B14: Beef cattle breeds: characteristics, classification, maternal beef cattle types and breeds

Question 1

how are beef breeds characterised?

Answer 1

size
conformation
composition of body
quality + quantity of product

Question 2

What are teh classifications of beef breeds?

Answer 2

british –> angus, hereford, belted galloway.
continental –> charolais, limousin, maine-anjou.
american –> texas longhorn

Question 3

What are the 2 groups beef cattle are divided into?

Answer 3

1) Maternal breeds –> known for milk produciton and mothering ability.
2) Paternal / Terminal breeds –> known for growth and meat producing ability.

Question 4

mention some maternal beef breeds

Answer 4

hereford
shorthorn
angus
red angus
lincoln red
galloway
saler
hungarian grey.

Question 5

Origin, colour, size (height + weight), character and product info of Herford.

Answer 5

• Originated in Herefordshire, England
• Red and white head, legs, and underline, thick and curly hair
• Medium sized frame
• Horned
• Early maturing, docile and easily handling
• “mothering” breed
• Beef poor marbling

Question 6

Origin, colour, size (height + weight), character and product info of Shorthorn.

Answer 6

• As early as 1580 there existed a race of superior short horned cattle on the Yorkshire estates of the earl and dukes of Northumberland.
• Originally a dual-purpose breed
• Red, white or roan in color
• They have a medium to large frame and have medium muscling
• Withers height: 146/140 cm
• Live weight: 1120/ 700 kg
• Are good mothers
• Horned or polled

Question 7

Origin, colour, size (height + weight), character and product info of aberdeen angus.

Answer 7

• From Aberdeen Scotland
• They are solid black with small ears
• Genetically polled
• Smooth hair, medium sized, heavy muscled, and great carcass merit box shape
• Wither height: 145/135 cm
• Live weight: 1000/650 kg
• Easy calving due to small calf size
• Well-marbled meat

Question 8

Origin, colour, size (height + weight), character and product info of Red Angus.

Answer 8

• Red strain in Aberdeen Angus cattle
• Developed from a recessive trait from angus
• High quality carcass
• Calving ease
• Good disposition
• Offering maternal characteristics
• Uniformity
• Outstanding appetite

Question 9

Origin, colour, size (height + weight), character and product info of lincoln red.

Answer 9

• Red
• Polled
• Withers height: 110/100 cm
• Live weight: 500/325 kg
• Calve easily
• Hardy
• Thrifty

Question 10

Origin, colour, size (height + weight), character and product info of galloway.

Answer 10

• One of the world’s oldest beef breeds
• Descended from two aboriginal breeds of Scotland
• Black (dun) with soft, wavy hair and thick undercoat
• Naturally polled
• Hardy
• Quality carcass
• Foraging ability
• Wither height: 137/124 cm
• Live weight: 750/500kg
  *easy calving, calves are hardy and vigorous.

Question 11

Origin, colour, size (height + weight), character and product info of salers.

Answer 11

• The salers breed was first identified in cave drawings found near Salers, a French medieval town.
• It is considered one of the oldest, most genetically pure European breeds
• Dark mahogany red
• Horned breed
• Calving ease and good maternal ability
• High weaning weights
• Excellent carcass quality
• Withers height: 148/140 cm
• Live weight: 980/680 kg
• Known for calving ease, mothering ability and calf growth

Question 12

Origin, colour, size (height + weight), character and product info of hungarian grey.

Answer 12

• Autochthon native breed of Podolic origin
• Color: grey, blue-, silver grey to dark grey, (males (darker)
• robust, non-pretentious.
• Pigmented, dark grey
• Withers height: 150/136 cm
• Live weight: 800/525 kg
• Good quality lean foot and mouth disease
• Adaptability to extreme climate
• Easy calving