Breeds of Beef Cattle
Breed: A race of animals within a species. A breed of animals usually
have a common origin and similar identifying characteristics.
Species: a group of organisms with similar structural and functional
characteristics that in nature breed only with each other and have close common
ancestory.
Genus and Species of Beef Cattle:
Breed Association: An organization that defines animal type for a breed
and then acts to supply a base of genetic material for use by beef cattle
breeders.
Status of Beef Cattle Breeds
Pre-considerations for Breed Usage
Guidelines for Selecting a Breed
Classification of Beef Cattle Breeds
Biological Classification of
Breeds
- Maternal Breed: a breed that
excels in maternal traits (i.e., a trait that especially important for
breeding females: fertility, freedom from dystocia, milk production, and
mothering ability.
Examples:
- Paternal Breed: a breed that
excels in paternal traits (i.e., a trait especially important in market
offspring: growth, rate and efficiency of gain, meat quality, and carcass
yield.
Examples:
- Composite (synthetic) breed:
A breed made up of two or more component breeds and designed to benefit
from hybrid vigor without crossing with other breeds. Take advantage of
breed complementarity.
Examples:
- General Purpose Breed: are
moderate for both paternal and maternal traits.
Examples:
- Crossbred: animal having
parents of different breeds. Crossed to maintain hybrid vigor and gain
breed complementarity.
Examples:
Heterosis: an increase in the performance of hybrids over that of the
purebreds.
Breed Complementarity: an improvement in the overall performance of
crossbred offspring resulting from crossing breeds of different but
complementary biological types.
Geographical
Classification of Breeds
- British Breeds (Bos taurus):
Tend to be strong on maternal traits. Sometimes called old world breeds.
- European or Continental Breeds
(Bos taurus): Tend to be strong on paternal traits. Large influx after
WWII.
- American Breeds (Bos taurus x
Bos indicus): Tend to be dual purpose or designed for an environment.
- African/Indian Breeds (Bos
taurus or Bos indicus)
- Other Unique breeds:
Description of
Breeds http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/
- Angus
- Barzona
- Beefmaster
- Braford
- Brahman
- Brangus
- Charolais
- Chianina
- Corriente
- Gelbvieh
- Hereford
- Limousin
- Pinzgauer
- Saler
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Gertrudis
- Shorthorn
- Simmental
- Tarentaise
- Corriente