• Genetic advancement
• Aka: Purebred breeders

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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E.g., Holstein cattle have been selected primarily for milk production and are the highest milk producing cattle in the world.
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Other breeds have traits that result from natural
selection* pressure based upon the environment in which they were developed.
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E.g. 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.

Charolais
Black Angus
Brahman
Hereford

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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.

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We classify everything. Example
Automobiles
We Break them down into Cars and
Trucks, How can we break them down even further.

British
BOS TAURUS
EUROPEAN
Beef Cattle
BOS TAURUS / INDICUS
F1 Cross
BOS INDICUS
ZEBU

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Hereford Dairy Cattle
Polled Herefords
Black Angus
Red Angus
Jersey
Guernsey
Ayrshire
Devon Milking
Shorthorn
Shorthorn
Red Poll
Galloway
British Whites
Scotch Highland
Welsh Black
Wagyu

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Simmental Dairy
Limousin
Maine-Anjou
Dutch Belted
Salers
Charolais
Brown Swiss
Holstein
Piedmontese
Blonde d’Aquitaine
Belgian Blue
Chianina
Gelbvieh
MRI
Normande
Pinzqauer
Devon
South Devon
Tarentaise

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Grey Brahman
Nellore
Indo Brazilian
Red Brahman
Africander

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Brangus (RED & BLACK)
Beefmasters
Simbrah
Beefmaker
Braford
Bramousin Santa Gertrudis
American 7 Way Composite
Salorn

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More Climate variable
Increased Growth Rate
Increased Vigor and Fertility

Bos Taurus / British Breed
Classification
• Originated in England
• Red with white points: dewlap, underline, flank, switch (
Cross breeds: white color dominates)
• Horned usually
•White face and red bodies
(yellow to dark red)
• Known for pink eye
•Docile

• Good forages, vigor and hardiness
• Best at producing more calves in adverse conditions

Bos Taurus / British Breed
Classification
• Native to Angus (East Scotland:
Aberdeen)
•Came to U.S. in 1873
• Most popular beef breed in the US
• Always black in color and polled
(crossbred: calves mostly polled: dominant gene)
• Can produce Red Angus
• Known for Marbling Ability
•Do well in feedlot
•No.1 in numbers of registered animals

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Angus and
Hereford composite

Bos Taurus / British Breed
Classification
• Originated in the British Isles
•Same as Black Angus (red and red cross from 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
•Tolerate heat better than black Angus, marbling and do well in feedlots

“living symbol of the Old West”
Bos Taurus / British Breed
Classification
•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
•Horns curve upward ~ 4 feet
• Almost went extinct
• Known for Low Birth Weights and
Calving ease for Heifers
•Disease and insect resistant
•Adapt well to harsh climates
•Numbers are increasing

Bos Taurus / British Breed
Classification
• Developed in England
• Primarily used for meat in US
• Milk production in other countries
• Dark red and polled
•Norfolk and Suffolk mix

• Originated in England
• White to red in color (red are predominant)
• Roane Color, very popular for show heifers.
Bos Taurus / British Breed
Classification
They are a medium size breed with a truly rectangular shape with a short, broad head and wide set eyes

• Small horns that curve inwards or are polled
• Docile, adaptable to variable climates, crossover, good mums with milking abilities and good carcass

Bos Taurus / British Breed
Classification
• 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.
“Red Rubies”

• Native to South-Central France
• Golden-red to red-brown in color, light tan: muzzle, underline and legs
•Horn: horizontal > forward > upward. Head and neck is small and short with broad forehead
•Low fat meats and large loin areas
Bos Taurus European
Breed Classification

Bos Taurus / European Breed
Classification
• First recorded in Switzerland
• Large body mass
• Light red to dark red with white points
(red/yellow/black/gray – white)
•Horned: medium size horns
• Known for Maternal Characteristics
•Docile, grow fast, grow carcass without excess fat, adaptable - climates

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Originated from France
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Color is white to cream with a pink muzzle and pale hooves
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Large and heavily muscled. Mature bulls weigh 2000-2500+lbs
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Mature Females weigh
1250-2000
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Known for Size and
Muscle
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Most naturally horned: white, slender tapered
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Popular for crossbreeding as well suited in many areas
Bos taurus/European-Breed
Classification

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Developed in Italy
Came to U.S. in 1971
Used in cross-breeding programs
They have black skin and white hair (white to steel gray in color) and black switch
Largest breed of cattle.
Cows up to 2400 lbs.
(Bulls ~ 4,000 lbs and 6 feet)
Heat tolerant and gentle, good foragers, good mums and tolerant to insect and diseases
Bos Taurus / European Breed
Classification

