German Angus
 Bull | |
| Conservation status | FAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 48 |
|---|---|
| Other names | German: Deutsch Angus |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Distribution | Germany |
| Use |
|
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Height | |
| Coat | solid colour: black or red |
| Horn status | polled (hornless) |
| |
The German Angus (German: Deutsch Angus) is a modern German breed of beef cattle. It was bred in the 1950s in West Germany by crossing Aberdeen Angus with various native German cattle breeds: the German Black Pied, the Deutsche Rotbunte and the Fleckvieh.
History
[edit]The German Angus was bred in West Germany in the 1950s by cross-breeding imported Aberdeen Angus stock from the United Kingdom with local German breeds; these were the German Black Pied or Deutsches Schwarzbuntes Niederungsrind, the Deutsche Rotbunte or Rotbuntes Niederungsrind, and the Fleckvieh or German Simmental.[3]: 183 Since 1960 there has been some intromission of the American Angus.[2]
In 1955 a breed society was established,[3]: 183 and in 1956 a herd-book was started.[2]
In 2017 the population was recorded as 9603 cows and 454 bulls.[4]
Characteristics
[edit]The German Angus is solid-coloured, black, brown or red, and is always naturally polled (hornless).[3]: 183 Compared to the Fleckvieh it matures earlier, calves much more easily and has a higher calving rate, while the calf mortality rate is much lower. A comparative study of recently-weaned calves of the two breeds found the German Angus to be more easily handled and more placid.[3]: 183 It is larger and leaner than the original Scots Angus.[3]: 183
Use
[edit]The German Angus is reared principally for beef.[4] It may also be used in vegetation management.[2]
References
[edit]
- ^ Rischkowsky, Barbara; Pilling, Dafydd, eds. (2007). "Annex: Breeds currently recorded in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources" (PDF). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: FAO. ISBN 978-92-5-105762-9.
- ^ a b c d Breed description: German Angus. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived 11 May 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding, sixth edition. Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ a b Rassebeschreibung Rind: Deutsch Angus (in German). Zentrale Dokumentation Tiergenetischer Ressourcen in Deutschland. Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung. Accessed February 2019.