USA #3 Cattle Breeds

1-The Unique Corriente Breed Corriente cattleCorrientes are raised primarily for sports cattle, while preserving such natural attributes as high fertility, early maturity, trouble-free calving, and foraging efficiency, as well as disease and parasite resistance. This unique breed differs greatly in conformation, behavior and hardiness from cattle raised only for meat. Most of the production problems experienced by today’s cattlemen are a result of increasing size and weight in order to fit the current commodity market. Corrientes remain untainted by the manipulative animal husbandry which has affected and weakened many domestic animals. The Corriente is a small, agile, athletic animal with stamina, heavy horns, and a gentle disposition. These characteristics make the Corriente an ideal animal for team roping, bulldogging and an excellent choice for cutting and team penning. Corriente Cattle Economic Advantages Many of today’s farsighted ranchers realize that successful cattle production is most accurately assessed by total income in conjunction with an analysis of the cost of production and impact on the land. Beef producers often boast about weaning weights without reference to conception rate, calving losses, deteriorating range conditions and feed, medicine and labor expenses. A perceptive cattle producer is wise to aim for a cow herd which weans healthy calves, has suffered no loss, stress or ill health, has required a minimum of care and expense, and has foraged widely on diverse vegetation. Corrientes fit the vision of the future rancher in that they are highly productive, inexpensive to care for, and resourceful foragers that utilize and benefit the environment as naturally as wildlife. Corriente Cattle: Environmentally Friendly These traits are especially advantageous to producers who want to maximize production from their ranch, and still maintain plant diversity and promote sound ecology. While most Corriente breeders’ major market is for sports cattle, their value as productive range cattle, unspoiled by over-domestication, cannot be overlooked. Studies have shown that Corriente grazing habits are beneficial for our rangelands. Wherever Corriente have been, there are fewer weeds, prickly pear, and mesquite. Wherever Corriente have been, the native bunch grasses have been beneficially grazed, but not nibbled down to dirt. With their small frames (800 lbs compared to 1200 lbs with European beef breeds), Corriente don’t wreak havoc with soft or muddy areas, such as around water holes. Overall, Corriente cattle have a positive, improving effect wherever they are pastured. Further Reading: USDA Study: A Comparison of Grazing Behavior Between Desert Adapted Mexican Criollo (Corriente) Cattle and Temperate British Breeds Using Two Diverse Landscapes In New Mexico and Chihuahua Additionally, many beef cattle producers use Corriente bulls on first calf heifers for calving ease, and then put the crossblood heifers back in their herd to increase fertility, foraging efficiency and hardiness. The preservation of the Corriente is not simply about raising small cattle with horns for the expanding sports market. It is an effort to preserve an important resource for the cattle industry; an effort not to lose nature’s best cattle. Conformation The desired conformation for Corriente reflects their use for sports as well as the traditional characteristics they evolved to survive and thrive. Many characteristics typical of the beef breeds are not desirable. brochure yearling Corriente are small, trim cattle, with sufficient bone and strength for easy action and endurance. Generally, a mature bull weighs less than 1,000 pounds, and a mature cow less than 800 pounds. The cattle are narrow with high withers and a short, peaked rump. They have a clean dewlap, deep girth and high flank. Cows have neat, tight, trouble-free udders with small to moderate teats, and produce rich milk. Bulls have a tight sheath. A high, bushy tail switch and pronounced mane are notable characteristics. Any color is acceptable, except pure white with no pigmentation whatsoever. The head is “V” shaped, never boxy and square nor excessively long. The horns begin curving at approximately the tips of the ears and then curve forward, or forward and upward. A 12-month-old bull’s horns should show at least 6” of length and 6” of base circumference, with 7” to 8” more typical. At this age the horns may be nearly straight, but soon develop a curve so that the animal can still go through a roping chute easily as a two-year-old. Thus, extreme length is not considered ideal. Many breeders report especially vigorous horn growth at approximately 10 to 12 months of age, or two to three months after weaning. Most operations aim to produce ready-to-rope steers at 12 to 14 months of age. History of Corriente The Corriente can be traced back to the first cattle brought to the new world by the Spanish as early as 1493. These cattle were hardy breeds chosen especially