1. Breeds of Beef Cattle An excellent resource is
exhibiting 258 breeds
(use google, search for: breeds of livestock)/

2. Longhorn
Longhorn helped tame the west, and were the predominant first cattle in the US. Hardy but tough (in every way).

3. British Beef Breeds
Three breeds known as the British beef breeds predominated in the US before 1960.
Almost all beef were HEREFORD, ANGUS or SHORTHORN.
All known for good eating and fattening characteristics.

4. ANGUS

5. Angus are BLACK (or red), are naturally polled, and have
excellent muscle quality, marbling and grading well. Angus
are naturally polled (without horns).

6. A more modern Angus Bull, Indiana Bull Test Station

7. Hereford

8. Hereford - Horned

9. Hereford - Horned
Herefords are red with white face, underline and socks.
They are hardy, and grade well. They were the most
predominant breed for many years, before “exotics”.

10. An animal fitted
for show, many
years ago.
Hereford (old)

11. Polled Hereford

12. Polled Hereford

13. Polled Hereford

14. Some naturally polled Herefords were used to start the Polled
Hereford breed. This animal at the Indiana Bull Test Station.

15. Shorthorn Shorthorn were never as popular as Hereford or Angus, in the
US. They fatten well. They can be red, white, or roan.

16. Shorthorn

17. Red Angus
A mutation from black Angus resulted in Red Angus.

18. Beef Friesian
Derived from the dairy breed, Holstein-Friesian. Large.

19. Brown Swiss
Mainly a dairy breed, can be dual purpose. Huge.

20. Red Poll
Red Poll were a good, but minor breed. Not highly popular.

21. “EXOTICS”
Breeds introduced from Europe that were much larger and more muscular than the 3 traditional British Beef Breeds were labeled as EXOTICS when they were introduced. I will keep that nomenclature, though many now are “mainstream”

22. My Own story on exotics
In MY mind, the large breeds came into importance as they did following recognition in the US that crossbreeding with HOLSTEIN (dairy breed) resulted in fast growing, efficient, lean animals.
Though they failed to grade choice, they could make money anyway.

23. Soon it became obvious that crossing with large breeds did not have to utilize dairy breeds; muscular draft breeds from Europe could increase size, growth rate, and leanness.

24. Charolais had been in the US since 1949, but until crossbreeding became popular in the 1970’s, it had little impact.
Then in the 70’s and 80’s many of today’s breeds were introduced to the US (or they became more popular).

25. Charolais

26. Charolais

27. Charolais

29. Charolais White, muscular, from France
Very heavy muscled, especially heavy forequarters, makes calving difficulties for some cattle and crosses.

32. ZEBU
Before the era of exotics, and in tropical areas, ZEBU cattle (humped) are popular.
Though they have poor growth and meat characteristics, they are heat and insect tolerant.

33. Brahman - Zebu

34. Brahman Bull - “correct”

35. Brahman Female “correct”

36. Brahman x Hereford x Shorthorn
Santa Gertrudas
Shorthorn x Brahman
Braford
Brahman x Hereford
Beefmaster
Brahman x Hereford x Shorthorn
Brangus
Brahman x Angus

37. THE EXOTICS and other breeds

38. Simmental
Swiss, original type, out of favor in US now.

39. Simmental (US cross)

40. Simmental - present day in US can be of many
color patters.

41. Swiss Simmental Cow

42. Fleckvieh (German Simmental)

43. Pie Rouge (French Simmental)

44. Maine Anjou (French)

45. Maine Anjou

46. Blonde d’ Aquitaine

47. Blonde d’ Aquitaine

48. Limousin

49. Limousin

50. Limousin
Limousin may have had more impact than most other breeds, perhaps because of good promotion activities. They have been heavily involved in crossbreeding, especially with Angus.

51. Chianina - Italy - Largest

52. Chianina

53. Chianina - Old, Large
Old, meaning one of the
oldest breeds known

54. Romagnola
Italy, Very OLD

55. Marchigiana
Italy

57. Marchigiana

58. Gelbvieh
Germany

59. Pinzgauer
Dual Purpose
German

60. Tarentaise
French
Raised in
the most
mountainous
areas

61. Salers

62. Very old breed, polled or
horned, France
Salers

63. Norwegian Red

64. Normande

65. Normande, large, docile

66. Galloway Scotland - small to medium framed, polled
long, soft, thick, wavy hair. Hardy. Calm.
Good carcass, cross well.

67. Murray Grey

68. Murray Grey From an accidental mating of Angus x Roan Shorthorn.
Developed in Australia for Australian conditions.

69. Devon
Southern
England

70. Devon First purebred cattle imported into US; among
the oldest breeds known. From South England.

71. South Devon
Not related to
Devon (North Devon)

72. Scotch Highland

74. Scotch Highland Short, stocky, hardy cattle with shaggy
hair to protect them
from severe weather.
Top quality meat.

75. Luing From a Scottish island of that name.
Cross of Highland x Shorthorn