Beef Breeds
Ms. Pilcher
Ag Science
Questions to Investigate
Where did each breed of cattle
originate?
 What are the common colors of each
breed of cattle?
 Which breeds are polled and which are
horned?
 What are the unique qualities for each
breed of cattle?

Angus
 Originated
in
Scotland
 Solid black in
color
 Polled
Angus
 Most
popular breed
 Very vigorous growth and perform
well in feedlots
 Moderate in size
 Good longevity and maternal traits
 Known for their marbling
Angus
Red Angus
Originated
Scotland
Solid Red
Polled
in
Red Angus
 Quality
Carcasses
 More Heat Tolerant
 Have good maternal traits and
calving ease.
Shorthorn
 Originated
in
England
 Can be red,
white, or roan
 Can be horned
or polled
Shorthorn
 Dual-purpose
breed-used for milk
and beef production
 Known for being docile
 Good mothering abilities
 High Fertility
Shorthorn
Hereford
 Originated
in
Herefordshire,
England
 Red bodies with
white markings
 Horned
Hereford
 Very
tolerant to cold climates
 Moderately sized
 Known for docile nature and
excellent disposition
 Longevity
 Good fleshing ability
Hereford
Polled Hereford
 Originated
in Ohio when a man
thought dehorning was inhumane
 Red and White in color
 Polled
 Good Feed Efficiency
 Good dispositions
Polled Hereford
Simmental
Originated in
Switzerland
 Originally red and
white, but now there
are many black
 Horned or polled

Simmental
 Rapid
Growth
 Thick muscling
 Good feed efficiency
 Can adapt to many climates
 Good mothering abilities
 High weaning weights
 High twinning rate
Simmental
Chianina
 Originated
in
Italy
 Off-white with
black nose,
muzzle
 Horned or
Polled
Chianina
 Longevity
 High
Fertility
 Largest Framed Breed
 Used today in many crossbreeding
programs, especially show steers
Charolais
 Originated
in
France
 White to light
straw color
 Horned or
Polled
Charolais
 First
exotic breed in U.S.
 Large in size
 Known for heavy muscling
 Feed Efficiency
 Heat tolerant
 Popular for crossbreeding to
increase size and muscle in
offspring
Charolais
Limousin
 Originated
in
France
 Wheat to rust
red or orange
colored or
black
 Horned or
Polled
Limousin
 Very
long and shallow bodied
 Known for calving ease
 Carcass leanness and heavily
muscled
 Feed efficiency
 Smaller framed than other
continental breeds
Limousin
Maine-Anjou
 Originated
in
France
 Black and
White or Red
 Horned or
Polled
Maine-Anjou
 High
Feed Efficiency
 Good milk producers
 Good muscling
Texas Longhorn
 Originated
U.S.
 Any color
 Horned
in
Texas Longhorn
 Hardy
 Disease/Parasite
Resistant
 Often used for roping animals
Brahman
 Originated
in
India
 Dark to light
gray or red to
almost black
 Polled
Brahman
Has loose skin, large hump over
shoulders, and large droopy ears
 Sometimes called Zebu cattle
 Popular because disease and heat
resistant, heat tolerant, rapid weight
gain, and quality carcasses
 Unpredictable temperament
 Excellent ability to forage successfully
on poor range

Brahman
Belgian Blue
 Originated
in
Belgium
 White, Blue
Roan, or
sometimes
black
 Horned
Belgian Blue
 Very
quiet temperament
 Double muscled
Wagyu
Japanese beef
cattle
 Can be black or
red
 Horned
 Influenced by
many different
breeds

Wagyu
 Meat
is a niche market
 Meat is tender and rich in flavor
 Meat is served in small portions