Course Title:
Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Lesson Title:
Classifying and Identifying Common Beef Cattle Breeds
TEKS Addressed in Lesson: 130. 2c. 12c http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter130/index.html
Lesson Objectives. The student will be able to:
1. Compare and contrast Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus
2. Describe characteristics of common beef cattle breeds
3. Classify breeds into American, British, and European
Tools and Equipment
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Beef Cattle Breed PowerPoint
Blank white copy paper (5-8 per student)
Markers
Stapler
Breeds of Beef Cattle Quiz
Key Terms / Vocabulary
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Breed
Bos Taurus
Bos Indicus
American Cattle
British Cattle
European Cattle
Polled
Maternal traits
Terminal traits
Engage / Interest Approach/Anticipatory Set
Teacher: “Okay, think about a beef cattle breed you think you have heard of or know. Once you have
your answer put your answer in your left hand and enclose it in your first. After you have a breed, think
about a fact you know about that particular breed, once you know your fact, enclose it in your right
hand.”
Once all students have closed fists, randomly pick a few students to share their beef cattle breed and
their fact. Allow time for some discussion.
Today we will…
1. Compare and contrast Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus
2. Describe characteristics of common beef cattle breeds
3. Classify breeds into American, British, and European
Explore & Explain / Teaching Plan and Strategy / Presentation of New Material
1. To begin, the teacher will go through the beef cattle breeds PowerPoint
2. Students will be making knowbooks with white copy paper folded in half for their notes.
Students are in charge of picking out pertinent facts over beef cattle breeds to write in their
knowbooks. Student will also be required to have an illustration for each beef cattle breed as
well. (see PowerPoint for more explanation)
Today we will…
• Compare and contrast Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus
• Describe characteristics of common beef cattle breeds
• Classify breeds into American, British, and European
Making Knowbooks 
• You are in charge of your knowbook about beef cattle breeds!
• Be creative with your notes!!! Write down stuff that will help YOU remember
• You will use your knowbook for throughout this unit.
• Sneak peeks will be allowed to view your knowbooks during our test so make sure you use
your paper wisely!! 
How your knowbook will be graded…
• Your knowbook will be graded based on completeness, organization and neatness/
• You need to draw a picture of each breed in your knowbook along with the info.
• You choose the way it’s organized. Again this is for YOUR use.
• With that being said, organization is the key to success so you can access info quickly!!
• Knowbooks will stay in the classroom.
Subgroups
• Bos Indicus (American by way of India)
– Heat tolerant
– Increased parasite & disease tolerance
– Improved production in subtropical climates
– American Influenced
• Bos Taurus (European and British)
– Maternal and(or) terminal breeds
– Positive carcass traits: marbling, tenderness, yield
– Excellent production in temperate climates
British Breeds
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Angus
Originated in Scotland
Solid black in color
Naturally polled
Consumer preference led to Certified Angus Beef
Known for good marbling
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Hereford
Originated in Hereford, England
Red with white head, legs, and underline
Horned
Early maturing
“Mothering” breed
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Polled Hereford
Developed in Iowa by Warren Gammon
Naturally hornless
Red with white face, legs and underline
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Shorthorn
Originated in England
Red; red & white or roan in color
Originally used as a dual purpose breed for meat and milk
Sometimes called the Durham breed
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Red Angus
Originated in the British Isles
Same as Black Angus
Barred from Angus herdbook
Recognized as separate breed
Exotic (European/ Continental) Breeds
• Maine Anjou
• Originated in France
• Dark red with white markings or black
• Developed by crossing the Mancelle breed with the Shorthorn breed
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Simmental
Originated in Switzerland
Oldest breed of cattle in the world
Large, powerful breed
Brought to the United States in 1971
Orange/Yellow and white to black in color
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Limousin
Native to South-Central France
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Golden-red to red-brown in color
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Charolais
Originated in France
Traditionally white in color
Long bodied, large cattle
Heavily muscled
Coarse looking
• Chianina
• Originated in Italy
• One of the oldest breeds of cattle
• Tallest breed of beef cattle
• Short hair that is white to steel gray
• Terminal breed
• Low milk production
American Breeds
• Brahman
• Originated in India
• Able to survive on very little, poor feed
• Insect & heat resistant
• Excess skin and large hump on back
• White to gray, red to black
• Sweat glands
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Santa Gertrudis
Developed on the King Ranch in Texas
All Santa Gertrudis are descendants of the bull, Monkey
They were created by crossing shorthorn cows and Brahman bulls
3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn
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Brangus
Originated in the United States
3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus
Solid black
Polled
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Simbrah
Originated in the United States
Brahman and Simmental breeds used
3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Simmental
Light to dark red with some white marks
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Beefmaster
Originated in the United States
½ Brahman, ¼ Hereford, and ¼ Shorthorn
Elaborate / Activity/Application/ Student Engagement /Laboratory
1. Students are creating the knowbook throughout the PowerPoint presentation. They should be
creating illustration of the cattle breeds and making their book their own.
2. After the PowerPoint, students will write this quick quiz in the back sheet of their book.
Students can use their books to help them. The teacher should discuss the answers to the
questions with the students.
Quiz- Write question and answer in Knowbooks
1. Which breed is known for the hump on their shoulders and excess skin? Brahman
2. Where did the Angus originate? Scotland
3. What is the coloring pattern of the Hereford? Red with white face, legs and underline
4. What’s ½ Brahman, ¼ Shorthorn and 1/4 Hereford called? Beefmaster
5. Which of these breeds is known for their marbling ability? Angus
6. Name the two different subgroups in cattle? Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus
7. Is Brahman Bos Indicus or Bos Taurus? Bos Indicus
8. What is your favorite breed and why?
Evaluation / Summary
After the some review and practice with naming cattle breeds, the teacher can assign the handout
labeled “Breeds of Beef Cattle Quiz”. The teacher can allow students to have “sneak peeks” in their
knowbooks for a period of time while taking their quiz independently.
Key to Breeds of Beef Cattle Quiz
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References/Additional Materials / Extended Learning Opportunities/ Enrichment
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/
College & Career Readiness Standard
Science X. E.1a & 3a.
©Texas Education Agency, 2015