to withstand the ocean crossing and adapt to their new land. They were brought to the West Indies and south Florida, as well as Central and South America. Over the centuries the descendants of these cattle were bred for different purposes – milk, meat and draft animals. They also adapted through natural selection to the various regions in which they lived. Eventually, their descendants spread across the southern U.S. and up the coast of California. In the early 1800’s, European and other breeds were introduced to the new world, and by the 1900’s many ranchers in the Americas were upgrading their herds with modern beef cattle. Nearly pure descendants of the original Spanish cattle almost disappeared, but some managed to survive with little human care or intervention in remote areas of Central and South America, and in very limited numbers in some areas of the southern U.S. Today there is evidence of a worldwide growing interest in preserving various strains of these hardy, native cattle. Cattle associations in Spain, South America and Florida are making efforts similar to the N.A.C.A. to recognize their attributes, though few actually support registries. The name “Corriente”: In Central and South America, the various descendants of the early Spanish cattle are generally referred to as “Criollo.” In parts of northern Mexico, they are often called “Corriente”, although this term is frequently used for any small cattle of indiscriminate breeding and not just for the type of cattle recognized by the N.A.C.A. “Corriente” became the most common term used at the border to refer to the cattle purchased for rodeo use. Consequently, most North American cattlemen, ropers and doggers know this name, and it was chosen by the founders of the N.A.C.A. to be used for this registry. John E. Rouse, in his book, World Cattle, Vol. III, Cattle of North America, explains the names used in Mexico. Descendants of the original Spanish cattle, little influenced by modern breeds, are now seen only in the remote parts of the country. These are generaly known as Criollo cattle, although in the state of Sonora the term Corriente is more common, and in Baja California the word Chinampo is used. All these terms, meaning “common cattle” or “cattle of the country” are applied to more or less pure descendants of the Spanish cattle, as well as to the indiscriminate mixtures of these and more recently introduced breeds. In Florida, the few remaining small, native cattle – cousins of the Mexican Corriente are called Scrub cattle or Cracker cattle, and similar cattle in Louisiana are called Swamp cattle. Regardless of the name, the N.A.C.A. has made great inroads toward defining, describing and preserving these cattle as a specific breed. 2-The Milking Devon (aka Red Devon) of the United States today began with Devon cattle that were imported consistently from England from 1800-1851. Although Edward Winslow did import purebred Devon cattle from England in 1623 for the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts — these initial Devons were most likely absorbed into a mix of native North American cattle during that time. 3-The Dexter breed originated in southwestern Ireland from where it was brought to England in 1882. The breed virtually disappeared in Ireland, but was still maintained as a pure breed in a number of small herds in England and also in the US. The Dexter is a small breed with mature cows weighing between 600 and 700 and mature bulls weighing about 1,000 pounds (450 kg). Considering their small size, the body is wide and deep with well-rounded hindquarters. Dexters come in 3 colors, black, red, and dun (brown). Dexters should have no white markings except for some very minor white markings on the belly/udder behind the navel and some white hairs in the tail switch. While many Dexters are naturally hornless (polled), many have horns that are rather small and thick and grow outward with a forward curve on the male and upward on the female. The breed is suitable for beef or milk production, although individual herd owners often concentrated on growing either one or the other. Their hooves need trimming periodically, unlike other breeds. I 4-The Florida Cracker (aka Florida Scrub, Florida Native) descended from Spanish Criollo cattle and belongs to the Criollo cattle group. Criollo cattle: Northwestern Blond Iberian Spanish cattle became Canary Island cattle – some of which were brought by Columbus in 1493 to Santo Domingo (which is now the capitol of the Dominican Republic). More and more cattle were brought by Spanish ships and these cattle then spread throughout the islands of the Caribbean and became known as Criollo cattle. It was into Mexico in 1521 that Criollo cattle were brought to the mainland for the first time (supposedly from Santo Domingo) – and it's from Mexico that the Criollo then spread into the Americas. The Florida Scrub (aka Florida Cracker, Florida Native) is a small, tough breed – adjusting well to high heat and humidity, numerous insects and a diet high in roughage. The Florida Scrub belongs to the Criollo cattle group. Criollo cattle: Northwestern Blond Iberian Spanish cattle became Canary Island cattle – some of which were brought by Columbus in 1493 to Santo Domingo (which is now the capitol of the Dominican Republic). More and more cattle were brought by Spanish ships and these cattle then spread throughout the islands of the Caribbean and became known as Criollo cattle. It was into Mexico in 1521 that Criollo cattle were brought to the mainland for the first time (supposedly from Santo Domingo) – and it's from Mexico that the Criollo then spread into the Americas. 