grass fed cattle breeds
While not in wide use for dairy, some Galloway herds are sometimes used for milking and cheese production. 01. This breed is popular with benefits that include fertility, adaptability, longevity, efficiency, good calf survival rate, good growth rate, and profitability. The Glebvieh is a European breed that has been brought to the US through Artificial Insemination. The Four Tenets of Hodges Cattle. Whereas cattle today are often fed grains, the animals people ate throughout evolution roamed free and ate grass. The cattle are a tawny or rich red or burgundy color, which explains their name. 100% Grass Fed Beef. Status: Watch Great for grass-based dairying, the Ayrshire breed combines beauty and utility to meet a farmer’s needs. Pastured Products. Hodges Cattle prides itself on raising 100% grass-fed beef cattle. Grass-fed beef has become a staple of the supermarket meat counter, but just like “organic” before it, the term “grass-fed” has been marketed and watered-down to a shadow of its true meaning. That's the consensus of a number of trials and reports looking at the viability of grass-finished beef. The benefits of their coat are multiple. The Hereford cattle are known as one of the best cattle breeds, with more than five million purebred cattle now located in more than 50 countries around the world. In … That causes them to grow faster, fatter, and more profitably. Forage Chains. Their coloring leads to a nickname of the “Oreo Cows,” while their name is also shortened to “Belties.” The black skin also protects the Galloway cattle from the adverse effects of the sun and sunburn. Just as important as selecting the best cattle breeds for grass-fed beef for the local environment, also select for the best grass to finish cattle. No, I don't. For instance, early-maturing calves are desirable because they will begin building muscle (meat) more quickly than later-maturing animals. In short, grass fed really has no definitive meaning. Their average weight is 1,000 to 1,200 pounds. Here are some exceptional historic heritage cattle breeds that might fit well into your farming operation, whether you have an acre or a section. They were first exported to Kentucky in 1817, but they are now found in South America, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Japan, Australia, and beyond. Photo by Sean McGee. The Angus cattle thrive on our land which helps us to produce well-marbled, flavorsome beef. My cattle are grass-fed. If you are looking to buy some great tasting beef, just get in touch. Here at TX Bar, our grass-fed cattle are predominantly Black Angus and Black Angus Cross. The Shorthorn cattle originated as British beef, from the North East of England dating back to the 18th century. They are recognized for their reddish color, with white markings, although gold-and-white coloration is possible. Grass fed beef means that the steer had access to grass. They were first introduced into the United States in the late 19th Century. It's from these animals that Desert Mountain cattle are descended. That filters down to the consumer. The cows are fertile, birthing a calf every year on average and caring for their young. Cattle that are listed as grass fed could still be eating some grain. They are grazers, which contributes to the efficiency and growth capabilities. Their sturdy make-up also makes them ideal grazing animals, while they are able to effectively convert feed to muscle without issue. The Simmental cattle, also known as Swiss Fleckvieh, are a Swiss breed. Desert Mountain’s grass-fed Akaushi beef is high-quality and sustainably produced. But, customers don't know that. I cover this process in detail in my book Grass Fed Cattle - how to produce and market natural beef. But beef marbling is not always a good gauge of tenderness in grass fed beef cattle. When choosing a breed of cattle for a grass-fed herd, it is important to choose small to moderate-sized cattle as they require less forage to meet finishing weights. Due to the large size of the Charolais cattle, birthing is typically uncomplicated. Combined with the moderate frame, these cattle are sturdy and adaptable, known for longevity. It’s a premier breed, with a relatively small frame, slick red or red-and-white coat, and an overall bred-in focus on heat tolerance. The Red Devon, also known as the Red Ruby or Devon Ruby, originated as a British breed, from Southwest England. Since their initial domestication, almost 800 breeds of cattle have been developed 7 as specific traits (milk production, meat, heat tolerance, behavior etc.) When choosing the right breed of cattle for your herd, it is important to consider environmental factors and most importantly, your beef production strategy, including your finishing strategies. Grass finishing is the art. This hardy breed is ideal for the harsh climate extremes of Texas. Our low-stress methods of working with our cattle helps them thrive naturally. Cows range upwards of 1,200 pounds, while bulls weight 1,800 pounds. However, it is not recommended to service a cow with a Charolais bull until she has had two calves, as there may be calving difficulties, due to the size of Charolais cattle. Totally grass fed beef ... finished on grass, not sent to a feed lot.If you order our beef through Black Market Farms, this is … A Brief History of the Red Devon Cattle . Red Devon are widely recognized as one of the best, if not the best breed of cattle for grass fed, grass finished beef. So these traditional breeds of cows are first-choice if a farmer is looking for mainly grass-fed animals that don’t need supplements in order to give them the food they need. Some of the earliest examples may have included three animals that were delivered to Edward Winslow at Plymouth Colony in the New World in 1623. They are usually red and white in color and have a large body frame (carcass) with excellent weight gaining potential. This doesn’t mean only grass, just that it could eat at least some grass. The Charolais cattle, also known as the Charolaise, are a French breed of cattle that is a naturally horned beef breed. They are solid red or black (more original), but the udder may be white. The Red Devon cattle are also adaptable, are docile with a great temperament, are good mothers and have a short calving cycle, and are known for their longevity and hardiness. Before selecting cattle for a grass-fed operation, list traits associated with the ideal grass-fed beef animal. It’s important to choose a breed that fits your goals and purposes. Know your business, then choose the right breed; breed choice is merely a tool to make your business work. Well, there is tons of debate, and no "right" answer. Where In The World Is Facial Recognition Being Used? They are naturally polled, which eliminates the need to dehorn the herd. They are naturally polled, which is a benefit from a safety perspective, as well as removing much of the hassle in managing the herd. The Aberdeen Angus is considered to be one of the best breeds of cattle, because of the focused breeding over the centuries. Sirloin steak. 