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Beef Skillathon Study Series: Breeds
Supplemental Activities
Sawyer Main and Aaron Fisher
Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee
The below activities are designed as supplemental activities to the Breeds video that is part of
the Beef Skillathon Study Series located at https://animalscience.tennessee.edu/youth-
resources/. Youth should watch the video and then complete these activities. Keys for all
activities are provided at the end of this packet.
Flashcards
Digital flashcards are available at https://quizlet.com/_8foncy?x1jqt&i=1i1f80. Index cards and
#8163 mailing labels are needed to construct flashcards for the below activities.
Beef Breed Concentration Game
1. Print breed pictures and names (pages 2-4 of this packet) using #8163 mailing labels.
2. Peel off each sticker and place on a separate index card (26 index cards needed).
3. Shuffle all of the cards up and place them face down.
4. Flip over 2 cards.
5. If the 2 cards match (correct breed name with picture) keep them.
6. If the 2 cards do not match (2 pictures, 2 breed names or the wrong breed name and
picture combination) place them back down and try again.
7. Keep going until all pictures are correctly identified with their names.
Beef Breed Flashcards
1. Print breed pictures, names and descriptions (pages 2-6 of this packet) using #8163
mailing labels.
2. Place the correct breed picture and breed name on the front and back of the same
index card to make traditional flash cards (13 index cards needed). These cards will
not work to play the concentration game.
3. Place the breed description on index cards (13 index cards needed).
4. Practice with flashcards to learn about beef breeds.
Crossword Puzzle
Print Activity 2: Beef Breed Crossword Puzzle to complete the activity by filling in the breed
using the correct corresponding description.
Beef Breed Selection Scenarios
Read the scenarios in Activity 3: Beef Breed Selection. Choose the best breed(s) that fits the
given scenario and then explain the chosen breed(s).
ANGUS
HEREFORD
RED ANGUS
SHORTHORN
CHAROLAIS
CHIANINA
GELBVIEH
LIMOUSIN
MAINE-ANJOU
SIMMENTAL
BRAHMAN
BRANGUS
SANTA GERTRUDIS
•
From Scotland
•
Black and polled
•
Maternal breed, also known for excellent
growth and carcass traits
•
Imported to US in 1873
• From England
• Red with white face
• Horned or Polled
• Maternal breed, known as very hearty breed
• Introduced in US in 1817
• From Scotland
• Red and polled
• Maternal breed with good terminal
performance
• From England
• Red, white or roan
• Can be horned or polled
• Maternal breed, very popular in show-ring
and club calf industry
• Introduced in US in 1783
• From France
• White and can be horned or polled
• Terminal breed known for muscle and growth
• First brought to US in 1934
• From Italy
• White with black points
• Known for size and growth and being the tallest
breed
• Very popular in cross-breeding programs within
the club calf industry
• Introduced to US via artificial insemination
• From Germany
• Red or black and can be horned or polled
• Originally selected as a dual-purpose breed, now
known for good growth and excellent maternal
traits
• Imported to US in 1971 by importation of semen
• From France
• Red or black and can be horned or polled
• Terminal breed known for muscle, leanness and
high yielding carcass
• Imported to US in 1971
• From France
• Originally red with white markings, now can be
red or black
• Known for muscle
• Very popular in cross-breeding programs within
the club calf industry
• Introduced to US via artificial insemination
• From Switzerland
• Originally red and white color pattern, now can
be black or red
• Can be horned or polled
• Originally selected as a dual-purpose breed, now
known for excellent growth and one of the
heaviest milking of terminal breeds
• Introduced in US in late 1800s but did not last,
reintroduced in late 1960s
• From India
• Light gray or red to almost black and horned
• Characterized by large hump and abundance of
loose skin
• Basis for the American breeds
• Known for heat tolerance and adaptability
• Black and polled
• Crossbreed consisting of 3/8 Brahman and
5/8 Angus
• Bred for heat tolerance of Brahman and
maternal/carcass traits of Angus
• Development began around 1912 in Louisiana
• Red and horned
• Crossbreed consisting of 3/8 Brahman and
5/8 Shorthorn
• Bred for heat tolerance of Brahman and
maternal traits of Shorthorn
• Developed at King Ranch in Texas
• First official breed developed in US
Activity 2: Beef Breed Crossword Puzzle
Activity 3: Beef Breed Selection Scenarios
1. You have a small herd of Angus and Hereford commercial cows and you would like to
increase the growth and muscle of your steers by breeding the cows to a different
breed. What breed would you choose and why?
2. You have a small herd of Hereford cows and have recently started selling market ready
steers direct to friends and family for meat. Most have reported back to you that they
would prefer higher quality beef with more marbling. Which breed would you choose to
breed to your Hereford cows and why?
3. What two terminal breeds would you choose if you wanted to develop commercial
heifers to sell to others beef producers in your area that were known for good
mothering and milking ability, fast growth and muscle? Explain your answer.
4. What two breeds (maternal or terminal) would you choose if you wanted to develop
commercial heifers known for good maternal traits and growth as well as steer calves
that were known for high performance and producing high quality beef? Explain your
answer.
5. You have a small herd of Red Angus cows and you would like to increase the leanness
and growth of your steers by breeding the cows to a different breed. What breed would
you choose and why?
6. You had small herd of Angus cattle in middle Tennessee that you recently moved to
southern Mississippi. After the first summer, you notice that the hot weather is causing
a reduction in growth rate of calves and overall productivity of your herd. Explain how
you could use cross-breeding to slowly acclimate your herd to the hot weather.
