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 first domesticated cattle have been traced back to southeast Turkey roughly about 10,500 years ago, when there were an estimated 80 progenitors. Today, the world accommodates approximately 1.3 billion of these tasty beasts, useful beasts. Other products derived from this group of mammals include dung (used for fuel) and leather, used for clothing and other items.
Among the many breeds of animal that have evolved from the original herd in Turkey are the Angus. These come from two counties in north Scotland in the United Kingdom, Aberdeenshire and Angus. They are solid in color, usually red or black with matching udders, although these may also be white. The most common variety of this breed in the USA are the Black Angus. Here, they are bred for their dairy products, beef and as working partners on the farm.
From France come the Limousin, heavily muscular beasts raised initially for their usefulness on the farm pulling wheeled vehicles. Comparatively recently (200 years ago), someone discovered they also provided lean, tender beef of outstanding quality. This meat attracted equally outstanding prices.
Cattle are bred in Japan, too. These are the Wagyu breeds. The beef they produce is heavily marbled with desirable, "healthy" unsaturated fat, making them tender and tasty. These beasts attract a high price. It is not unheard of to lace their feed with beer or sake; this is to make it easier to digest and to boost the animals' appetite during spells of hot, humid weather. Perhaps sadly, the flavours do not come through in the final product that appears on the dinner table and in restaurants.
Beefalo are a fertile hybrid between domestic cattle and an American bison, or buffalo. In these pairings, the male is usually the domestic representative while the bison is a female. These animals were bred for their hardiness in harsh winters. Unfortunately, nurturing the beefalo has had a negative effect on efforts to conserve the American bison. There are only four pure buffalo herds left; of these, only one herd is free from a disease called brucellosis. They live in South Dakota.
The Belgian Blue is so named because of its mottled blue/grey hair, although it can vary from black to white. These are a heavily muscled breed. Because they easily convert their feed into lean muscle, their meat is particularly low in fat.
The Brangus breed is a robust cross between Angus and Brahman. England, in the United Kingdom, gave us the Hereford cow, which has migrated to no fewer than 50 countries around the world. Lowline cows come from Australia. These animals are small in nature, without being dwarf specimens. This characteristic makes them perfect for children to display at county fairs and other livestock shows.
The first domesticated cattle have been traced back to southeast Turkey roughly about 10,500 years ago, when there were an estimated 80 progenitors. Today, the world accommodates approximately 1.3 billion of these tasty beasts, useful beasts. Other products derived from this group of mammals include dung (used for fuel) and leather, used for clothing and other items.
Among the many breeds of animal that have evolved from the original herd in Turkey are the Angus. These come from two counties in north Scotland in the United Kingdom, Aberdeenshire and Angus. They are solid in color, usually red or black with matching udders, although these may also be white. The most common variety of this breed in the USA are the Black Angus. Here, they are bred for their dairy products, beef and as working partners on the farm.
From France come the Limousin, heavily muscular beasts raised initially for their usefulness on the farm pulling wheeled vehicles. Comparatively recently (200 years ago), someone discovered they also provided lean, tender beef of outstanding quality. This meat attracted equally outstanding prices.
Cattle are bred in Japan, too. These are the Wagyu breeds. The beef they produce is heavily marbled with desirable, "healthy" unsaturated fat, making them tender and tasty. These beasts attract a high price. It is not unheard of to lace their feed with beer or sake; this is to make it easier to digest and to boost the animals' appetite during spells of hot, humid weather. Perhaps sadly, the flavours do not come through in the final product that appears on the dinner table and in restaurants.
Beefalo are a fertile hybrid between domestic cattle and an American bison, or buffalo. In these pairings, the male is usually the domestic representative while the bison is a female. These animals were bred for their hardiness in harsh winters. Unfortunately, nurturing the beefalo has had a negative effect on efforts to conserve the American bison. There are only four pure buffalo herds left; of these, only one herd is free from a disease called brucellosis. They live in South Dakota.
The Belgian Blue is so named because of its mottled blue/grey hair, although it can vary from black to white. These are a heavily muscled breed. Because they easily convert their feed into lean muscle, their meat is particularly low in fat.
The Brangus breed is a robust cross between Angus and Brahman. England, in the United Kingdom, gave us the Hereford cow, which has migrated to no fewer than 50 countries around the world. Lowline cows come from Australia. These animals are small in nature, without being dwarf specimens. This characteristic makes them perfect for children to display at county fairs and other livestock shows.
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