1. Beef Cattle Breeds

2. What are breeds?
Animals that, through selection and breeding, have come to resemble one another and pass those traits uniformly to their offspring.
Perception of the breeders and the livestock industry that decides when a group of individuals constitutes a “breed.”
Cattle are either Bos Taurus (British and Continental) or Bos indicus (Brahman and crosses)
At stock shows, steers will be grouped as American, British, and Continental

3. British Breeds
Angus Red Angus Hereford Polled Hereford Shorthorn

4. Angus Origin: Scotland Largest Breed Registry in U.S.
Maternal, easy fleshing, average muscle, high carcass quality, grow quickly, mature early, calve easily.
Headquarters in St. Joseph, MO

5. Red Angus Origin: Scotland Same breed as “black” Angus, just red.
Same production traits as “Black Angus”.
Association headquarters in Denton, TX.

6. Hereford Origin: England Second largest breed registry in the US
Moderate framed.
Easy fleshing, low maintenance, average muscle, structurally correct.
Average milk, udder quality, moderate growth.
Red body.
White face, crest, belly, socks.
Naturally horned.

7. Polled Hereford Registry combined with Hereford No horns.
Association headquarters in Kansas City, MO

8. Shorthorn Origin: England Earliest know breed imported into the US.
Colors include red, white, red/white paint, and roan (a mixing of individual red and white hair)
Polled and horned
Popular as show cattle, but little commercial use
Association Headquarters in Kansas City, MO

9. Continental/European/Exotic
Charolais
Chianina
Gelbvieh
Limousin
Maine Anjou
Simmental

10. Charolais Association headquarters in Kansas City, MO Origin: France
Characteristics
White, off-white to cream coloration some skin pigmentation possible
Large framed with bigger birth weights and large mature size
Produce lean, muscular carcasses, poor marbling can be a problem
Below average maternally
Association headquarters in Kansas City, MO

11. Chianina Off-white hair coat with black skin pigmentation , horned
Origin: Italy
Characteristics
Off-white hair coat with black skin pigmentation , horned
Developed as draft animals.
Extremely large framed, late maturing breed that is fast growing
Produce lean, muscular carcasses, marbling is suspect
Terminal Breed
Association headquarters in Platte City, MO

12. Gelbvieh Origin: Germany Characteristics
Reddish gold to russet hair color, horned and polled. Now some black purebreds.
Developed as a dual purpose breed in Germany
Moderate sized, early maturing, good dispositions, excellent fertility and milk production
Balancer composite (Gelbvieh x Angus) is extremely popular.
Association in Westminister, CO

13. Limousin Origin: France Characteristics
Reddish gold in color, some black from crosses with Angus, horned and polled
Moderate sized breed
Low fertility and in maternal characteristics
Produce extremely lean, muscular carcasses but difficult to grade choice
Aggressive
Lim-Flex is a composite of with Angus
Association Headquarters in Englewood, CO

14. Maine Anjou Origin: France Characteristics
Deep red color with white underline and patches, horned
Some black, especially in show steers, due to crossing with Angus
Largest continental breed in terms of weight
Relatively high birth weights
Known for being fairly efficient grazing forages.
Produce extremely lean, muscular carcasses but difficult to grade choice
Association headquarters in Platte City, MO

15. Simmental Origin: Switzerland Characteristics
One of the oldest and most widely distributed
Originally red and white but also black and white today but can be solid colored
Polled or horned
Fullbloods are called Fleckvieh
Excellent Milk, Growth and Muscle
Association headquarters in Bozeman, MT

16. Bos indicus/American Breeds Brahman Beefmaster Brangus Santa Gertrudis Braford Gelbray Charbray Brahmousin Simbrah Red Brangus

17. Brahman
Origin: India
Exposure to inadequate food, pests, parasites, diseases, and weather, develop adaptations for survival.
Large, floppy ears, excess skin at throat and dewlap.
More highly developed sweat glands.
Intermediate in size, horned, light gray or red to almost black, short hair coat, black skin.
Later maturing, poor carcass quality.
Association headquarters in Houston, TX

18. Beefmaster Origin: United States Characteristics
50% Brahman, 25% Hereford and 25% Shorthorn
no set color pattern, though mostly reds, some black
noted for longevity, hardiness, rapid growth, and maternal ability
Lower carcass quality due to high Brahman content
Association headquarters in San Antonio, TX

19. Brangus 5/8 Angus and 3/8 Brahman, black and naturally polled
Origin: United States
Characteristics
5/8 Angus and 3/8 Brahman, black and naturally polled
excellent mothering ability, moderate size, early sexual maturity, heat tolerance, and foraging ability, average carcass quality
Association headquarters in San Antonio, TX

20. Santa Gertrudis Origin: United States Characteristics:
5/8 Shorthorn and 3/8 Brahman, dark red, both horned and polled
developed on the King Ranch by founder Robert J. Kleberg
Breed traces back to a single sire
noted for maternal ability of females, productivity under hot, adverse conditions and overall hardiness
Popular as range cattle, not as show cattle
Association headquarters in Kingsville, TX

21. Braford – 5/8 Hereford, 3/8 Brahman
Charbray – 5/8 Charolais, 3/8 Brahman
Gelbray – 5/8 Gelbvieh, 3/8 Brahman
Bramousin – 5/8 Limousin, 3/8 Brahman
Simbrah – 5/8 Simmental, 3/8 Brahman
Red Brangus – 5/8 Red Angus, 3/8 Brahman

22. Other Breeds Red Poll – British, red with a white switch
Senepol – US Virgin Islands, heat tolerant
Murray Grey – Australian, silver colored
Belted Galloway – British, Black & White