Cattle is a collective term for a diverse group of large mammals with cloven hooves and, often, with horns. Toward the end of the first decade of the 21st century, beef cattle genetics signaled the first mapping of a livestock genome. These animals are as much at home on the farm pulling plows as they are lounging on the range to provide meet and dairy products for a hungry public.
The earliest known cattle have been traced back more than 10,000 years ago to southeast Turkey, from a herd numbering only around 80 specimens. Today, their population numbers more than four times that of the United States of America, approximately 1.3 billion animals. In addition to their meat and dairy products, man has learned to convert their solid waste into fuel and their hides for clothing, handbags, etc.
One popular breed is the Angus, which originated from Aberdeenshire and Angus counties in the north of Scotland. Animals in this breed do not have horns on the head; another word for this is "polled." They are typically either solid black or red with matching udders. The most common Angus breed in the United States are the Black Angus. This is a particularly versatile breed, used for dairy, meat and as working animals.
Limousin are highly muscled and come from France. Raised originally as draft creatures, they were eventually discovered for their high quality, tender, lean meat around two hundred years ago. They are a popular breed to raise because their calves tend to be smaller, making them easier for the cows to deliver.
Japan gave us the Wagyu breeds. This meat is heavily marbled with highly desirable unsaturated fat. The feed of these cattle are sometimes flavored with beer or sake in an effort to aid digestion and to boost appetite during the hot, humid period of the year. In case you are wondering, these additives are not detectable in the final product.
A curious hybrid is the Beefalo, derived from buffalo (usually a female) and domestic cattle (usually a male). These beasts were engineered for their ability to withstand cold, harsh winters. The down side to this breeding program is a decrease in the population numbers of the American bison. Of these, there are only four pure herds left, only one of which is disease free. These may be found in South Dakota.
Belgian Blue beasts actually have a mottled sort of blue hair, tinged with grey. They can vary along a spectrum from white to black. Heavily muscled, they readily convert their feed to lean muscle tissue that is desired for its reduced fat content.
Hereford cattle come from England and have spread to more than 50 different countries across the globe. The Brangus is a robust cross between an Angus and a Brahman. Lowline cattle come from Australia, originally from Aberdonian stock. These antipodean beasts are small by nature, which makes them ideal for young children to handle and show at county fairs and other exhibitions of farm animals.
The earliest known cattle have been traced back more than 10,000 years ago to southeast Turkey, from a herd numbering only around 80 specimens. Today, their population numbers more than four times that of the United States of America, approximately 1.3 billion animals. In addition to their meat and dairy products, man has learned to convert their solid waste into fuel and their hides for clothing, handbags, etc.
One popular breed is the Angus, which originated from Aberdeenshire and Angus counties in the north of Scotland. Animals in this breed do not have horns on the head; another word for this is "polled." They are typically either solid black or red with matching udders. The most common Angus breed in the United States are the Black Angus. This is a particularly versatile breed, used for dairy, meat and as working animals.
Limousin are highly muscled and come from France. Raised originally as draft creatures, they were eventually discovered for their high quality, tender, lean meat around two hundred years ago. They are a popular breed to raise because their calves tend to be smaller, making them easier for the cows to deliver.
Japan gave us the Wagyu breeds. This meat is heavily marbled with highly desirable unsaturated fat. The feed of these cattle are sometimes flavored with beer or sake in an effort to aid digestion and to boost appetite during the hot, humid period of the year. In case you are wondering, these additives are not detectable in the final product.
A curious hybrid is the Beefalo, derived from buffalo (usually a female) and domestic cattle (usually a male). These beasts were engineered for their ability to withstand cold, harsh winters. The down side to this breeding program is a decrease in the population numbers of the American bison. Of these, there are only four pure herds left, only one of which is disease free. These may be found in South Dakota.
Belgian Blue beasts actually have a mottled sort of blue hair, tinged with grey. They can vary along a spectrum from white to black. Heavily muscled, they readily convert their feed to lean muscle tissue that is desired for its reduced fat content.
Hereford cattle come from England and have spread to more than 50 different countries across the globe. The Brangus is a robust cross between an Angus and a Brahman. Lowline cattle come from Australia, originally from Aberdonian stock. These antipodean beasts are small by nature, which makes them ideal for young children to handle and show at county fairs and other exhibitions of farm animals.
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