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Large Animal Science Library

LA151 Beef Breeds
Matches these 2015 National AFNR Career Cluster Content Standards:
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MAIN IDEA: What are the most common breeds of beef cattle produced in the United
States, and where did they originate?

Many familiar breeds in the United States are Bos taurus, a subspecies of domestic cattle of British or European
descent. Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Simmental and many dairy breeds are examples of Bos Taurus cattle. Bos Taurus
cattle do well in cooler climates, and they mature faster than Bos indicus cattle.

The second cattle subspecies, Bos indicus, originated in Asia and India. Bos indicus cattle are better adapted to hot
weather. Distinctive features of Bos indicus cattle include long ears, humped shoulders and loose skin, all of which help
dissipate excess body heat. Brahman cattle are one example.

Beef cattle arrived in the United States in three phases. In the first period, Spanish explorers brought the ancestors of
Longhorn cattle in the early 1500s. Later, in the 1800s, three breeds of British cattle arrived in America: Hereford,
Shorthorn and Angus. At the same time, Brahmans were imported from India. In the mid- and late-1900s, a third wave of
breeds from Europe -- such as Charolais, Limousin and Simmental -- began to filter into the United States. Most
European breeds were originally utilized as multipurpose animals for meat, milk and draft power. Subsequently, these
more contemporary European breeds bolstered growth and carcass traits in the beef animals already present in the
United States.

The following list describes each of the major beef breeds in the United States today and gives a brief historical
background for each. Some breeds were used for more than one purpose. Dual-purpose breeds were used for meat
and milk, while tri-purpose breeds were used for meat and milk and as draft animals. The breeds are listed
alphabetically by name.

Another page shows photos of several beef breeds.

ANGUS

Aberdeen Angus cattle (Angus) were first imported into the United States from Scotland in 1873. All Angus cattle are
naturally polled (hornless). Most Angus are black, but a recessive gene causes some Angus cattle to have a red coat
color.

The first breed association for Angus was formed in the United States in 1883 and was known as the American
Aberdeen Angus Association. The name was shortened to the American Angus Association in 1956. After 1917, the

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Angus Breed Association barred Red Angus from registry. In 1954, a separate breed association was formed for the
registration of Red Angus called the Red Angus Association of America.

Both Black and Red Angus have earned a reputation for beef quality. Both breeds have been and continue to be at the
forefront of performance data used for genetic selection. The Angus breed associations have been collecting data about
their animals' performance for much longer than other breed associations. This means much more information is
available when Angus breeders make breeding and marketing decisions.

BRAHMAN

Brahman cattle belong to the Bos indicus subspecies. Their long ears, humped shoulders and loose skin are distinctive
characteristics. Brahmans first arrived from India in 1854 and soon became known for their ability to tolerate the extreme
environmental conditions found in their native land -- heat, insects and disease. Thus, Brahmans are most commonly
found in the southern United States where environmental conditions are similar to those found in India. Actually,
American Brahmans have resulted from a previous combination of several Indian breeds.

Brahmans and Brahman crossbreeds are commonly called "eared" cattle because of their long ears. Colors vary widely,
with gray being the most common. The American Brahman Breeder's Association was formed in 1924.

CHAROLAIS

Charolais, the first European breed to arrive in America, is the oldest of the French breeds. The first traceable Charolais
bull was imported from Mexico in 1935. This white, heavily muscled breed stamped extreme muscling, leanness and
rapid growth on their crossbred progeny. Polled and horned Charolais are registered by the same breed association,
with polled animals being preferred by most breeders.

The American and International Charolais Associations merged in 1957 into the current association, which is called the
American International Charolais Association. In 1964 the Pan-American Charolais Association joined the group. In
1967 the American Charbray Association (registry for Charolais X Brahman crossbreds) came into the fold as well.

CHIANINA

Ancient Roman soldiers used the Italian forebears of the modern Chianina as draft animals. Not surprisingly, Chianinas
are recognized as the oldest of the beef breeds. They are also the largest breed of cattle, with mature bulls standing
over six feet tall at the shoulder and weighing up to two tons. Fullblood Chianinas exhibit both pigmented skin and white
hair. The breed has become known for its growth rate, muscling and lean carcasses.

