Identification & Characteristics Beef Cattle Breeds Identification & Characteristics

Angus Origin – Scotland Color – Black P/H – Polled Characteristics 2nd most popular, Resistant to pink eye Superior carcass Not as rugged as others

Barzona Origin – US - Arizona Color – Red P/H – either Characteristics (1/4) Africander, Hereford, Shorthorn, & Angus Good fertility, rate of gain, mothering, hardiness, resistant to pink eye Medium size, long head

Beefalo Origin – Color – variety P/H – Characteristics cross of (3/8) bison/buffalo & (5/8) any breed of cattle Hardiness, calving ease, meat quality (buffalo) Fertility, milking ability, handling ease (beef)

Beef Master Origin – US (TX) Color – red, variety P/H – polled Characteristics Hereford, Brahman, Shorthorn

Belted Galloway Origin – Scotland Color – Black Grey, white belt P/H – polled Characteristics Similar to the Galloway Larger More milk Grow more rapidly

Blonde D’Aquitaine Origin – France Color – blonde, light yellow P/H – horned Characteristics Used as draft Use for meat and milk

Brahman Origin – India Color – variety P/H – horned Characteristics Sacred cattle of India Large drooping ears Excess skin

Brahman Crosses Braford Brahmousine Braler Brangus Charbray Simbrah Gelbray

Brangus Origin – US Color – black P/H – polled Characteristics Resistant to pink eye Good milkers Good carcass

Brown Swiss Origin – Switzerland Color – chocolate P/H – horned Characteristics Dosile Raised for milk & beef Crossed with Angus

Charolais Origin – France Color – white, cream P/H – Horned Characteristics Long bodied Good milkers 3rd most popular Larger in size Muscular

Chianina Origin: Italy Color: white to steel gray P/H: horned Characteristics: One of the oldest breeds of cattle Tallest breed of beef cattle Short hair Terminal breed Low milk production

Corriente Origin – Spain Color – any except pure white P/H – horned Characteristics Milk, draft, meat Hardy

Devon Origin – England Color – rich red, dark red preferred P/H – horned Characteristics Adequate milk production Genetic Tool Fertility Calving ease Docility Hardiness Adapt to temperature extremes

Galloway Origin – Scotland Color – dark P/H – polled Characteristics Wavy hair Hardy Easy calvers Docile Courageous

Gelbvieh Origin – Germany Color – red/red spotted P/H – horned Characteristics Strong skin pigmentation Superior fertility, calving ease, mothering ability

Hays Converter Origin – Canada by Senator Hays Color – Black w/ white face & underline P/H – Horned Characteristics Hardiness –cold winters Fast fleshing ability Calving ease Large milk production Hardiness – cold climates Excellent carcass Sound feet & legs

Hereford Origin: Hereford, England Color: Red w/ white head, legs, and underline P/H: Horned Characteristics: Early maturing “Mothering” breed Meat: trimmer, less fat, more red meat

Limousin Origin – France Color – golden red P/H – horned Characteristics Larger Rough coat Hardy

Lincoln Red Origin – United Kingdom Color – deep red P/H – either Characteristics Early maturing Easy calvers Not prone to eye cancer or sunburn Large frame or rapid growth

Longhorn (Texas) Origin – North America – survival of the fittest Color – P/H – horned Characteristics Developed entirely by nature in North America High fertility Hardy, aggressive, adaptable Easy calving

Maine Anjou Origin: France Color: Dark red with white markings or black P/H: Horned Characteristics: Cross: Mancelle & Shorthorn Well muscled Easy fattening

Marchigiana Origin: Italy Color: white to steel gray P/H: horned Characteristics Large, muscular Mature early High feed efficiency

Murray Grey Origin: Australia Color: silver – grey, grey P/H: polled Characteristics: Mothering ability Low birth weight Efficient growth rate Meat: high cutability

Normande Origin – France Color – mahogany & white or black & white P/H – ? Characteristics Rings around eyes Dual purpose breeds Clean fronted, strong topline

Norwegian Red Origin: Norway Color: rust red and white P/H: horned Characteristics: Abundant milk production Excellent feed conversion Good carcass

Piedmontese Origin – Italy Color – white to pale grey P/H – ? Characteristics Most popular breed in Italy Tender, lean beef 80% double muscled Calving ease Good milk yield Docile

Pinzgauer Origin: Austria Color: chestnut red w/ white markings P/H: either Characteristics: Pigmented skin Maternal instinct High fertility

Polled Hereford Origin: Iowa by Warren Gammon Color: Red with white face, legs and underline P/H: polled Characteristics Mutation of Hereford Similar traits to Hereford

Red Angus Origin – US Color – Red P/H – Polled Characteristics Similar to Angus Deep fronted

Red Poll Origin – England Color – red P/H – polled Characteristics Dual purposes Well muscled

Salers Origin – France Color – deep cherry, white switch P/H – horned Characteristics Fastest growing breed in the United States Most genetically pure of European breeds

Santa Gertrudis Origin – King Ranch - TX Color – P/H – Characteristics descendants of the bull, Monkey Cross: 5/8 shorthorn cows and 3/8 Brahman bulls

Shorthorn Origin: England Color: Red, white, roan P/H: Horned Characteristics: Originally used as a dual purpose breed for meat and milk (Milking Shorthorn) Short & refined Inward curving horns

Simmental Origin – Switzerland Color – Orange/Yellow and white to black P/H – Characteristics Oldest breed of cattle in the world Large, powerful breed

South Devon Origin – England Color – light brown to red P/H – horned Characteristics Largest of British breeds Heavy milkers

Tarentaise Origin – France Color – cherry to dark blonde P/H – horned Characteristics Larger breed Thick neck

White Park Origin – England Color – white, black/red pigmentation; black ears, eyes, nose, feet, tail P/H – horned Characteristics excellent milking ability