This document discusses the classification and identification of various cattle breeds. It begins by outlining how cattle breeds have developed through selective breeding over many generations. It then defines what constitutes a cattle breed and notes there are over 250 recognized breeds worldwide. The document proceeds to describe traits of economic importance to beef cattle like reproductive performance, growth rates, and carcass quality. Finally, it provides details on specific breeds, categorizing them as tropical Zebu cattle, tropical cattle of European type, or temperate breeds, and highlighting traits of several example breeds.

1. Classification and Identification
of Cattle Breeds

2. Development of Breeds
• Cattle, like most agricultural animals are bred.
• Most are the result of many generations of breeding.
• Most breeds were developed for a geographical area.
• Cattle with desirable characteristics are kept.
• Undesirable animals are no longer bred (culled).
• No breed has is perfect in all of its traits.
• No animal exhibits all of the perfect
characteristics of its breed.

3. What is a Breed
• A Breed of cattle is a race or variety, the members of
which are related by descent and similar in certain
distinguishable characteristics.
• There are more than 250 breeds of cattle
recognized throughout the world, and several
hundred other varieties and types that have not
been identified with a name.
• New cattle breeds, such as the Brangus, Beefmaster
and Santa Gertrudis, are composite or synthetic
breeds, that have been developed during the last
50-75 years by combining the desirable
characteristics of several existing breeds.

4. Ancestry
Bos indicus- humped
cattle, developed in
tropical countries
Bos taurus- humpless
cattle, developed in
more temperate zones.

5. Traits and Their Measurement
• The most economically important traits of beef cattle are
classified as follows:
• Reproductive performance
• Percent calf crop (calves born/cows in breeding herd)
• Calving interval of less than 365 days
• Calving season of less than 90 days
• Ease of calving (reduced incidence of dystocia, retained placenta, etc)
• Weaning weight and age at puberty
• Postweaning growth: growth from weaning to finished weight

6. Traits and Their Measurement
• The most economically important traits of beef
cattle are classified as follows:
• Feed efficiency: pounds of feed per pound of live-weight
gain
• Carcass merit: quality grades and yield grades
• Longevity (functional traits): length of productive life
• Conformation: form, shape and visual appearance of
the animal
• Freedom from genetic defects
• Temperament

7. Breeds of Beef Cattle
• Tropics
• Tropical Cattle of European Type
• Intermediate Type

8. Tropical – Zebu Cattle
• Most of the cattle indigenous to the tropics belong to the
zebu species
• External trait which most clearly separates zebu from
European type cattle is the hump over the shoulders or
the posterior part of the neck.
• Hump consists of muscle, connective tissue, and variable
amounts of fat
• vary by breed, sex, and age of the animal
• Narrow body, a sloping rump, and rather long legs

9. Tropical – Zebu Cattle
• Hide is thin, loosely attached, and the brisket and dewlap
are usually well developed, particularly in males
• Size of the animals varies over a wide range, and breed
averages from below 200 to above 400 kg

10. Why Zebu? (Heat Tolerance)
• A high degree of heat tolerance, derived partly from low
heat production and partly from a large ability to dissipate
heat
• A high density of efficient sweat glands increases the loss
of heat through evaporation, and the short, sleek coat
facilitates the convection to the surrounding air
• Small body size contributes to the heat tolerance, as
small animals have a higher surface to body mass ratio

11. Why Zebu? (Partial Resistance to Ticks)
• Zebu animals have the ability to repel ticks by movements
of the skin, but this is only part of the explanation of their
larger resistance
• When animals are infested with tick larvae, fewer larvae
develop into ticks in zebu than in European type cattle
• Zebu cattle are often claimed to posess a certain degree
of resistance also to many other tropical diseases

12. Why Zebu? (Nutrition)
• Low nutritional requirements, because of small size, low
metabolic rate, and possibly also more efficient digestion
at low feeding levels.

13. Zebu – Milk Production
• Potential for milk production is poorly developed in most
zebu cattle
• Milk yield is low, often not much more than needed to feed
the calf properly
• Cows usually do not let down milk unless stimulated by
the sucking of the calf, and adapt poorly to modem
milking routines
• Zebu animals are late maturing, both physiologically and
sexually, and heat symptoms are weaker than in
European cattle

14. Sahiwal
• It is tick-resistant, heat-tolerant and
noted for its high resistance to
parasites.
• Cows average 2270 kg of milk during
a lactation while suckling a calf and
much higher milk yields have been
recorded.
• Due to their heat tolerance and high
milk production they have been
exported to other Asian countries as
well as Africa and the Caribbean.
• They are generally docile and
lethargic, making them more useful
for slow work.

15. Senepol
• Naturally polled (hornless) -very
desirable trait
• When bred to other, horned breeds,
the Senepol heredity will ensure that
most of the progeny are also polled.
• Has the heat tolerance necessary for
efficient beef production in hot regions.
• Senepol’s short red coat presents a
striking sight as they graze in the
noonday heat while other breeds seek
the shelter of shade.
• Rosette-like “patterns” appear along
the back of Senepol cattle.
• Efficiently functioning baggy sweat
glands that reduce the body
temperature of the animal.

16. Senepol
• Senepol cattle have greater
immunity when compared with
other breeds
• Carries fewer external parasites
such as ticks
• Cervix is straight
• Selected for ease of handling and
docile temperament.
• Passed on to their progeny when
used in cross breeding
programmes.

17. Angus
• History:
• Originated from Scotland.
• Earliest records date to 1700.
• Imported to Kansas in 1873.
• Suited well to Midwestern climate.
• Today are found in every state in the USA.
• Breed Characteristics
• Black in color, smooth hair coat; also Red Angus
• Polled (naturally have no horns).
• Good carcass with well-marbled meat

18. TROPICAL CATTLE OF EUROPEAN TYPE
N'Dama:
• Hardy breed, medium size type (100
cm at shoulder height for cows; 120 cm
for bulls) with a large and strong head
and with lyre-shaped horns
• Its skin,with short and thin hair, is fawn
colored but varies from sand to black
color, sometimes spotted
• Average liveweight for a mature steer
varies between 250 to 300 kg.
• The N'Dama breed is used for meat
and the ratio carcass/liveweight is
around 50%

19. Temperate Breeds

21. Charolais
• History
• One of the oldest French breeds; central France.
• Imported to Mexico in 1930.
• Imported to Texas in 1936.
• Breed Characteristics
• White to light blonde in color, pink skin.
• Large and very well-muscled.
• Naturally horned.
• Bulls: 2,000-2,500 lbs.; cows: 1,500-1,800 lbs..

23. Shorthorn (polled and horned)
• History
• Originated in northern England, about 1600.
• Imported to Virginia in 1783.
• First herdbook in the USA.
• Breed Characteristics
• Red, White, or roan (mix of red and white) coat.
• Docile breed
• Bulls: up to 2,400 lbs.; cows: up to 1,500 lbs.,
• Excellent milking capability.

24. Shorthorn

25. Shorthorn

26. Brahman
• History
• Developed in southwestern USA.
• Closely related to Zebu, or Bos indicus
cattle (India).
• Used mostly for crossbreeding.
• Breed Characteristics
• Characteristic “hump” over shoulder.
• Light or medium gray coat color.
• Large, drooping ears and loose skin.

27. Brahman

28. Brangus
• History
• A result of a cross of Brahman and Angus.
• Crosses made as early as 1912 in Louisiana.
• Red Brangus developed in Texas in 1946.
• Breed Description
• Solid black or red in color.
• Polled.
• Good mothering ability & feed efficiency.

29. Brangus (Red)

31. Texas Longhorn

32. Belgian Blue