The American Chianina Association was formed in 1972 and adopted a system of "breeding up" unregistered animals to
purebred status by mating fullblood bulls to unregistered cows. A breeding up program breeds animals that are
percentages (less than fullblood) to a fullblood animal to eventually raise the percentage of offspring back up to 100%.
For example, an unregistered cow is bred to a fullblood bull. The halfblood female calves are again mated to fullblood
bulls to produce 3/4 offspring, etc. Animals of 15/16 Chianina parentage or greater are considered purebreds.

GELBVIEH

Gelbvieh cattle originated in West Germany and were developed for milk as well as beef production. Producers currently
select Gelbviehs strictly for performance traits such as growth rate, milking ability and carcass composition. The color of
Gelbvieh cattle has been described a "reddish gold to russet." Gelbvieh semen was first introduced into the United
States in 1971 and was used to develop purebreds using a "breeding up" program. The American Gelbvieh Association
has recorded parentage for the breed in the United States since 1971.

HEREFORD
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Herefords originated in England and were first imported into the United States in 1817. Herefords are red in color with
white faces, legs, bellies, switches and necks. A switch is the tuft of long hairs at the bottom of an animal's tail. Known
for their docility, the breed has flourished in difficult range conditions. The first breed association was formed in 1881,
and the name of the American Hereford Association was adopted in 1952.

In 1898, Warren Gammon searched the United States for naturally hornless Hereford cattle. He succeeded in
purchasing 14 animals that served as the basis for the Polled Hereford breed. In 1913, Polled Herefords began to be
recorded, but animals must have been previously recorded with the American Hereford Association. In 1967, the
American Polled Hereford Association split from the American Hereford Association, and continues to record registration
of Polled Hereford cattle.

LIMOUSIN

Limousin cattle, native to France, are known for their tremendous muscle volume, leanness and calving ease. Originally
red in color and horned, the "breeding up" process has resulted in many black, polled, purebred animals. Limousin cattle
present a moderate frame when compared to other European breeds. The first Limousin bull was brought to the United
States through Canada in 1968. That same year, the North American Limousin Foundation was created to record
parentage of Limousin cattle in the United States.

MAINE-ANJOU

Maine-Anjou cattle, the largest of the French breeds, were developed to produce both milk and meat. Long ago, the
basis of the breed included Shorthorn genetics. Maine traits include tremendous growth rate, docility and feedlot
efficiency. Maine-Anjou cattle originally had horns and were red and white in color. However, the "breeding up" process
has resulted in black and polled purebred Maine-Anjou cattle as well.

Maine-Anjou semen was available in the United States from bulls housed in Canada as early as 1969. The first breed
association was formed that same year and evolved into the American Maine-Anjou Association in 1976.

SALERS

Salers cattle, another French breed, have been recognized for fertility, calving ease and milking ability. A distinct line of
dairy-type Salers exists in their native land. Like many other breeds, the "breeding up" process has resulted in some
black individuals. But since most breeders have chosen to select for quality rather than concentrating on color, most
Salers are colored red and have curly coats from the breed's French predecessors.

The first bull brought to Canada in 1972 provided semen to the United States. In 1974, the American Salers Association
was formed, and the first fullblood animal was imported into the United States in 1975.

SHORTHORN

Shorthorns were one of the first breeds to undergo selection and improvement in England (during the late 1600s). In
time, both dairy and beef shorthorn types were developed. Shorthorn genetics influence more than 45 breeds of cattle.
Traits of growth rate, carcass quality and feed efficiency were emphasized in the development of Shorthorn cattle, and
are still evidenced today. Shorthorns first came from England to the United States in 1783. Producers rapidly adopted
the Shorthorn by crossing them with Longhorns.

Shorthorns may be red, white, red and white, or roan in color. Polled Shorthorns were identified, collected and
propagated beginning in 1881. Shorthorns were listed in the herd book of registered cattle in the United States
published in 1846. The current American Shorthorn Association was formed in 1872 to record the parentage of purebred
Shorthorns. In 1973, registrations were opened for percentage animals.

