Introduction to the Body Type and Production Performance of 13 Excellent Beef Cattle Breeds

Beef is a food with very high nutritional value. We know that Westerners are very strong physically because they often eat beef. Now, as people's living standards improve, the demand for beef increases, and the number of beef cattle farmers is gradually growing. So if you want to raise beef cattle, you should first understand the breeds. Below is an introduction to the place of origin, body type and appearance, and production performance of some beef cattle breeds.

1. Simmental cattle

Simmental cattle originated in the Alpine region and are a world-famous dual-purpose beef cattle breed. They have two appearances, yellow-and-white and red-and-white. They are large in body type, with strong bones and full muscles. An adult bull weighs 1000-1300 kg, and a cow 650-750 kg. They have the advantages of good adaptability, tolerance of roughage, a docile temperament, and suitability for grazing. They are currently the most widely raised beef cattle breed in China.

2. Charolais cattle

Charolais cattle originated in the Charolais region and the Nievre department of France, and belong to the large beef cattle breeds. The coat is creamy white, the head is short and small, and the muscles are round, thick and full. Under intensive feeding conditions, body weight at 12 months of age can reach more than 500500 kg, with a maximum daily gain of 1.88 kg. An adult bull weighs 1100-1200 kg, and a cow 700-800 kg. They have the characteristics of strong adaptability, tolerance of roughage, cold resistance, and disease resistance, but their reproductive rate is relatively poor and the dystocia rate is high. They are currently raised in relatively large numbers in the Liaoning and Henan areas.

3. Limousin cattle

Limousin cattle originated in the Limousin province of central France. They belong to the large beef cattle breeds. The coat is yellow-red, with varying shades. The body is long and wide, the shoulder and rump muscles are well developed, and the limbs are strong. Under good feeding conditions, live weight at 10 months of age can reach 408 kg, and 480 kg at 12 months of age. They have the characteristics of strong adaptability, tolerance of roughage, suitability for grazing, strong compensatory growth ability, and high feed utilization. The dystocia rate is lower than that of Charolais cattle. They are currently raised nationwide, with the best results in Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi, and Shandong.

4. Hereford cattle

Originating in western England, United Kingdom, they belong to the small beef cattle breeds. The coat is dark red, and the head, dewlap, underbelly, lower limbs, and tail tip are generally white. The body is wide and deep, the forechest is well developed, and the muscles are full, showing a typical rectangular beef-type body. Live weight at 18 months of age reaches 725 kg. An adult bull weighs 850-1100 kg, and a cow 600-700 kg. They have the advantages of early maturity, fast weight gain, tolerance of roughage, and strong disease resistance. Because of their slow growth rate and the need for grazing, few people currently raise them in China.

5. Angus cattle

Originating in Scotland, United Kingdom, they belong to the early-maturing small and medium-sized beef cattle breeds. They are polled. The whole body coat is black, sometimes with white hair on the belly. The body is wide and deep, the back and loin are straight, and the muscles are well developed. Fattened cattle can reach 400 kg at 12 months of age. An adult bull weighs 800-900 kg, and a cow 500-600 kg. They reach sexual maturity early, tolerate roughage, resist cold, and have strong adaptability. At present, the Xinjiang region has introduced this beef cattle breed in large numbers.

6. Piedmontese cattle

Originating in the Piedmont region of Italy, they belong to the medium-sized beef cattle breeds. Calves are light yellow at birth and gradually turn white later. They are medium in build, with thin skin and fine bones, and show obvious double-muscling. The whole body is full of muscle, and the hindquarters are especially well developed. A yearling bull can reach 400 kg, an adult bull weighs about 800 kg, and a cow about 500 kg. There is currently little farming in China, with only a small amount raised around Xinye, Henan.

7. Japanese Wagyu

Originating from native cattle of Japan. They are small in build, compact in body, with thin legs, good forequarter development, and poor hindquarter development. An adult cow weighs about 620 kg and a bull about 950 kg. After 27 months of fattening, calves reach more than 700 kg, with an average daily gain of more than 1.2 kg. Because Japan is a mad cow disease region, China prohibits the import of live cattle and cattle products from Japan.

8. Three-way crossbred cattle

Originating in the southwestern region of Shandong Province, they are a fast-growing beef cattle breed formed by two-way crossing, three-way crossing, and mixed crossing of Simmental, Limousin, and Charolais cattle with Luxi Yellow cattle. They have the characteristics of tolerance of roughage and strong disease resistance, a docile temperament, strong adaptability, and fast growth. Adult bulls and cows weigh 1056.6 kg and 625.5 kg respectively. They are currently raised in relatively large numbers in the southern regions.

9. Luxi Yellow cattle

Yellow cattle can be regarded as the representative cattle breed native to and raised in China, and Luxi Yellow cattle are the benchmark among beef-type yellow cattle. Luxi cattle have a tall but slightly short body, a fine and compact appearance, fine bones, well-developed muscles, a wide and flat back and loin, and a rectangular body. An adult bull weighs 844.4 kg, and an adult cow averages 665.7 kg. Luxi Yellow cattle have low requirements for the growing environment and belong to the extensive type, and are one of the world-famous high-quality beef cattle breeds. At present, they are raised in the largest numbers in Jining and Heze in China.

10. Brown cattle

Brown cattle originated in Xinjiang. They were produced by crossing Kazakh cattle with Swiss Brown cattle. They are medium in build, with a sturdy constitution, and brown coat and skin in varying shades. They have strong adaptability and a good body type and appearance. The average dressing percentage is 52.5% , the net meat percentage is 41.8%, and after fattening, the fat content of their beef can reach 3%. The flavor and taste are relatively good, and the tenderness is relatively good.

11. Yak

Yaks are produced on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China and the surrounding high-altitude, cold alpine regions, and are a specialty animal of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau area of China. Yaks are multi-purpose livestock used for meat, milk, hair, and draft. After adulthood, bulls average about 260 kg and cows average about 209 kg. They are strong in body, with a markedly raised shoulder, and the whole body coat is mainly dark black-brown. At present, they are mainly raised in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region of China.

12. Qinchuan cattle

An excellent local yellow cattle breed of China, and one of the five major yellow cattle breeds of China. They are large in build, strong in draft capacity, and good in meat production performance. They are named after being produced in the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi Province, in the 800-li Qinchuan area. The coat color is mostly purplish red and red, with less yellow. They are large in body type, with balanced development of all parts, sturdy bones, full muscles, and a strong constitution. The average daily gain of fattened cattle at 18 months of age is 550 g (female) or 700 g (male).

13. Nanyang Yellow cattle

Nanyang Yellow cattle are one of the five major improved yellow cattle breeds in China. Their coat color is divided into yellow, red, and straw-white. They are tall in body, strong and enduring in strength, fine in meat quality, rich in aroma, with obvious marbling, and excellent in hide quality. Their draft performance, meat performance, and adaptability are all excellent.

The above is an introduction to beef cattle breeds. Each breed has been briefly introduced in the article. After reading it, which beef cattle breed are you most familiar with? Which breed do you most want to raise? Regarding beef cattle breeds, is there anything you would like to add?

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