Pedigree Beef Breeds : Maine-Anjou (Rouge des Prés)

History The Maine-Anjou breed (which is now called Rouge des Prés) originated in the northwestern part of France. This area is excellent for beef production as it has both grassland and tillable land.  At the beginning of the 19th Century, the cattle in this region were large, well-muscled animals with light red coats spotted with white.  Photo courtesy of West Inlet Maine-Anjou,http://www.beachsideretreat.com/maineanjou.html These cattle were known as the Mancelle breed. In addition to their size and muscling, the Mancelle had a reputation for their easy fattening. Leclere-Thouin, an agriculturalist, wrote in 1843 that on...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Marchigiana

History The Marchigiana (pronounced as mar-key-jar-nah) origins are unsettled, the American International Marchigiana Society state that the breed descended from Asiatic cattle that were brought to Italy during the fourth Century AD following the barbarian invasions.  And another version, put forth by Dr. Briggs in Modern Breeds of Livestock, is that it is a relatively new breed, being differentiated as late as 1933 and known locally at the time as the Improved Marche.  According to this version, the indigenous stock of the area had been intermixed with the Chianina and two other varieties of mountain cattle. Selection then followed...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds :Mirandesa

History The Mirandesa is the native breed of Portugal, it is also known by names such as Frieiresa (in Spanish) and Ratinha. Photo courtesy of Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos de Raça Mirandesa ,www.mirandesa.pt They are used as a draft breed and also for beef production. Even in the late 1970's these animals were still being used to pull fishing boats from the water. Today the Mirandesa is grown for beef in the natural pastures of Northeast Transmontano, a region that is above the 500 m altitude.  This region covers six counties of the District of Braganza which are: Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro, Vimioso, Vinhais, and Macedo...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Mongolian

History The Ancestors of todays modern Mongolian cattle were Asian wild cattle (Bos turano mongolicus). This breed is native to Inner Mongolia and northern China. It was not until 1949 that Mongolian cattle began to be improved with crossbreeding to European breeds. The Shorthorn was the first to be crossed.  Mongolian cattle have been herded for centuries by nomads and they are used by farmers as draft animals and are highly valued for their meat. They are found in two varieties, the Ujumqin and Halhïn Gol. Characteristics Mongolian cattle are usually brindle or reddish brown in colour but will sometimes be black, yellow or pied. The hair and skin is thick with small dewlaps and humps, the horns are quite thin and long.  Their bone structure is very strong and sturdy...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Murray Grey

History According to the Australian legend, the first Murray Grey was born on the Thologolong property of Peter Sutherland in New South Wales in 1905, to a light roan Shorthorn cow and an Aberdeen Angus bull. The legend goes on to recount how this one cow gave birth to 12 off colour calves, from which Mrs. Helen Sutherland, cousin to Peter, developed the breed. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the breed actually originated throughout Australia as ranchers used “blue roan” bulls on their “blue roan” females.  Photo courtesy of Beaver Creek Farm,www.murraygrey.net It became known, that these cattle grew quickly, were superior converters...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Hays Converter

History The Hays Converter is the first beef breed recognised as a pure breed-registerable under the provisions of the Canada Livestock Pedigree Act and developed by a Canadian Livestock producer. Since the concept was first developed by Senator Harry Hays of Calgary, the objective has been to produce superior animals with the selection based only on performance. Senator Hays considered the idea for a new beef breed for a long time. Besides wanting to develop a leaner breed of cow, he wanted one that gained weight as efficiently as possible. He aimed at developing an animal that would reach the preferred market weight at the earliest possible...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Hereford

History The origin of the Hereford has been lost over time but it is generally agreed that it was founded on the draught ox descended from the small red cattle of Roman Briton and from a large Welsh breed once numerous along the border of England and Wales. Herefords have taken their name from the county Herefordshire, an historic agricultural region of England where this breed has evolved. The origins of this breed of cattle in the County of Herefordshire have been mentioned by various agricultural authors as long ago as the early 1600's. During the 1700's and early 1800's documented records of the breed were maintained by various individuals...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Hybridmaster

History The Hybridmaster was developed by Joe Grose in Oklahoma over 35 years ago. It was specifically created for four traits - milk, fertility, longevity and growth. This breed is a composite of several different breeds, it is approximately 50% Angus, 25% Brown Swiss, 6.25% Brahman, 6.25% Simmental, 6.25% Gaur, and 6.25% Bison. Statistics Produces large ammounts of quality milk Good carcass, long straight muscles Good grass capacity Fertile Good growth Distribution The Hybridmaster is mainly bred and produced in the USA. Original Article Her...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Gelbvieh

History Gelbvieh (pronounced Gel-fee) originated in the three Franconian districts of Northern Bavaria, in southern Germany. It was once a triple purpose breed (milk, meat and draft) and was developed from several local strains of 'Red-Yellow Franconian' cattle; Gelbvieh translates from the German, literally, as 'yellow cattle'. Photo courtesy of Gustins Diamond D Gelbvieh,www.gustinsdiamondd.com Gelbvieh are a large framed muscular breed not to dissimilar to a Simmental, Charloais or Limousin and are also known by other names such as Einfarbig gelbes Hohenvich and German Yellow.  In 1958, the German government imposed a stringent...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Gloucester

History The Gloucester is one of the oldest breeds and it originated in the Severn Vale and throughout Gloucestershire, England as early as the 13th Century.  They were valued for their meat, milk (producing cheese) and as strong draught oxen. They were most popular around 1750 with the breed reaching from Devon to Essex and up to the Welsh coast but then the numbers decreased as disease, development of other breeds and arable farming increased.  Photo courtesy of The Gloucester Cattle Society, www.gloucestercattle.org.uk There was a great success in 1796 when the Gloucester cow Blossom provided the first anti-smallpox...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : English Longhorn

History English Longhorns (also known as Longhorns) are not related to the American or Texas Longhorn whose ancestors came from Spain. They do have a long and fascinating history linked to that of the great livestock pioneer of the 1700's, Robert Bakewell of Dishley.  The English Longhorn originated from the northern counties of England, it was used as a draught animal and its milk was used for butter and cheese. The creamy white horns were treasured by manufacturers of buttons, cups, cutlery and lamps. Fine slivers of clear horn were a poor mans' glass and many a household were grateful for the end product of these elegant long horns.  The...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Devon

History The Devon, sometimes called North Devon, to distinguish it from the South Devon breed, is one of the oldest beef breeds in existence today. In fact some authorities consider the Devon's origin to be prehistoric, the assumption being that the breed descended directly from Bos lonqifrons, the smaller type of aboriginal cattle in Britain. According to an offical reference material compiled by the Devon Cattle Breeders Society, Somerset, England; Devon Cattle - The Red Rubies, it appears that the Red Cattle of North Devon may have contributed to the Hereford and other British breeds.  The Devon was previously classified as...

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