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Beef Cattle Breeds

Guides, how-tos and checklists on beef cattle breeds. 104 guides published so far, more added regularly. Need a supplier, vet or service? Try agriculture.directory.

British and Heritage Beef Breeds

• American Aberdeen Cattle: Breed ProfileA larger American line of Aberdeen-Angus-type cattle.
• Angus Cattle: Breed ProfileThe black, polled beef breed that dominates American herds, and what it means for a 4-H or FFA project.
• Beef Shorthorn Cattle: Breed ProfileThe beef-focused line of the Shorthorn breed, bred for muscle and forage efficiency.
• Belted Galloway Cattle: Breed ProfileThe black cattle with a white belt, often called Oreo cows.
• British White Cattle: Breed ProfileA polled, white British breed with dark points.
• Chillingham Cattle: Breed ProfileA feral white cattle herd in England.
• Devon Cattle: Breed ProfileA red English breed with a long history on both sides of the Atlantic.
• Dexter Cattle: Breed ProfileA small Irish breed that gives milk, meat and manageable size to young exhibitors.
• Galloway Cattle: Breed ProfileA hornless, shaggy Scottish beef breed built for cold and wet weather.
• Hereford Cattle: Breed ProfileRed body, white face and a reputation for easy keeping on grass.
• Highland Cattle: Breed ProfileThe long-horned, shaggy Scottish breed that thrives on rough ground.
• Lincoln Red Cattle: Breed ProfileA deep red English breed from Lincolnshire, bred from Shorthorn stock.
• Longhorn English Cattle: Breed ProfileThe old English Longhorn.
• Lowline Cattle: Breed ProfileA miniature Angus line developed in Australia.
• Luing Cattle: Breed ProfileA Scottish hill composite.
• Murray Grey Cattle: Breed ProfileA silver-grey breed from Australia, born from a Shorthorn and Angus cross.
• Polled Hereford Cattle: Breed ProfileA hornless Hereford developed in the United States and now a major beef breed.
• Red Angus Cattle: Breed ProfileThe red-coated Angus, bred apart from its black cousin and valued for efficiency.
• Red Poll Cattle: Breed ProfileA polled, red dual-purpose breed from eastern England.
• Shorthorn Cattle: Breed ProfileThe red, white and roan breed that shaped British and American cattle for two centuries.
• South Devon Cattle: Breed ProfileThe largest British breed, with a yellow-red coat and a gentle nature.
• Sussex Cattle Cattle: Breed ProfileA red English beef breed.
• Vaynol Cattle: Breed ProfileA rare white park-type cattle from Wales.
• Welsh Black Cattle: Breed ProfileA hardy black breed from Wales, used for beef and, historically, milk.
• White Park Cattle: Breed ProfileAn ancient British breed with a white coat and dark points.

Continental and European Beef Breeds

• Akaushi Cattle: Breed ProfileThe Japanese Red wagyu type.
• American Akaushi Cattle: Breed ProfileThe American registry line of Japanese Red cattle.
• Ankole-Watusi Cattle: Breed ProfileThe African breed with enormous horns.
• Aubrac Cattle: Breed ProfileA hardy French beef breed from the Massif Central.
• Beef Friesian Cattle: Breed ProfileA beef-type Holstein-Friesian line.
• Belgian Blue Cattle: Breed ProfileThe double-muscled Belgian breed with a blue-roan or white coat.
• Blonde d'Aquitaine Cattle: Breed ProfileA wheat-colored French breed with heavy muscling.
• Braunvieh Cattle: Breed ProfileThe Swiss brown breed used for beef and milk.
• Charolais Cattle: Breed ProfileThe large, cream-white French breed known for growth and muscle.
• Chianina Cattle: Breed ProfileThe ancient Italian giant, among the largest cattle breeds in the world.
• Flamande Cattle: Breed ProfileA red Belgian and French breed.
• Gelbvieh Cattle: Breed ProfileThe golden-yellow German breed known for growth and maternal traits.
• Grauvieh Cattle: Breed ProfileA gray Alpine cattle breed.
• Groningen Cattle: Breed ProfileA black Dutch cow with a white face.
• Hanwoo Cattle: Breed ProfileThe native beef cattle of Korea.
• Irish Black Cattle: Breed ProfileA black Irish cattle type.
• Kobe Cattle: Breed ProfileThe Hyogo prefecture brand of Japanese Black beef.
• Limousin Cattle: Breed ProfileA golden-red French breed known for lean muscle.
• Maine-Anjou Cattle: Breed ProfileA large red-and-white French breed used for beef.
• Marchigiana Cattle: Breed ProfileA white-gray Italian breed related to the Chianina.
• Maremmana Cattle: Breed ProfileAn Italian breed with long horns.
• Parthenais Cattle: Breed ProfileA hardy, lean French breed from the west of France.
• Piedmontese Cattle: Breed ProfileThe Italian breed known for double muscling and tender, lean beef.
• Pinzgauer Cattle: Breed ProfileA chestnut-and-white Austrian breed with a distinctive back stripe.
• Romagnola Cattle: Breed ProfileA white Italian draft breed turned beef breed.
• Salers Cattle: Breed ProfileA hardy French mountain breed with a mahogany coat.
• Simmental Cattle: Breed ProfileA red-and-white Swiss breed used for beef and milk worldwide.
• Tarentaise Cattle: Breed ProfileA small-framed red French mountain breed.
• Wagyu Cattle: Breed ProfileThe Japanese breed famous for extreme marbling.
• Wagyu Cross Cattle: Breed ProfileThe Japanese breed famous for marbling.

