Breeds of Beef Cattle
Terms• Breed - group of animals related by decent
from common ancestors, with similar characteristics
• Bull - a male• Cow - a female • Heifer - an unbred female• Calf - an unmature (young)• Steer - a castrated male
Breed Divisions
• British/English• Continental/Exotic/European• Bos Indicus/American/Zebu
British
• AKA: English• General Characteristics
– Good Maternal Ability– Early Maturing– Adapt Well to Cold Climates
Angus
• Origin - Scotland• Color - Black• Polled• Moderate in Size• Excellent marbling• Early Maturing
Hereford
• Origin - England• Color - Red with
White markings• Horned• Thick Hair Coat• Good Disposition
Polled Hereford
• Origin - Iowa, Warren Gammon
• Color - Same as Hereford
• Polled• Early Maturing
Red Angus
• Origin - U.S.• Color - Red• Polled• Moderate size• Developed from
recessive Gene
Shorthorn
• Origin - England• Color - Red, White,
Red and White, Roan
Shorthorn
• Origin - England• Color - Red, White,
Red and White, Roan• Polled or Horned• Good disposition• Excellent Milk
Production
Shorthorn Plus
• 1/4 – 7/8 Shorthorn • commercial ranks• cattle with black
markings or coat color cannot exceed the 1/2 percentage designation
Continental
• AKA: European or Exotic• General Characteristics
– Growthy– Fast Gaining– Later Maturing
Charolais
• Origin - France• Color - Cream White
with pink skin• Horned• Large size• Fast growing • Muscular• Marbling can be a
Problem
Chianina
• Origin - Italy• Color - White or Black
Hair with dark skin• Horned• Large Frame• Lean Muscular Carcass• Not Maternal Breed• Largest Breed in World
Limousin
• Origin - France• Color - Wheat to Rust
Red• Horned• Ease of Calving• High Carcass
Cutability
Lim-Flex• Combination 25% - 75%
Limousin and 25% - 75% Angus or Red Angus
• Sires and Dams must be registered with either ALBS, AAA, or ARAA
• Maternal• Good Marbling• Carcass yield
Maine-Anjou
• Origin - France• Color - Red with
White Underline• Largest of French
Breeds• Rapid Growers• Dual Purpose Breed
Mainetainer
• 1/4 - 5/8 Maine-Anjou• Can be crossed with
any other breed• Adopted in 2002• Ability to add other
breed traits to Maine-Anjou
Simmental
• Origin - Switzerland• Color - Yellow to Red• and white• Horned• Heavy Milk
Production• Large Frame• Fast Growing
Bos Indicus
• AKA: American• General Characteristics
– Heat Tolerant– Disease Resistant– Loose Skin– Thrive in Harsh Conditions
Brahman• Origin - India• Color - Gray, Red,
Brown, Black, White• Horned• Drooping Ears• Hump over Shoulders• Loose Skin• Thrive in Hot, Humid
Climates
Beefmaster• Origin - Lasater Ranch,
Texas, 1908• 1/2 Brahman,
1/4 Shorthorn, 1/4 Hereford
• Color - Various• Hardy, Rapid Growth• Heavy Weaning Weights• Good on Range
Conditions
Brangus
• Origin - Oklahoma• 3/8 Brahman
5/8 Angus• Color - Black• Polled• Moderate in Size• Show Brahman
Influence
Red Brangus
• Origin - Texas• Brahman X Angus• Color - Red• Polled• Drooping Ears• Males have Crest
Santa Gertrudis• Origin - Texas, King
Ranch• 5/8 Shorthorn
3/8 Brahman• Color - Red• Trace back to Single
Sire• Hardy• Good Mothering Ability
Star 5
• 50% or more Santa Gertrudis
• Sire or Dam must be registered
• Records influenced cattle genetics and performance
• More marketable than purebreed
Simbrah
• Origin - U.S.• Simmental X Brahman• Color - Red and
White, solid• Polled or Horned• Dual Purpose• Rapid Growth
Review Questions• Name Two British Breeds• Angus, Hereford, Polled Hereford, Red Angus, Shorthorn
• Name Two General Characteristics of American Breeds• Heat Tolerant, Disease Resistant, Loose Skin, Thrive in
Harsh Conditions
• What Breed is Largest in the World?• Chianina
Review Questions Continued
• What Breed has a High Cutability Carcass?• Limousin
• Where did the Santa Gertrudis originate?• King Ranch in Texas