7. You have a small dairy operation in East Tennessee. Unfortunately, milk prices plummet
so you need some additional income to keep your operation alive. You decide you want
to breed some of your lower producing milking cows to a beef breed in order to produce
calves that reach market weight quickly. You plan to sell these calves locally as a way to
generate extra money for your operation. What beef breed would you choose and why?
Angus
• From Scotland
• Black and polled
• Maternal breed, also known
for excellent growth and
carcass traits
• Imported to US in 1873
Hereford
• From England
• Red with white face
• Horned or Polled
• Maternal breed, known as
very hearty breed
• Introduced in US in 1817
Red Angus
• From Scotland
• Red and polled
• Maternal breed with good
terminal performance
Shorthorn
• From England
• Red, white or roan
• Can be horned or polled
• Maternal breed, very popular
in show-ring and club calf
industry
• Introduced in US in 1783
Charolais
• From France
• White and can be horned or
polled
• Terminal breed known for
muscle and growth
• First brought to US in 1934
Chianina
• From Italy
• White with black points
• Known for size and growth
and being the tallest breed
• Very popular in cross-
breeding programs within the
club calf industry
• Introduced to US via artificial
insemination
Gelbvieh
• From Germany
• Red or black and can be
horned or polled
• Originally selected as a dual-
purpose breed, now known
for good growth
and excellent maternal traits
• Imported to US in 1971 by
importation of semen
Activity 1: Beef Breed Concentration Game - KEY
Simmental
• From Switzerland
• Originally red and white color
pattern, now can be black or
red
• Can be horned or polled
• Originally selected as a dual-
purpose breed, now known
for excellent growth and one
of the heaviest milking of
terminal breeds
• Introduced in US in late
1800s but did not last,
reintroduced in late 1960s
Brahman
• From India
• Light gray or red to almost
black and horned
• Characterized by large hump
and abundance of loose skin
• Basis for the American breeds
• Known for heat tolerance and
adaptability
Brangus
• Black and polled
• Crossbreed consisting of 3/8
Brahman and 5/8 Angus
• Bred for heat tolerance of
Brahman and
maternal/carcass traits of
Angus
• Development began around
1912 in Louisiana
Santa Gertrudis
• Red and horned
• Crossbreed consisting of 3/8
Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn
• Bred for heat tolerance of
Brahman and maternal traits
of Shorthorn
• Developed at King Ranch in
Texas
• First official breed developed
in US
Limousin
• From France
• Red or black and can be
horned or polled
• Terminal breed known for
muscle, leanness and high
yielding carcass
• Imported to US in 1971
Maine-Anjou
• From France
• Originally red with white
markings, now can be red or
black
• Known for muscle
• Very popular in cross-
breeding programs within the
club calf industry
• Introduced to US via artificial
insemination
Activity 2: Beef Breed Crossword Puzzle - KEY
Activity 3: Beef Breed Selection Scenarios - KEY
NOTE: with few exceptions, there are multiple answers that could be correct for each of the
below scenarios or even other breeding scenarios. Many times the answer ends up being based
on personal preference and experience, location and available resources. The breeds given as
answers below are the most common breeds from the breed video. There are certainly more
breeds than those listed below that would fit each scenario. Check out more beef breeds at
http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/.
1. You have a small herd of Angus and Hereford commercial cows and you would like to
increase the growth and muscle of your steers by breeding the cows to a different
breed. What breed would you choose and why?
• Charolais – terminal breed known for muscle and growth
2. You have a small herd of Hereford cows and have recently started selling market ready
steers direct to friends and family for meat. Most have reported back to you that they
would prefer higher quality beef with more marbling. Which breed would you choose to
breed to your Hereford cows and why?
• Angus – known for excellent carcass traits, with good marbling
3. What two terminal breeds would you choose if you wanted to develop commercial
heifers to sell to others beef producers in your area that were known for good
mothering and milking ability, fast growth and muscle? Explain your answer.
• Simmental – originally a dual purpose breed, known excellent growth and
heaviest milkers of terminal breeds
• Gelbvieh – originally a dual purpose breed, known good growth
4. What two breeds (maternal or terminal) would you choose if you wanted to develop
commercial heifers known for good maternal traits and growth as well as steer calves
that were known for high performance and producing high quality beef? Explain your
answer.
• Angus – maternal breed also known for excellent growth and carcass
• Red Angus – maternal breed also known for terminal performance
• Simmental – originally a dual purpose breed, known excellent growth and
heaviest milkers of terminal breeds
• Gelbvieh – originally a dual purpose breed, known good growth
5. You have a small herd of Red Angus cows and you would like to increase the leanness
and growth of your steers by breeding the cows to a different breed. What breed would
you choose and why?
• Limousin – known for muscle, leanness and high-yielding carcass
6. You had small herd of Angus cattle in middle Tennessee that you recently moved to
southern Mississippi. After the first summer, you notice that the hot weather is causing
a reduction in growth rate of calves and overall productivity of your herd. Explain how
you could use cross-breeding to slowly acclimate your herd to the hot weather.
• Brahman – known for heat tolerance and adaptability
• Brangus – Brahman influenced breed known for heat tolerance
• Santa Gertrudis – Brahman influenced breed known for heat tolerance.
7. You have a small dairy operation in East Tennessee. Unfortunately, milk prices plummet
so you need some additional income to keep your operation alive. You decide you want
to breed some of your lower producing milking cows to a beef breed in order to produce
calves that reach market weight quickly. You plan to sell these calves locally as a way to
generate extra money for your operation. What beef breed would you choose and why?
• Pretty much any of the breeds would work for this scenario. In East Tennessee,
you probably would not choose the Brahman-influenced breeds.
