Breeds of Beef Cattle Bos Indicus

BRAHMAN Origin: developed in U.S. but descendant of cattle from India Color: predominately gray and red Distinctive Characteristics: –Horned –Large hump over shoulders –Large drooping ears –Loose skin in the throat and dewlap –Heat tolerant, disease & insect resistant –Poor marbling ability

NELORE Origin: Brazil Color: white or light gray Distinctive Characteristics: –Horned and polled varieties –Prominent hump over shoulders –Known for hardiness and heat & insect resistance –docile

Breeds of Beef Cattle Crossbreeds

BEEFALO Origin: largest breakthrough in 1960s Color: depends on the bovine breed used Composite: 3/8 Bison, 5/8 bovine (generally a beef breed) Distinctive Characteristics: –Combines superior hardiness, foraging ability, calving ease and meat quality of bison with fertility, milking ability, and handling ease of bovine

BRAFORD Origin: Florida; 1947 Color: red, with Hereford color pattern Composite: 3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Hereford Distinctive Characteristics: –Superior maternal ability –Fast growth –Attain high weaning weights without supplemental feeding

Tiger Stripe ½ Hereford, ½ Brahman

BRANGUS Origin: Louisiana Color: black Composite: 3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus Distinctive Characteristics: –Hardiness & heat tolerance of the Brahman –Maternal traits & carcass quality of the Angus –Polled –Adaptable to many climates

RED BRANGUS Origin: Texas Color: red Composite: no requirements; Brahman & Angus Distinctive Characteristics: –Grey Brahman bulls x Black Angus cows –Grow quickly –Smaller at birth –Good carcass quality –Polled

GELBRAY Origin: U.S. Composite: Max ¾ Gelbvieh, Min. ¼ Gelbvieh; Max ½ Red Angus, Min. 0 Red Angus; Max 3/8 Brahman, Min. 1/8 Brahman Distinctive Characteristics: –Smaller calves at birth = calving ease –Maternal breed –Able to produce suitable calves for slaughter

SIMBRAH Origin: Gulf Coast Region of U.S. Color: black or red Composite: 5/8 Simmental, 3/8 Brahman Distinctive Characteristics: –Adaptable to many climates –Maternal or terminal breed –Produce lean, high quality beef

CHARBRAY Origin: U.S. Color: Creamy white Composite: 5/8 Charolais, 3/8 Brahman Distinctive Characteristics: –Almost no hump –Large & heavily muscled –Excellent performance in the feedlot –Fast growing –Resistance to heat, humidity, parasites & disease

BEEFMASTER Origin: Texas Color: variety; red and dun more common Composite: slightly less than ½ Brahman, slightly more than ¼ Hereford and ¼ Shorthorn Distinctive Characteristics: –Six Essentials = Weight, Conformation, Milking Ability, Fertility, Hardiness, & Disposition –Good producers under severe range conditions –Polled or horned

SANTA GERTRUDIS Origin: King Ranch Color: deep cherry-red Composite: ~ 5/8 Shorthorn, 3/8 Brahman Distinctive Characteristics: –High degree of heat and tick resistance –Ease of calving –Good mothering ability –Improved beef quality of most purebred Brahmans –Show very little evidence of a hump

SANTA CRUZ Origin: King Ranch Color: light red or honey to Santa Gertrudis cherry red Composite: ½ Santa Gertrudis, ¼ Red Angus, ¼ Gelbvieh Distinctive Characteristics: –Polled or horned –Very heat resistant and adaptable –Docile –Good mothering ability –Perform extremely well in the feedyard

HAYS CONVERTER Origin: Canada Color: usually black with white face; can be red or red with white face Composite: Hereford, Brown Swiss, & Holstein Distinctive Characteristics: –Increased milk production –Hardy –Good growth