B15: Beef cattle breeds: characteristics, classification, paternal beef cattle types and breeds

Question 1

how are beef cattle breeds characterised?

Answer 1

body size
conformation
composition of body
quantity and quality of product

Question 2

what are the 2 groups beef cattle are divided into?

Answer 2

1) maternal breeds –> known for milk production and mothering ability.
2) paternal / terminal breeds –> known for growth and meat producing ability.

Question 3

What breeds are renowned for growth and meat production making them paternal breeds?

Answer 3

belgian blue
hereford
charolais
limousin
maine-anjou cattle
blonde d’aquitane

Question 4

Origin, colour, size (frame, height, weight), product quality of maine-anjou.

Answer 4

• Derives its name from the Maine and Anjou river valleys of northwest France
• Developed (1840) by crossing the Mancelle breed with the Shorthorn breed
• Dark red with white marking or black
• Large in frame
• Heavily muscled (Primary used in crossbreeding due to heavy muscling)
• Withers height: 170/ 140 cm
• Live weight: 1350 / 1850 kg
• Excellent beef producers, docile, easy to handle
• Fast growth weight
• Well marbled

Question 5

Origin, colour, size (frame, height, weight), product quality of charolais

Answer 5

Charolais: Originated in France
* White to light straw with pink skin
* Polled
* Large frame animal that is noted for its double muscling
* Deep, rounded chests and ribs, muscular forequarters, broad withers, deep heart girth, and a large loin
* exceptional growth rate and muscling
* Wither height: 146/139 cm
* Live weight: 1150/750 kg

Question 6

Origin, colour, size (frame, height, weight), product quality of limousin

Answer 6

Limousine
* Originated in South-Central France
* Red, sometimes black with lighter circles around the eyes and muzzle
* Horned and polled cattle
* Carcass leanness and large loin
* large weaning weight
* Withers height: 144/137 cm
* Live weight 1050/670 kg

Question 7

Origin, colour, size (frame, height, weight), product quality of blonde d’aquitaine

Answer 7

french breed
* Heavily muscled + long bodies
* Yellow, brown, fawn, and wheat
* Used for draft, meat, and milk production
* Withers height: 165/155 cm
* Live weight: 1300/850 kg

Question 8

Origin, colour, size (frame, height, weight), product quality of belgian blue

Answer 8

• Black, blue, white
• Medium sized, heavy cattle, sometimes with a massive double muscle structure –> natural mutation of gene for myostatin (muscular hypertrophy).
• Small boned with a sloping rump, hidden hips, strong legs and a relatively small head. produces good quality lean meat.
• Withers height: 148/ 132 cm
• Live weight: 1200/ 800 kg
• Difficult births is particularly high among heifers, low fertility.