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SIMMENTAL (also known as FLECKVIEH)

Simmental and Fleckvieh cattle are closely related, with the Simmental originating in Switzerland and Fleckvieh cattle
coming from Germany. American Simmentals can be descendants of Swiss Simmentals, German and Austrian
Fleckvieh cattle, or both. Their genetic backgrounds are similar, and no distinction is made between the two breeds in
the United States.

In both countries, these large, red and white, yellow, or red animals were used for milk, meat and draft purposes. The
large-framed animals are distributed worldwide and have become consistently known for growth rate, milking ability and
carcass leanness. Performance testing and records are encouraged. "Breeding up" has resulted in a population of
black, polled Simmental cattle, but some Simmentals retain their original red and white coloring.

While some theories claim a few Simmentals were brought to the United States between 1887 and 1920, no official
record of the breed exists until 1967, when the first semen was made available to United States breeders. The American
Simmental Association was formed in 1968.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

Texas Longhorns descend from Spanish cattle -- some of which arrived on Christopher Columbus' second voyage in
1493. Trademark long horns define this breed, which possesses the innate ability to survive and flourish in harsh
conditions with little human intervention. Longhorns ruled the American cattle industry until Shorthorns and Herefords
gradually replaced them in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, Texas Longhorns were close to extinction. Numbers
remained low until 1964, when the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association was formed. Since then, numbers of
Longhorns have increased.

The color of Longhorns can vary from black to red to gray to white. American beef producers have rediscovered the
hardiness and inbred calving ease of Longhorns.

OTHER BREEDS

The previously mentioned breeds constitute most of the cattle in the United States, but are by no means the only breeds
available. A variety of other breeds thrive on farms and ranches across the country. Associations of crossbred cattle
such as the Charbray (Charolais X Brahman), Brangus (Brahman X Angus) and ChiAngus (Chianina X Angus) record
parentage of what are now considered distinct breeds. Other "synthetic breeds" consist of new breeds formed from
multiple other breeds. Two examples include Beefmasters (Brahman x Shorthorn X Hereford) and Santa Gertrudis (5/8
Shorthorn, 3/8 Brahman).

BOTTOM LINE: The commercial beef industry in the United State consists mainly of crossbred cattle. However,
commercial breeders have a wide variety of breeds to use in their crosses. As the beef industry consolidates, breeds
with the most reliable performance documentation will flourish while the others may struggle to maintain registration
numbers. Organizations such as the Livestock Conservancy are committed to maintaining the integrity of rare and
endangered breeds.

Another page shows photos of several beef breeds.

INTERNET RESOURCES:

** Find links to breed associations at the AgEdNet.com link page for Breed Associations.

** Florida Memory - Florida Cattle Ranching

https://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/ranching/

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** Livestock Conservancy
http://livestockconservancy.org/

** Oklahoma State University - Breeds of Livestock - Cattle

http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/

** Oklahoma State University - Color Patterns in Crossbred Beef

http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-9574/ANSI-3173web.pdf

** PBS - Desirable Breeding Traits in Cattle

2:56-minute video about valuable cattle traits
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nat08.living.gen.geneng.traits/desirable-breeding-traits-in-cattle/

** PBS - Holy Cow: Different Breeds of Cattle

0:46-minute video on different cattle breeds
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nat08.living.gen.geneng.breeds/nature-holy-cow-different-breeds-of-cattle/

** Texas AgriLife Extension - Creating Breeds

This is an interesting discussion of how cattle breeds came to be created and some methods of crossbreeding to create
new hybrids.
http://animalscience.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2012/04/EAN-002-1-Creating-Breeds.pdf

** University of Arkansas - Composite Beef Breeds

https://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-3057.pdf

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Lesson plan prepared by Dr. Robert E. Mikesell Jr., Department of Dairy and Animal Sciences at The Pennsylvania
State University and Dr. MeeCee Baker, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Ag Education Coordinator.
Lesson update reviewed by Darla J. Romberger, agriculture instructor/FFA advisor.
Copyright © 2000-2016 Stewart-Peterson Inc. All Rights Reserved. RMMBrevDR/nc,lh 611250
STEWART-PETERSON is a registered trademark.
Photo credit: ARS photo by Scott Bauer shows Angus cattle.

END STUDENT SECTION

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