5-The American G Lineback (aka Skunk cows) is a name once used for American Lineback cattle that had a color pattern similar to the Gloucester of England. 6-The 1960's was the golden era for purebred cattle breeding in the United States. It was a time when large numbers of cattle were recorded in breed registries. Then came the 70's and 80's when European Cattle or exotics were introduced to purebred breeders. Elaborate facilities and high priced cattle sales were signs of the times. These were cattle with funny names and multiple colors from the shores of Europe. Simmental, Limousin, Gelbvieh, Maine Anjou, Chianina and others were becoming common breeds in our pastures. The beef cattle industry is now in an era of biotechnology. Revolutionary changes are taking place and many new ideas are being presented. The 1990's will be known as the era of Composites. The increased competition for market share from the hog and poultry industries are forcing us to produce a more efficient and competitive animal. The role of the cow/calf producer has no changes. The key to the producer's success is basically as it has been in the past: Production: a calf every 12 months from each cow Weaning weights: as many pounds of calf produced per acre of land as economically practical. Cost of production: cost per pounds of calf produced as low as possible while maintaining productivity. The Gelbray Breed of cattle is in a unique position to capitalize on these traditional goals. The combination of Gelbvieh, Red Angus and Brahman genetics has proven Gelbray to be a maternal breed with the ability to sire slaughter calves suitable for feedlots and packing plants in the United States. The most important trait in any breed of Cattle is reproduction. Reproductive performance is 10 times more important than growth traits and growth traits are five times more important than carcass traits. We cannot forget that pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed puts money in the pockets of the commercial cattleman. This point is most important to breeders and must always be considered. Calving problems in Beef Cattle are predominately related to breed of dam effect. Thus, Gelbray are able to control the size of their calves simply because the Brahman influence further supports this strong maternal breed. It has also been documented that Brahman (Bos-Indicus) female will typically produce a calf that weighs about 6 1/2% of her body weight, whereas the Bos-Taurus such as Gelbvieh and Angus cows will produce between 7 to 8% of their body weight in calf birth. Calving ease and maternal traits are of interest to all cattle producers. Unassisted births are the rule - not the exception. The environment makes raising cattle more difficult in some regions. The southern states find summer heat, insects and other pests are tough on cattle. The northern states find the cold winters and limited forage hard on cattle. That is why producers have utilized composite breeding to develop environmental adaptability and hardiness in the Commercial Beef Industry. The combination of Gelbvieh, Red Angus and Brahman cattle, with its proven reproductive efficiency and pre-weaning performance, will also perform post-weaning. In addition, Gelbray will produce a carcass that is market acceptable. Its economic traits are: Fertility -- Gelbvieh & Red Angus Early Puberty -- Gelbvieh Calving Ease -- Brahman Milk Production & Mothering Ability -- Gelbvieh, Red Angus & Brahman Efficiency -- Gelbvieh, Red Angus & Brahman Beef Production/ Cutability & Quality -- Gelbvieh & Red Angus Uniform Type & Color -- Gelbvieh & Red Angus Adaptability/Survivability -- Brahman Gelbray demonstrates the use of a cross breeding system to maintain heterosis (approximately 67% on a long term breeding program without purchasing outside animals). Animal scientists say three breed composites like Gelbray can retain 67% of the hybrid vigor they generate while other two cross breeds cannot. gelbray-web-3.jpg The goals of the Gelbray Breed are: Keep a Gelbvieh, Red Angus and Brahman composite. Maintain reproductive efficiency. Maintain 500+ pounds at weaning. Maintain a 3+ pound gain in the feedlot. Produce calves of acceptable yield grade and carcass quality. The breeder is allowed maximum flexibility in his matings. In developing a profitable genetic program the best