Beef Breed Identification Quiz Questions

The Texas Longhorn is a descendant of the Spanish cattle brought to the Americas by explorer, Christopher Columbus. These cattle lived as feral cattle for over three hundred years. Texas Longhorns are known for their distinctive long horns. Longhorn cattle have various colors and color patterns, including spotted color patterns. Longhorn traits include longevity, hardiness, and adaptability. Longhorn cattle are light muscled and produce calves with low birth weights.

The Angus breed originated in the highlands of northern Scotland in the shires of
Aberdeen and Angus. Angus cattle were first imported into the United States in 1873. These naturally
polled cattle have black hair and skin. Angus are moderate in size and considered a maternal breed. These
cattle are characterized by early sexual and compositional maturity, ease of fleshing, good milk ability, and
excellent marbling.

The Red Angus breed originated in the British Isles and was introduced into the United States in the 1870s. This breed posses many of the traditional Angus traits including carcass quality, maternal characteristics, calving ease, and moderate size.

The Brahman breed originated in the United States from humped cattle that were imported from India and Brazil. Brahman cattle are a horned breed that vary in color, but are predominantly gray and red. Brahman cattle are humped, have large drooping ears, and loose skin in the throat and dewlap. These cattle have a very high tolerance to heat and have a natural resistance to many parasites. They are considered a maternal breed.

The Hereford originated in England and was imported into the United States in 1817. Herefords are brownish red in color with a white face, chest, underline, and switch. The Hereford breed is a docile breed known for longevity, early maturity,and good milking ability.

The Brangus breed was developed in the United States. Registered Brangus, a composite breed, consists of 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. Brangus cattle are black in color and are polled.
The Brangus breed has combined many of the most desirable traits of the Brahman and Angus breeds. Some of these traits include hardiness, heat tolerance, muscularity, early maturity, and production of quality beef.

The Charolais breed was developed in France and was introduced into the United States in 1936. This breed ranges from white to light straw in color. Charolais cattle can be horned or polled. This large, heavily muscled breed’s traits include a fast growth rate and feed efficiency.

The Gelbvieh breed originated in Germany and was introduced into the United States in 1971. The Gelbvieh stresses both maternal and carcass traits, including increased fertility, high
milk ability, excellent growth rate, and good muscling. The Gelbvieh breed has no color restrictions and can be horned or polled.

The Chianina (pronounced kee-a-nee-na) breed originated in central Italy. Chianina genetics were first introduced in the United States in 1971, but the first Italian Chianina was not imported
into the country until 1975. Fullblood Chianinas range in color from white to steel gray and have black pigmented skin. The Chianina have been acknowledged as the largest breed, with some bulls weighing more than three thousand pounds. This breed is characterized by good feed efficiency, increased rate of
gain, and calving ease, which is uncommon in larger breeds. This large well-muscled breed is most often identified as terminal breed.

Polled Hereford - The Hereford breed consists of both horned and polledcattle, both of which are registered with the American Hereford Association. Herefords are brownish red in color with a white face, chest, underline, and switch. The Hereford breed is a docile breed known for longevity, early maturity, and good milking ability. The word Polled means genetically these cattle do not carry the trait to have horns.

The Santa Gertrudis breed was developed on the King Ranch in Kingsville,Texas. This composite breed consists of 5/8 Shorthorn and 3/8 Brahman. Santa Gertrudis cattle are dark red
in color and can be horned or polled. Santa Gertrudis cattle are a desirable breed because of their overall
hardiness. This breed adapts to adverse conditions and is productive in hot climates. Santa Gertrudis cattle also possess many desirable maternal characteristics.

The Shorthorn breed originated in England and was imported into the United States in 1783. Shorthorns can be horned or polled. The Polled Shorthorn was developed in the United States in 1870. Shorthorn cattle can be red, white, or roan in color. These cattle are early maturing, excellent
milkers, and known for their good disposition.

The Brangus breed is a cross between Brahman and Angus cattle. It is known for its heat tolerance, disease resistance, and good meat quality. The animal in the picture appears to have the solid black color and polled (no horns) characteristics of a Brangus.

The Beefmaster breed was developed on the Lasater Ranch in Texas in the 1930s. The cattle do not have a color standard although they are predominantly red or dun. A majority of Beefmaster cattle are horned. The Beefmaster is a composite breed consisting of 1/2 Brahman,1/4 Hereford, and 1/4 Shorthorn. This breed thrives under both practical and severe range conditions.
Beefmaster cattle possess many desirable reproductive traits and have high milking potential.

The Simmental breed originated in the Simme Valley of Switzerland. The breed became established as a North American beef breed in 1967. Simmental color patterns vary from red and white spotted, to fawn or straw colored, to dark red, to black. Simmental cattle are acknowledged for both growth traits and maternal traits. The Simmental breed has been recognized as the heaviest milking of the Continental breeds.