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Continental Breeds

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Limousin | Charolais | Longhorn | Maine Anjou | Simmental | Chianina | Gelbvieh

A breed of livestock or poultry is a group of animals that result from breeding and selection and that have distinguishable characteristics. Breeds have developed to provide increased production
(meat, milk, eggs and/or wool) in a given environment.

Limousin

  • France
  • Reddish gold in color
  • Moderate size that will finish at <1200
  • Below average maternally
  • Produce extremely lean muscular carcasses
  • Difficult to grade choice
  • Fastest growing breed in the country (percentage increase in registry)
  • 4th in annual U.S. registrations

Charolais

  • France
  • White, off-white to cream color
  • Skin pigmentation is possible
  • Extremely fast growing
  • Muscular breed that is late maturing
  • Large frame with relatively heavy birth weights
  • Large mature size
  • Produces lean, muscular carcasses
  • Marbling can be a problem
  • Below average maternally
  • 3rd in annual registrations

Longhorn

  • Texas (were of Spanish origin)
  • Long distinctive horns
  • Many colors  including speckled and spotted
  • Lived as feral cattle for approximately 300 years from 1550-1850, then we began to drive cattle for slaughter.  In 1880s began to improve longhorns with british bulls (primarily shorthorns and Herefords), early in 1900s the longhorn was diluted nearly to extinction.  In 1927, the department of interior paid $3000 to buy a herd of longhorns to be maintained in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge at Cache, Oklahoma.  Started with 20 cows, 4 calves, 3 bulls, and natural section determined the parents of each generation.

Maine Anjou

  • France
  • Deep red color with white underline and patches
  • Largest continental breed in terms of weight
  • Relatively high birth weights
  • Produce extremely lean and muscular carcasses
  • Difficult to grade choice
  • Popular breed in production of show steers for youth

Simmental

  • Switzerland
  • Color is strawed or light to dark red
  • Gentle disposition
  • Heaviest milking
  • Large frame and mature size
  • Fast growing in feedlots
  • Difficult to grade choice
  • Produce muscular carcasses
  • Marbling is below average
  • Early maturing sexually with over 10% of European purebreds producing twins
  • 5th in annual registrations

Chianina

  • Italy
  • Short, straight off-white hair
  • Black skin pigmentation
  • One of the world’s oldest breeds
  • Extremely large frame
  • Late maturing but fast growing
  • Tremendous impact on show steer industry
  • Produces lean muscular carcasses
  • Marbling is suspect
  • Not considered a maternal breed

Gelbvieh

  • Germany
  • Reddish gold to russet color
  • Result of government controlled breeding program (W. Germany)
  • Dual purpose breed
  • Leaned toward beef production
  • Moderate size
  • Early maturing
  • Good disposition
  • Excellent fertility
  • Excellent milk production
  • Steers that finished at 1200 pounds with high cutability carcass

 

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