traits for the herd can be selected for a balanced cowherd. The blood percentages for an animal to be registerable as a Gelbray allows breeders in all regions to select cattle that will best perform in their pastures. Those percentages are: Maximum 3/4 Gelbvieh -- minimum 1/4 Gelbvieh = Gelbray Maximum 1/2 Red Angus -- minimum 0 Red Angus = Gelbray Maximum 3/8 Brahman -- minimum 1/8 Brahman = Gelbray A 3 Generation Pedigree is developed from each mating by the use of registered cattle. It is possible to take advantage of the Gelbray genetic difference through simple and uncomplicated matings. Some examples of one step breeding resulting in a Gelbray could be: 100% Gelbvieh x 50% Red Angus x 50% Brahman = Gelbray 100% Gelbvieh x 100% Red Brangus = Gelbray 100% Gelbray x 50% Gelbvieh x 50% Red Angus = Gelbray One breed cannot fit everyone's needs. Neither will a single breed be the answer. To be successful you must fit your cowherd to your ranch and put a bull on those cows that will compliment them and produce a highly marketable calf. Gelbray combines the "right kind" of breed genetics that will allow its breeders to effectively compete for the "meat dollar". Don't forget ... the animal pedigree tells you what the animal should be and performance data tells you what the animal is. 7-The American Gelbvieh (aka Gelbvieh) has a coat color that ranges from straw to black. Breeding in the United States began in 1971 with the importation of German Gelbvieh semen by Carnation Genetics. The importation of the first Gelbvieh bull also occurred in the same year. 8-The Geltex is a cross between a Texas Longhorn and a Gelbvieh. 9-The Black Hereford is a beef cattle breed, derived mainly from Hereford cattle, but with some mixture from black Angus cattle, resulting in black cattle with a white head and finching. In 2003 the Black Hereford received international breed designation by the National Association of Animal Breeds. 10-Hereford (Red) Cattle The Hereford (pronounced hair-uh-furd in the UK and hur-furd or hur-uh-ford in the US) is a British breed of beef cattle that originated in the county of Herefordshire, in the West Midlands of England. It has been exported to many countries, and there are more than five million purebred Hereford cattle in over fifty nations worldwide. The Hereford cattle export trade began from United Kingdom in 1817, starting in Kentucky, United States,[spreading across the United States and Canada through Mexico to the great beef-raising countries of South America. Today, Hereford cattle dominate the world scene from Australasia to the Russian steppes. They can be found in Israel, Japan and throughout continental Europe and Scandinavia, in the temperate parts of Australia, Canada, the United States, Kazakhstan and Russia, in the centre and east of Argentina, in Uruguay, in Chile and New Zealand, where they make up the largest proportion of registered cattle. They are found all around Brazil and they are also found in some Southern African countries (mainly in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe). They originally found great popularity among ranchers of the American Southwest, testament to the hardiness of the breed; while originating in cool, moist Britain, they have proven to thrive in much harsher climates on nearly every continent. 8,9-The Irish Black/Red breed is a true American breed founded in the United States by cattleman and genetic scholar, Maurice Boney in the 1960's and 70's. Boney developed his ideal American beef industry females and mated them with three imported beef Friesian sires, thus initiating the start of the Irish Black/Red breed. After he scientifically confirmed their sound genetic foundation, he closed his herd books and officially formed the Irish Black/Red breed. Decades of performance based development followed, dictated specifically by successful line breeding. The Irish Black/Red Breed was trademarked by the Founder in the 1990's to protect the Breed's genetic future. By 2009, Irish Blacks and Irish Reds were well established across the United States and had begun to expand internationally. The genetic power of an Irish Black/Red produces a highly fertile, well balanced animal exhibiting excellent beef industry performance and conformation traits . Irish Blacks/Reds are coveted by purebred producers for their rewarding economic returns, and highly sought after by progressive commercial cattle producers for their consistent quality and their excellent return on investment. 10-The American Lineback (aka Lineback Cattle, Skunk cows) started with random imports in the early 1800’s of white-backed and color-sided animals from England, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Germany. Some farmers began selecting for this pattern, as was documented with the Holderness herd mentioned in 1890 by L. F. Allen in his work on American cattle . Organized breeding of linebacked cattle in the USA started in 1985 with the formation of the American Lineback Cattle Registry