Transcript common beef breeds

COMMON BEEF
BREEDS
and other important
stuff!
WHAT IS A BREED?

A breed consists of animals which have
been selected for certain characteristics
and which breed true for those
characteristics
Depending on the
reference…
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There are somewhere between 300 and 1,000
breeds and strains of cattle worldwide!
Most are found in very isolated regions.
Did you know that cattle are NOT indigenous to
North America?
PRIOR TO 1965…
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There were very few different breeds of cattle
in the United States.
Dominant breeds included:
Texas Longhorns (from Spanish Longhorns)
Angus
Hereford
Shorthorn
Composite breeds were also being developed.
WHAT’S A COMPOSITE?

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A composite breed is developed from two or
more previously established breeds.
Examples would include:
Santa Gertrudis (Longhorn X Shorthorn)
Brangus (Brahman X Angus)
Braford (Brahman X Hereford)
BEFORE THE 1960’s…
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Approximately 20 different breeds were
available in the United States.
Today, there are over 70 breeds found in the
United States.
The development of the feedlot industry
created the catalyst for the increase in the
number of breeds.
CURRENTLY…
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The number of breeds in the United States will
vary.
Importations from other countries will affect the
numbers.
Only about 12-15 breeds of the approximately
70 actually have a major influence on the cattle
industry!
CROSSBREDS
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A large portion of the U.S. cattle industry relies
on crossbreeding to improve and/or enhance
the genetics of purebreds.
However, a large problem then exists with
management and consistency in product
quality.
COMMON U.S. BREEDS
 The
next group of slides represent
breeds common in the United
States.
 You will need to take notes about
each breed!
ANGUS
BEEFMASTER
BRAHMAN
CHAROLAIS
HEREFORD
LIMOUSIN
LONGHORN
POLLED HEREFORD
SANTA GERTRUDIS
SHORTHORN
SIMMENTAL
OTHER BREEDS OF
BEEF CATTLE
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The next group of pictures represent breeds of
cattle that can be found in smaller numbers in
the United States.
Some are composite breeds.
BRANGUS
CHIANINA (CHIANGUS, ETC.)
GELBVIEH
MAINE ANJOU
RED ANGUS
TO LEARN MORE…
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For more information on any of these breeds of
cattle or for rarer breeds, please visit the
following website:
www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/
Once there, click on beef breeds and select the
breed you would like to know more about!