Three reasons to run black angus cattle
If you visit your local auction on sale day, it will become painfully obvious that black angus cattle bring a higher market rate than any of their other colored counterparts. For those who’ve been operating in the cattle market for a long time, this phenomenon is reality. If you’re new to ranching, exploring diversifying your herd or looking to switch breeds altogether, you may want to dig into the “why” a little deeper. Here are three reasons why black angus cattle dominate the market.
Faster maturation
Black angus cattle reach sexual maturity faster than other breeds. This is in part due to genetics that support efficient growth and development, leading them to reach their mature weight sooner.
“As heifers grow, they start to deposit more fat in each pound of gain and less muscle. So when they get to about 60 to 65% of their mature weight, the hormones will signal to the body that it is time to ovulate,” says Kansas State beef cattle nutritionist Philip Lancaster.
Typically, this timing occurs around 12-13 months of age, allowing black angus first calf heifers to calve right around two years of age. Even a month’s difference can lead to long-term gains in productivity over the span of a cow’s lifetime. In fact, black angus females average roughly seven to ten calves in their lifetime, with some surpassing that upper threshold.
Furthermore, there are several maternal expected progeny differences (EPDs) that ranchers can evaluate when looking at fertility and calving. Heifer pregnancy (HP) is one such statistic, and it provides the probability that a bull’s daughter will become pregnant as a first-calf heifer during a routine breeding season. Additional EPD’s like calving ease and birth weight can be utilized in breeding decisions to ensure a safe and successful calving season for the females in your herd. Fewer calving complications, fewer headaches for you and your team.
2. Meat quality
Some of the nation’s finest steakhouses feature black angus beef, why? The marbling in the meat is unmatched. Black angus cattle are unequivocally known for their superior carcass qualities, in part due to extensive data available through the American Angus Association. This has allowed breeders to select and breed for certain carcass traits, like marbling, ribeye, etc. These genetics are moderately heritable, which allows for ranchers and registered breeders to improve carcass quality within their herd expeditiously. As ranchers seek to sell their cattle for the best possible market rate, the quality matters. Roughly 2-3% of federally inspected cattle grade prime. Creating the best opportunity to reach this goal begins with your herd’s genetics, and black angus cattle have never been better equipped to help get you there.
3. Versatility
Black angus cattle are known for their adaptability to even the most inhospitable environments. Although it may seem counterintuitive, their thick black coats and dark pigmentation actually reduces the risk of sunburn and heat related stress in hotter environments. Conversely, they are well suited to endure even the harshest of winters.
For cattle, a strong foundation begins with their feet. Structural soundness is crucial to the longevity of the animal, its ability to find and convert feed efficiently, and inevitably, contributes to its profitability. The black angus breed is known for its hardy hoof characteristics, but if you don’t want to take our word for it, check out the claw and angle EPDs.