German Angus
German breed of cattle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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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]
