Red Angus Cattle Breed: Pictures, Facts, Uses, Origins & Characteristics

The Red Angus is a cattle breed that is sturdy and well-built, making it an excellent beef breed. It’s nearly identical to the Scottish Aberdeen Angus cattle breed, but it features a handsome, reddish-brown coat. This coat has some benefits for these cows, like providing them with better heat tolerance than their cousins. Keep reading for more information about the Red Angus cattle breed.

Quick Facts about Red Angus Cattle

Red Angus Cattle Origins

The Red Angus shares its origins with the Scottish Aberdeen Angus. Their ancestors originated in Europe, although it’s unclear exactly where their origin was. It’s believed that the Vikings bred or acquired these cattle, then brought them to Scotland and England.

The Scottish Aberdeen Angus was first entered into its own herd book in 1862, but the breed description did not provide for differences between red and black cattle. Until 1954, the Red Angus was listed as a distinct breed from the Scottish Aberdeen Angus.

Red Angus Cattle Characteristics

In the world of cattle, the Red Angus is a medium-sized cattle breed. It’s a naturally polled breed, which means that both males and females naturally lack horns. The reddish-brown coat is the most distinguishable characteristic of the breed, and it does have some benefits.

One of the Red Angus’s benefits over its black cousins is its heat tolerance. The red coat doesn’t absorb as much heat as the black coat, and the Red Angus also has pigmented skin underneath the coat, which helps protect them from skin cancer and other sun damage, like sunburned udders and eye damage.

When bred with other Red Angus cattle, the offspring are almost always solid red. However, with the black Scottish Aberdeen Angus cattle, approximately one in every four calves is red instead of black. Breeding Red Angus produces more stable and consistent coloration. When crossbred with black cattle, the offspring may be red, black, or dilute gray.

The Red Angus is known for its gentle, amiable nature, making it a favorite among cattle keepers. Females have strong maternal instincts, and they are able to produce offspring longer than many other cattle breeds. Both characteristics make them excellent candidates for breeding.

• See Also: 8 Scottish Cattle Breeds

Uses

Thanks to their thick, beefy bodies, these cattle are primarily used for meat production. They reach maturity at a young age and reproduce readily and quickly, making them ideal as food production animals. With males reaching up to 1 ton and females reaching around 1,400 pounds, there is plenty of meat on these large animals.

Appearance & Varieties

The Red Angus has a stocky, thick, well-muscled body. The coat is a reddish or ruddy brown, and the skin is pigmented. Neither males nor females have horns in this breed.

• See Also: Marchigiana Cattle Breed: Pictures, Facts, Uses, Origins & Characteristics

Population/Distribution

These cattle are popular in both Europe and North America. Scottish Aberdeen Angus cattle were more popular in both areas for many decades, but their weather tolerance and gentle nature have led to a rise in popularity for the Red Angus. There are not any known feral populations of these cattle.

• See Also: Whitebred Shorthorn Cattle: Pictures, Facts, Uses, Origins & Characteristics

Are Red Angus Cattle Good for Small-Scale Farming?

This is entirely dependent on your intentions with your small-scale farm. Red Angus cattle are an excellent option for meat, and a single cow can provide more than enough meat for one household for a year. While they are easy to manage and are hardy cattle, they are not a great option for milk production. The Red Angus is suitable for small-scale farming operations that want to use the cattle for meat or simply as large, loveable pets.

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