10 Best Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Cattle Breeds 1. The Simmental breed has a small to moderate-frame. They are also profitable for dairy cattle, with some cows producing up to 5 lactations, at a rate of 2,200 gallons per lactation. The bull can weigh upwards of 1,800 pounds, while the cow is 1,200 pounds. The heavy muscling, combined with the overall size of the animal produces a well-fleshed carcass of high-quality red meat with a relatively low level of fat. The light color can be an issue, since the Charolais cattle can be susceptible to sunburn in areas of the world where there is an overabundance of sunlight. They are also bred with the black Galloway cattle for the Blue Grey roan cattle. Angus cows have been praised for their longevity, which helps us here at TX Bar to reduce replacement costs for our herd. Private sales of cattle by communal farmers remain the most important form of cattle marketing. The Belted Galloway is a genetic version of the Galloway breed. They fall into a medium size range. Corn/maize is a grass. Grain should be fed in moderation with a quality forage source, such as grass or long-stemmed hay, in order to maintain a healthy rumen. Beefmaster Cattle The Beefmaster cattle are a mixed Brahman-genetics with … The benefit of finishing on pasture applies to other species. The Charolais beef is a superior product. As a cross-breed, Black Baldy cattle can also benefit from the hype and popularity of the Black Angus marketing success. The Red Devon is one of the best breeds of cattle for beef, and they are known to be incredibly resilient. When choosing a breed for grass-fed beef production, it is important to look at a number of characteristics, including the growth rates of the breed and the quality of your land, as this will affect the quality of the meat produced. The calves are also born at 75 pounds, a healthy birth weight. They have a higher than average yield of milk and growth comparatively. They are white/cream in color and have a medium to large-sized frame with good conformation and a lean carcass. At Smiling Tree our slowly-matured environmentally sustainable , guilt-free beef is tender, succulent and delicious with all the health benefits of animals raised naturally on wild-flower meadows, herbal leys, diverse permanent grasslands and never fed any silage, grains, soya or other manufactured feeds. All Desert Mountain cattle are DNA-verified to be half Akaushi. Local cattle breeds found among communal farmers, such as the Nguni, have huge potential to produce high-quality beef with virtually no chemical inputs. South Poll are a 4-way cross between Red Angus, Hereford, Barzona, and Senepol. For over 40 years, our grass has received organic-based fertilizer which has yielded some amazing grass that our cows love! The cow ranges upwards of 1,000+ pounds, while the bull is 1,700 pounds. The beef has also been at the center of a PR blitz since the early 2000’s, with grocery stores and fast-food restaurants promoting the superiority of the Angus beef, with such great success in the US that the publicity and promotional effect has spread around the world, with the “Certified Angus Beef” labelling. Grass-finished is the real holy grail – beef that is raised on a grass and grass-only diet, without the inflated growth of corn and other grain. Bulls are also aggressive. The cattle have great longevity, which reduces replacement costs within the herd. And some cattle breeds simply will not produce marbled meat, no matter what they are fed, how fat they get, or how tender their beef is. Beyond warmth, and decreasing the need for a fatty layer, it is a protection, a rain slick, and an adaptation benefit for variant temperature (they shed the coat in the summer if needed). That means the cows might have started out eating grass and transitioned to a more modern-conventional grain feeding to fatten them up before slaughter. Our Grass Fed Cattle Breeds. The Black Baldy cows have good mothering skills and tend to have a good temperament and docile nature, with vigor. Simmental cattle are a Swiss breed of dual-purpose cattle. They have been used for dairy, but the Simmental cattle are the best breed of cattle for meat as well. For cattlemen looking at the niche market of grass-fed beef, bigger may not be better, at least as far as mature size of the cattle are concerned. Studies indicate that the Shorthorn has the lowest feed cost, based on weight. They have high fertility rates and Angus heifers have good calving abilities. With pure genetics that originate from before the beef industry went towards grain finishing, Red Devon cattle have a moderate frame that’s perfect for finishing out on grass. The Simmental has also contributed to some of the most well-known European breeds. The Beefmaster breed is known for the six essential qualities, including fertility, conformation, milk production, weight, disposition, and hardiness. Posted on December 3, 2014 by Mark. KC inventor’s cattle facial ID could drive steak through origin uncertainty. Red Devon The Red Devon, also known as the Red Ruby or Devon Ruby, originated as a British breed, from Southwest... 2. They originated in Charolles in Central or Eastern France, but they are now often found on farms in Ireland. The Aberdeen Angus cattle, also known as just Angus or Doddies or Hummlies, are a British breed of cattle, originating from the area of Angus and Aberdeen counties in North Eastern Scotland in the 16th century. They are now popular in the Midwest and Southeast US. 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