What is a breed?

What is a breed?

The classic definition of a "breed" is usually stated as a variation of this statement.

Animals that, through selection and breeding, have come to resemble one another and pass those traits uniformly to their offspring.

What is a breed? Unfortunately this definition leaves some

unanswered questions. For example, when is a crossbred animal considered a composite breed and when do we stop thinking about them as composites?

Composite crossbreeding is accomplished by developing a new breed composed of other existing breeds. Once constructed, the composite breed can be mated like a conventional (straight) breed.

The development of the breeds takes different routes also. In some breeds you can see the amount of change that can occur as the result of selection for a small number of traits. As an example, Holstein cattle have been selected primarily for milk production and are the highest milk producing cattle in the world. Other breeds have traits that result from natural selection* pressure based upon the environment in which they were developed. An example of this might be the N’dama cattle from west Africa. These animals have, through the centuries, developed a resistance to trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness spread by the tse-tse fly, which is fatal to most other breeds of cattle.

Classification and Identification of Beef Cattle Breeds

Hereford

Black Angus Charolais

Brahman

OBJECTIVES To be able to Classify Beef Cattle Breeds into Bos

taurus or Bos indicus . To be able to Classify Beef Cattle Breeds into British,

European. To be able to Determine or Give the Make up of

Certain Composite Breeds. To Give the Attributes of Specific Breeds.

Classification Why do we Need It We classify everything. Example

Automobiles We Break them down into Cars and

Trucks, How can we break them down even further.

Classification Of Automobiles

A m e ric a n M a de Im o rts

C a rs S u v 's T ru c ks

A u tom ob iles

CLASSIFICATION OF BEEF CATTLE

B rit ish E U R O P E A N

B O S T A U R U S

F 1 C ro ss

B O S T A U R U S / IN D IC U S

Z E B U

B O S IN D IC U S

B e ef C a ttle

BRITISH BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE HerefordHereford Polled HerefordsPolled Herefords Black AngusBlack Angus Red AngusRed Angus DevonDevon ShorthornShorthorn Red PollRed Poll

EUROPEAN BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE SimmentalSimmental LimousinLimousin Maine-AnjouMaine-Anjou SalersSalers CharolaisCharolais PiedmontesePiedmontese Blonde d’AquitaineBlonde d’Aquitaine

ZEBU BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE Grey Brahman Grey Brahman NelloreNellore Indo BrazilianIndo Brazilian Red BrahmanRed Brahman AfricanderAfricander

COMPOSITE BREEDS OF CATTLE Brangus (RED & BLACK) Brangus (RED & BLACK) Beefmasters BeefmakerBeefmasters Beefmaker Simbrah Braford Simbrah Braford

Bramousin Santa Gertrudis Bramousin Santa Gertrudis

American 7 Way CompositeAmerican 7 Way Composite SalornSalorn

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

Black Angus• Native to Angus (near Scotland)•Came to U.S. in 1873

• Most popular beef breed in the US

• Always black in color

• Can produce Red Angus

• Known for Marbling Ability•No.1 in numbers of registered animals

•Always polled

•There is a Red Angus breed

Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification

Red Angus• Originated in the British Isles

• Same as Black Angus

• Barred from Angus herdbook

• Recognized as separate breed•Were registered with Black Angus herdbooks until 1917

•Red Angus Assoc. of America formed in 1954

Bos Taurus / British Breed Classification

Texas Longhorn•Developed from Spanish cattle, brought to new world by Columbus•Roamed free in the southwest until after the Civil War•Was replaced by new breeds in 1880s

•Various colors

• Almost went extinct

• Known for Low Birth Weights and Calving ease for Heifers•Numbers are increasingBos 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

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

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

Charolais

•Originated from France•White in color•Mature bulls weigh 2000-2500+lbs•Mature Females weigh 1250-2000•Known for Size and Muscle

Bos taurus/European-Breed Classification

Chianina Developed in Italy Came to U.S. in 1971 Used in cross-

breeding programs They have black skin

and white hair Largest breed of

cattle. Cows up to 2400 lbs.

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

• Red 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

BOS INDICUS BEEF BREEDS

ZEBU

Brahman•Developed in U.S. between 1854-1926•Brood stock came from India•Used in cross-breeding programs•Large hump on back and loose skin•They have a high heat tolerance• Light gray or red to black•Known for Mothering Ability

Bos Indicus Classification

Red Brahman

Bos Indicus Classification

• Heat and Insect Resistant• Mothering Ability

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 BrazilianIndo Brazilian

Bos Indicus Classification

• Known for Large Ears• Heaviest Populations in South America• High in Maternal Attributes

Africander

Bos Indicus Classification

• 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.

Composite Beef Cattle Composite Beef Cattle BreedsBreeds

American• Developed in New Mexico

• Official breed conformation-

• 1/2 Brahman

• 1/8 Bison

• 1/4 Charolais

• 1/16 Hereford

• 1/16 Shorthorn

• 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

Composite Breed Classification

Santa Gertrudis

*Originated at the King Ranch in Texas*Made up of Brahman,Hereford, and Shorthorn Breeds*Known for Heat tolerance

Review Of Beef Cattle Classification Cattle are Classified into Two Groups The Bos Taurus Classification includes

what two Groups. What are some Composite Breeds and

what are their makeup. What are some Breeds Attributes.

Resources www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/