
Classification and Identification of Cattle Breeds Mt MorrisBeef Cattle Seminar June 17, 2009
BRITISH BREEDS OF CATTLE • Hereford Dairy Cattle • Polled Herefords Jersey • Black Angus Guernsey • Red Angus Ayrshire • Devon Milking Shorthorn • Shorthorn • Red Poll • Galloway • British Whites • Scotch Highland • Welsh Black • Wagyu
EUROPEAN BREEDS OF CATTLE • Simmental Dairy • Limousin Brown Swiss • Maine-Anjou Holstein • Dutch Belted • Salers • Charolais • Piedmontese • Blonde d’Aquitaine • Belgian Blue • Chianina • Gelbvieh • MRI • Normande • Pinzqauer • Devon • South Devon • Tarentaise
COMPOSITE BREEDS OF CATTLE • Brangus (RED & BLACK) • Beefmasters Beefmaker • Simbrah Braford • Bramousin Santa Gertrudis • American 7 Way Composite • Salorn
HYBRID-VIGOR BENEFITS • More Climate variable • Increased Growth Rate • Increased Vigor and Fertility
BOS TAURUS BEEF BREEDS BRITISH / EUROPEAN
Hereford • Originated in England • Red with white points • Horned usually • Known for pink eye Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification
Red Angus • Originated in the British Isles • Same as Black Angus • Barred from Angus herdbook • Recognized as separate breed Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification
Black Angus • Native to Angus (near Scotland) • Most popular beef breed in the US • Always black in color • Can produce Red Angus • Known for Marbling Ability Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification
Texas Longhorn • Originated in the United States • Various colors • Almost went extinct • Known for Low Birth Weights and Calving ease for Heifers Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification
Red Poll • Developed in England • Primarily used for meat in US • Milk production in other countries • Dark red and polled Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification
Shorthorn • Originated in England • White to red in color • Roane Color, very popular for show heifers. Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification
Murray Grey • Developed in New South Wales-Australia • Became a recognized Australian breed in 1962 • Cross of Roan Shorthorn and Angus • Known for small birth weights • Good Carcass traits • Docile Disposition • Dark pigment on head and udders
Belted Galloway • Developed in the 16th century in Scotland • Know for shaggy coat-ideal for wet, cold conditions • Developed from a cross of Galloway and Dutch Belted • Have good marbling ability • Polled and refered to as “Belties”
Devon • Originated in England • Also called North Devon • One of the oldest beef breeds • At one time used for milk • Mature cows weigh 950-1300 lbs. Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification
South Devon • High Maternal Breed • Not Related to Devon • High butterfat-4.2% • Refered to as “Gentle Giants Bos taurus/British Breed Classification
Ayrshire • Origin Scotland • High butterfat and Protein • Do Well in Harse Conditions Bos taurus/British Breed Classification
Guernsey • Origin Jersey Isle in English Channel • High butterfat and Protein • Used in Grazing Operations • Larger than Jersey cattle Bos taurus/British Breed Classification
Jersey • Origin Jersey Isle in English Channel • High butterfat and Protein • Popular due to high components in Milk • Small Mature Size • Used in Crossbreeding • #2 Dairy Breed Bos taurus/British Breed Classification
Bos Taurus • Breeds of European Origin
Dutch Belted • Dual Purpose • Developed in Holland from cattle originating in Austria • Moderate Frame Size Bos Taurus/Dutch Breed Classification
Holstein • #1 Dairy Breed • Developed in North Holland and Freisland • High Milk Production • Large Mature Size Bos Taurus/Dutch Breed Classification
Brown Swiss • Switzerland Origin • Large Cattle Dual Purpose-Braunvieh • High Milk Components • Large Mature Size • Developed at High Altitude Bos Taurus/Swiss Breed Classification
Limousin • Native to South-Central France • Golden-red to red-brown in color Bos Taurus European Breed Classification
Simmental • First recorded in Switzerland • Large body mass • Light red to dark red with white points • Known for Maternal Characteristics Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification
Wagyu • All Japanese cattle • Various colors • Consists of many Japanese breeds • Known for Marbling in the Meat Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification
Piedmontese • Originated in Italy • Double muscled breed • Light to dark gray in color Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification
Blonde d’Aquitaine • Originated in France • Blonde color • Known for Heavy Muscle Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification
Salers • Native to France • Milk production important in Europe • Rod to brown in color • Known for some Carcass Merit Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification
Tarentaise • Originated in France • Used for milk in Europe • Red color Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification
Maine-Anjou • Originated in France • Mature bulls weigh 2100-3000 lbs. • Mature cows weigh 1500-1900 lbs. • Dark red with white markings Bos Taurus / European Breed Classification
Red Brahman • Heat and Insect Resistant • Mothering Ability Bos Indicus Classification
Brahman • Developed in the United States • Light gray or red to black • Known for Mothering Ability • Named after Brahman Shines in India • A mix of Nelore, Indu-Brazil, Gyr breeds • Tropically adapted-have sweat glands Bos Indicus Classification
Nelore • Known form having smaller ears and cleaner lines than other zebu breeds. • Biggest populations in South America. • Heat and Insect tolerant Bos Indicus Classification
Indo Brazilian • Known for Large Ears • Heaviest Populations in South America • High in Maternal Attributes Bos Indicus Classification
Africander • Native to South Africa • Usually red with long horns • Used for meat and as a draft animal • Mature cows weigh 1150-1350 lbs. • Mature bulls weigh 1650-2200 lbs. Bos Indicus Classification
Hays Converters • Developed in Canada • Senator Harry Hays-Calgary, Alberta • 1/3 Hereford • 1/3 Holstein • 1/3 Brown Swiss • Known for growth rate, high fertility, sound udders, and high milk production • First Recognized Composite in Canada in 1975 • Composite Breed Classification
Brangus • Originated in the United States • 3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus • Solid black • Polled Composite Breed Classification
Bramousin • Originated in the United States • Golden to red in color • 5/8 Limousin, 3/8 Brahman Composite Breed Classification
Braford • Developed in Florida • 3/8 Brahman, 5/8Hereford • Red with white points Composite Breed Classification
Simbrah • Originated in the United States • Brahman and Simmental breeds used • Light to dark red with some white marks Composite Breed Classification
Beefmaker • Originated in the United States • 3/4 Hereford, 1/4 Simmental • Red with white points Composite Breed Classification
Beefmaster • Originated in the United States • Brahman, Hereford, and Shorthorn • Composite Breed Classification
Salorn • Developed in the United States • 5/8 Salers. 3/8 Texas Longhorn • Lean meat • Environmentally adaptable Composite Breed Classification
Texon • Originated in the United States • Texas Longhorn and Devon breeds used Composite Breed Classification
Santa Gertrudis *Originated at the King Ranch in Texas *Made up of Brahman, Hereford, and Shorthorn Breeds *Known for Heat tolerance Composite Breed Classification