Bos Taurus / European
Breed Classification
• Asian/British-European breeds
•All Japanese cattle: Kobe beef
• Colors: horned breed and can be either black or red
• Consists of many Japanese breeds
• Known for Marbling in the Meat

• Originated in Italy
• Double muscled breed (mutation myostatin gene)
•white or gray with black hoofs, switch, ears and nose
Bos Taurus / European
Breed Classification

• Originated in France
• Blonde color
• Known for Heavy Muscle
•They are the third largest breed in France after the
Limousin and Charolais
Bos Taurus / European
Breed Classification

Bos Taurus / European
Breed Classification
• Native to France
•Most horned 1 strain is polled
• Milk production important in Europe
• Red to brown in color, some black
•one of the oldest and most genetically pure of all European breeds

•Known for some Carcass Merit, good mothers, forage well on poor range and high weaning weights

Bos Taurus / European Breed
Classification
• Originated in France
• Used for milk in Europe
• Red color
•Salers are native to a mountainous region
(rugges)

• Originated in France
• Large: Mature bulls weigh 2100-3000 lbs.
• Mature cows weigh 1500-1900 lbs.
• Dark red with white under markings and patches of white on body. Some roan. Light pigmented skin
Bos Taurus / European
Breed Classification

• Horned breed: medium size horns that curve
• Docile, grow fast and good marbling

• "sacred cattle of India,"
• Hindu faith will not eat meat from them, will not permit them to be slaughtered, and will not sell them.
• India has more cows than any other country.
• Most popular breed in the world
•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

• Heat and Insect
Resistant
• Mothering Ability
Bos Indicus Classification

Bos Indicus Classification
•Known form having smaller ears and cleaner lines than other zebu breeds.
•Biggest populations in
South America (esp. Brazil).
•Heat and Insect tolerant

Bos Indicus Classification
• Known for Large Ears
• Heaviest Populations in
South America, originally from
Brazil
• High in Maternal Attributes
•white to dark gray to redish tan in color

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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

• Developed in New Mexico
• Official breed conformation-
• 1/2 Brahman: hardy
• 1/8 Bison: hardy
• 1/4 Charolais: size and bone structure
• 1/16
Hereford
• 1/16 Shorthorn: mothering and milking ability
• Composite Breed Classification

• LSU: increased their weights during the summer months more adapted to coastal climates.
• Calves from Brangus were heavier at birth and weaning and for total pounds produced per cow.
• The Angus had an advantage in conception rate and calved earlier, and the calves were more vigorous at birth and survived better to weaning
Composite Breed Classification
• Originated in the United States
• 3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus
•Solid black and Polled
•Drooping ears and loose hide

Composite Breed
Classification
• Originated in the United States
• Golden to red in color
• 5/8 Limousin, 3/8 Brahman
•the animal must be sired by a registered Limousin bull, registered Brahman bull or a registered
Brahmousin bull

Composite Breed Classification
• Developed in Florida
• 3/8 Brahman, 5/8Hereford
•Red with white points
•. Early puberty, fertility, calving ease, optimum milk production, maternal aptitude and productive longevity

Composite Breed
Classification
• Originated in the United States
• Brahman and Simmental breeds used
• Light to dark red with some white marks
•The All Purpose American Breed

Composite Breed Classification
• Originated in the United States
• 3/4 Hereford, 1/4 Simmental
• Red with white points
•high conversion efficiency levels, high carcass yields and low maintenance costs

• Originated in the United States
(TX)
• Brahman, Hereford, and Shorthorn
• Composite Breed Classification: three: Beefmaster Breeders
Universal, The foundation
Beefmaster Assoc., National
Beefmaster Assoc.
•Droopy ears and loose hide

• Color: red and duns (pale: brown to yellow) are most common
• Weight gain, Conformation, Milking Ability, Fertility, Hardiness and Disposition

Composite Breed Classification
• Developed in the United States
• 5/8 Salers. 3/8 Texas Longhorn
• Lean meat
• Environmentally adaptable

Composite Breed Classification
• Originated in the United States
• Texas Longhorn and Devon breeds used
•Evolving

Composite Breed Classification
*Originated at the King
Ranch in Texas
*Made up of Brahman bulls and Shorthorn cows
Breeds
*Cherry red color, drooping ears and loose skin, most horned
*Good carcass with little waste fat
*Known for Heat tolerance and resistant to disease and insects

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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.

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 www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/ fyi.uwex.edu/cwas/files/2010/07/BeefCatt leClassificationandID.ppt
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/extension/be ef/beefu2.pdf
K Holtgrew-Bohling , Large Animal
Clinical Procedures for Veterinary
Technicians, 2nd Edition, Mosby, 2012