This guide is designed to explain how to correctly identify an Aberdeen Angus (also simply called Angus) breed and distinguish it from other breeds with black fur, such as the Charolaise, the Simmental, the Limousine, the Maine Anjou, the Salers or the Gelbvieh.
Steps
Step 1. Do a search on the internet or on specific manuals dealing with cattle breeds or, in particular, Angus
Step 2. Study the characteristics of the breed
Remember the following points:
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Color:
the Angus are all black. Associations that deal with Angus allow some specimens to have a little white on the stomach, just behind the navel, but all animals registered as Angus should be black, from nose to tail.
Since there are six other breeds of cattle whose specimens may be black, a person who is unfamiliar with cattle - or Angus in particular - may be unclear if he has to distinguish an Angus from one that is not. moreover, it would not be possible to explain why so many cattle breeds are black and do not have more traditional colors and characteristics. The reason is that the United States Department of Agriculture has given permission for the American Angus Association to launch a more aggressive advertising companion to sell their cattle and Angus has been chosen as a strong point, as considered a breed capable of making a difference. The association therefore created the CAB (Certified Angus Beef) brand to enhance its product. The only specific feature of the CAB brand, however, was that the meat came from "black" cows, without necessarily having an ounce of Angus blood. For this reason, other breeders have been able to modify other types of breeds with the Angus genes, in order to create "pure breeds" (like the Charolaise) or purebreds completely black. In this way, the other breeds could also meet the requirements of the CAB mark and enjoy the relative benefits. Furthermore, the American Angus Association has launched a program called Angus Source® that allows cattle of Angus origin, even if mixed with other breeds, to be entitled to an extra at the auction market and to be sold as CABs
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Body Characteristics:
Angus are square cattle (a character typical of beef breeds), but not muscular like Charolaise, Gelbvieh, Simmental and Limousin. Bulls should have a muscular crest on the neck, while cows should be without one and have a more feminine appearance overall. Most Angus are not particularly large. Historically, this type of cow weighs between 415 and 545 kg, while bulls weigh between 815 and 1045 kg. Nowadays it is possible to find several herds with cows that can exceed 905 kg and bulls that can even exceed 1800 kg, but there are also other herds that have kept the traditional smaller size.
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Head Features:
this type of bovine has what the producers call an “Angus head”. Angus do not have horns: it is impossible to find a thoroughbred Angus that has them. The "Angus" look involves cheeky ears, a broad forehead, a narrower and thinner muzzle than normal. They have wide lips, like those of the Herefords, but a little thinner and jagged, with a slightly smaller nose. It could be argued that the Angus are a little thinner than other breeds, such as the Charolaise or the Hereford, because the head appears smaller when compared to the rest of the body. However, they have a somewhat wider forehead than the Shorthorn cattle, although, in bulls, the width of the forehead of the Shorthorn and Angus is quite similar. The difference is most evident among cows. The head also appears shorter than other breeds, such as the Friesian, Charolaise or Limousine.
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Other characteristics:
the Angus come from Aberdeen, Scotland, where the climate is not so friendly to cattle. They are generally hardy, adaptable, good-natured (although less so than Herefords, Highlanders, or Shorthorns) and hardy to harsh climates. They mature quite early and are known for the excellent quality of the meat. They are easy to calve, are easy to feed, are excellent for breeding, excellent for milk production and manage on their own with little care, characteristics that make them ideal for breeding. Their thin skin and black fur, however, make them unsuitable for tropical climates, as they absorb heat too quickly and are therefore more prone to heat stroke and fatigue. However, Angus are excellent animals to keep in climates with moderate summers and cold, snowy winters.
Step 3. Take a tour of the countryside in your area to look for Angus farms and ranches
If you think you have found some specimens of this breed, take a picture of them and compare it with the images found on the internet or in specialized magazines, to understand if you were right or not. Angus in Italy are not so widespread, but there are still several farms specialized in this type of cattle, especially in central Italy.
Advice
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Try not to confuse the Angus cattle breed with others that have black specimens, such as the Gelbvieh breed, the Charolaise, the Brangus, the Simmental, the Limousine, the Maine Anjou and the Salers. The best way to tell them apart is to remember that these breeds are typically more muscular and stouter than Angus.
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This continental breed generally has a large and round hind: it is no coincidence that breeders call them “culone”.
- Some breeds, such as the Simmental, Brangus and Limousine, generally have a more defined dewlap than the Angus.
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Some specimens of the Charolaise breed often have lighter dots around the nose, eyes, ears, legs and even on the back. Some black Charolaises may be completely this color, with lighter shades on the bare skin of the nose, eyes, breasts or testicles. This French breed also tends to have a higher head to body ratio than Angus.
Try looking for different pictures of all breeds with black specimens and compare them to a cow or a thoroughbred Angus bull (preferably a bull)
- Angus do not have horns. They only have a small tip that appears on the top of the head.
Warnings
- Not all Angus are friendly: they could get scared and run away to the other side of the pasture if you were to try to get close to their fence. If there is a bull around, or if the cow is protecting a calf, be very careful because both tend to be very protective and even to become aggressive.
- Just because they don't have horns doesn't mean they're less dangerous.
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