German Angus

German Angus
a large-framed black bull
Bull
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:
    140–145 cm[3]: 183 
  • Female:
    135–140 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

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

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

The German Angus is reared principally for beef.[4] It may also be used in vegetation management.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deutsch Angus.
  1. ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (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: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed January 2017.
  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. Accessed February 2019.