Heat-Tolerant and Composite Beef Breeds

• Africander Cattle: Breed ProfileThe South African Afrikaner, also spelled Africander.
• Afrikaner Cattle: Breed ProfileA South African red breed.
• American Breed Cattle: Breed ProfileA composite developed in the United States.
• Amerifax Cattle: Breed ProfileA cattle composite with Beefmaster and Hereford influence.
• Angus Plus Cattle: Breed ProfileA registry designation for Angus-influenced composites.
• Ankina Cattle: Breed ProfileAn Ankole and Chianina composite.
• Barzona Cattle: Breed ProfileAn Arizona breed built for desert range.
• Beefalo Cattle: Breed ProfileA bison and cattle composite.
• Beefmaster Cattle: Breed ProfileA Texas composite built on six essentials.
• Black Maximizer Cattle: Breed ProfileA black-hided composite of Maine-Anjou and Angus.
• Bonsmara Cattle: Breed ProfileA South African composite bred for heat and low-input grazing.
• Boran Cattle: Breed ProfileAn East African beef breed.
• Braford Cattle: Breed ProfileA Brahman and Hereford composite for hot, humid regions.
• Brahman Cattle: Breed ProfileThe humped, heat-tolerant breed of the Gulf Coast and the tropics.
• Brahmousin Cattle: Breed ProfileA Brahman and Limousin composite.
• Braler Cattle: Breed ProfileA Brahman and Angus-type composite code.
• Brangus Cattle: Breed ProfileThe black composite of Brahman and Angus.
• Buelingo Cattle: Breed ProfileA composite breed code.
• Canchim Cattle: Breed ProfileA Brazilian Charolais and zebu composite.
• Caracu Cattle: Breed ProfileA Brazilian heritage cattle breed.
• Charbray Cattle: Breed ProfileA cross of Charolais and Brahman for heat tolerance and growth.
• Chi-Angus Cattle: Breed ProfileA Chianina and Angus cross.
• Chi-Maine Cattle: Breed ProfileA Chianina and Maine-Anjou cross.
• Chinese Yellow Cattle Cattle: Breed ProfileA group of native Chinese landraces.
• Droughtmaster Cattle: Breed ProfileA red Australian composite of Brahman and Shorthorn.
• Florida Cracker Cattle Cattle: Breed ProfileA small, tough heritage breed from Spanish stock in Florida.
• Gelbray Cattle: Breed ProfileA Gelbvieh and Brahman composite.
• Gir Cattle: Breed ProfileA red and spotted Indian breed with long drooping ears.
• Guzerat Cattle: Breed ProfileAn Indian zebu breed with lyre-shaped horns.
• Gyr Cattle: Breed ProfileAn Indian zebu breed with a domed forehead.
• Hays Converter Cattle: Breed ProfileA Canadian composite from Hereford, Holstein and Brown Swiss.
• Indu Brazil Cattle: Breed ProfileA Brazilian zebu type.
• Mandalong Special Cattle: Breed ProfileAn Australian composite.
• Mashona Cattle: Breed ProfileA Zimbabwean beef breed.
• Mexican Corriente Cattle: Breed ProfileA small Spanish-descended cattle breed used in roping.
• Miniature Zebu Cattle: Breed ProfileA small humped cattle breed.
• Nelore Cattle: Breed ProfileThe white zebu that dominates Brazilian beef.
• Nguni Cattle: Breed ProfileA colorful South African landrace.
• Pineywoods Cattle: Breed ProfileA heritage cattle breed of the Southeast.
• Pineywoods Cattle Cattle: Breed ProfileA small Gulf Coast landrace descended from Spanish cattle.
• Qinchuan Cattle: Breed ProfileA Chinese beef breed from Shaanxi.
• Red Brangus Cattle: Breed ProfileThe red version of the Brangus composite breed.
• Santa Cruz Cattle: Breed ProfileA composite developed from Santa Gertrudis, Gelbvieh and Red Angus.
• Santa Gertrudis Cattle: Breed ProfileThe first American breed developed from Brahman and Shorthorn at the King Ranch.
• Senepol Cattle: Breed ProfileA slick-coated, polled breed developed in the Virgin Islands.
• Simbrah Cattle: Breed ProfileA Simmental and Brahman composite for hot climates.
• Texas Longhorn Cattle: Breed ProfileThe lean, long-horned descendant of Spanish cattle.
• Ultrablack Cattle: Breed ProfileA black, Angus-influenced composite beef type.
• Zebu Cattle: Breed ProfileThe humped cattle of Asia and Africa.