt leClassificationandID.ppt  ef/beefu2.pdf ef/beefu2.pdf  K Holtgrew-Bohling, Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 2nd Edition, Mosby, 2012 K Holtgrew-Bohling