German Angus

German Angus
a large-framed black bull
Bull
Cows
Conservation statusFAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 48 
Other namesGerman: Deutsch Angus
Country of originGermany
DistributionGermany
Use
  • beef
  • vegetation management[2]
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    1000–1200 kg[3]: 183 
  • Female:
    550–700 kg[3]: 183 
Height
  • Male:
    135–150 cm[3]: 183 
  • Female:
    125–140 cm[3]: 183 
Coatsolid colour: black or red
Horn statuspolled (hornless)
  • Cattle
  • Bos (primigenius) taurus
Cow with calves

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

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  1. ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Breed description: German Angus. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived 11 May 2008.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b Rassebeschreibung Rind: Deutsch Angus (in German). Zentrale Dokumentation Tiergenetischer Ressourcen in Deutschland. Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung. Archived 12 February 2019.