Red Angus
Red Angus Cow and Calf
Conservation statusLeast Concern
NicknamesDoddies
Hummlies
Country of originScotland
DistributionEurope, Australasia, Southern Africa, North America, South America
UseBeef
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    850 kg (1870 lb)
  • Female:
    550 kg (1210 lb)
Skin colorRed
CoatRed
Horn statusPolled
  • Cattle
  • Bos (primigenius) taurus

[1]Red Angus is a reddish-brown-coloured breed of beef cattle selected from the population of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Although the black was more fashionable the recessive red gene still produced some red animals.[2] From the founding of the Aberdeen Angus herd book in 1862 red and black animals have been registered without distinction, and this is the case in most of the world. The American Aberdeen Angus Herdbook stopped registering red calves from 1917, leading to reds becoming very uncommon in the American population. Since 1945 some cattleme such as Flat Creek Farms and Bow Creek Farm that are seed stock cow/calf operations by selectively breeding Red Angus Cattle that will help the herd thrive. [3][4] In 1954 the Red Angus Association of America was founded, based in Sheridan, Wyoming. [5] Registration was conditional on meeting performance targets to create a superior breed. This breed is now popular in countries like Australia, and is famous for its beef.

History edit

The Angus Cow originated in Europe during the Eighth-century when the small black Scottish cattle being used on farms was consider too light to be used as large draught oxen. Eventually they were introduced to England and Scotland. In order to create a bigger bread of cattle, Eric L.C. Pentecost introduced the smaller bodied Scottish cow to the larger and red English Longhorn. [6]This created a large black cow known today as the Aberdeen Angus. After first breeding all the Angus calves were black. After generations of breeding of the new Angus cattle, Pentecost began to notice about one in four calves were red. This is because there was a red gene that was introduced into the Angus cattle by the English Longhorn. According to Mendel's law of heredity, with a recessive genes there will be a 25% chance that two recessive genes will align during breeding. This is why only 1 out of 4 of the Angus calves were red but when breeding 2 red cows the outcome was always red. [7]

Characteristics edit

Red Angus cattle are 100% identical to the Aberdeen Angus. Red Angus cattle are reliable, originating from Sweden they are capable of surviving in the harshest of weather. Calves are usually born smaller than most other beef cattle. Red Angus cattle grow and mature relatively fast. Red Angus cows grow to about 550 kilograms (1,210 lb), while bulls weigh 850 kilograms (1,870 lb).[8] Red Angus females are known for being good mothers, they mature at a young age and are able to breed shortly after becoming full grown. After birth the mother cares for its child and gives its exceptional milk. Angus cattle are able to be breed again after giving birth as quick as 45-60 days.[9] There are no genetic differences between the Black Angus and the Red Angus except for the recessive red gene for hair color. But Red angus and Black angus are considered different breeds in the US. It has been proven that because the Red Angus has Red skin it can withstand hotter conditions than the Aberdeen Angus. [9] [10]Since the skin is red it absorbs less heat produced by the sun, this is why the Red Angus is gaining popularity in places like Israeli. [10]

Uses edit

Red Angus due to their fast development are mainly used for consumption and farm reproduction. Angus cattle are known for their well balance of muscle and fat also known as marbling which gives the meat flavor. [5]

Consumption edit

Consumption of Red Angus is just as commonly used for commercial meat as angus meat. Red angus meat is a commodity in Israeli because of their harsh conditions of living. Red angus Cattle are often reproduced in Israeli because they are capable of withstanding harshest/hottest conditions and their skins absorbs less heat because it is red instead of being black. In Israeli they raise the animal till they are full grown and use every part of the animal for food. Because they are Jewish they only eat the Kosher part of the animal. [10]Other than an entire country eating Red Angus, Red Angus can be sold individually from farms. For example Deer Run Farm sells Red Angus meat privately to people who want meat. They sell the meat in a meat shop on their farm. Everything they sell is raised on the farm and is kept in a freezer till sold.[11]

 
Red Angus cow and calf in Umatilla County, Oregon, USA

Reproduction edit

Angus cows are known for producing very good looking bulls and Red Angus is no exception to that. There are many ways cows can reproduce. From letting nature do its course to artificially inseminating the animals yourself. The market consists of semen sales. Cattle semen of the red angus can be bought from anywhere from $1 to $500 a dose. People love red angus cattle to reproduce because they have all the style and build of the Black angus and also having the recessive gene of Red skin and hair. [12]

Red Angus Association of America edit

The Red Angus Association of Americais an organization that thrives by providing services that help enhance and build up the value and quality of the Red Angus and Red Angus products used everyday. The RAAA is a program that is striving to make farmers specializing in Red Angus to be financially stable and be able to help expand the red angus population. Their main goal is to help improve the economic value of the Red Angus Cattle by promoting the breed through crossbreeding, selling semen, and promoting the genetics the Red Angus has.[13]

  1. ^ Boldt, Ryan (2007). Journal of Animal Science, Champain. https://search.proquest.com/docview/2124410180/fulltextPDF/CF881FFE4CD74DD3PQ/1?accountid=2909#: Oxford Poets. {{cite book}}: External link in |location= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ Oklahoma State University breed profile
  3. ^ "About - Bow Creek Farm - Red Angus Beef & Seedstock - Pennsylvania". Bow Creek Farm & Cattle Co. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  4. ^ "Flat Creek Farms Red Angus | WELCOME". flatcreekfarmsredangus.com. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  5. ^ a b "Red Angus". Cattle Exchange. Drovers. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  6. ^ "The Origin of Red Angus". Red Angus Society of Australia. Red Angus Society of Australia. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Red Angus". Cattle Exchange. Cattle Exchange. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Red Angus". The Cattle Site. 5m. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Red Angus Cattle Characteristics, Origin & Uses". Roy's Farm. Roy's Farm. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  10. ^ a b c CJN, KRISTEN MOTT Special to the. "Ohio Agriculture Initiative to Help Israeli Livestock Grow". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  11. ^ "The Catoctin Banner. | What's in the Beef at Deer Run Farm". www.thecatoctinbanner.com. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  12. ^ "Red Angus | Universal Semen Sales". www.universalsemensales.com. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  13. ^ America, Red Angus Association of. "Red Angus leaders recognized at Red Angus Association of America Annual Convention". Farm Forum. Retrieved 2018-10-26.