German Angus

German Angus
	Bull
Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk[1]
Other names	German: Deutsch Angus
Country of origin	Germany
Distribution	Germany
Use	beef; vegetation management[2];
Traits
Weight	Male: 1000–1200 kg[3]; Female: 550–700 kg[3];
Height	Male: 135–150 cm[3]; Female: 125–140 cm[3];
Coat	solid colour: black, red or brown
Horn status	polled (hornless)
	Cattle; Bos (primigenius) taurus;

The German Angus (German: Deutsch Angus) is a modern German breed of beef cattle. It was bred in the 1950s in Germany by crossing Aberdeen Angus with various native German cattle breeds: German Black Pied, Deutsche Rotbunte, and Fleckvieh.

Cow with calves

History

The German Angus was bred 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 North 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

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.
Breed description: German Angus. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived 11 May 2008.
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.
Rassebeschreibung Rind: Deutsch Angus (in German). Zentrale Dokumentation Tiergenetischer Ressourcen in Deutschland. Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung. Accessed February 2019.

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[barb-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.

[tiho-2] Breed description: German Angus. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. Archived 11 May 2008.

[cabi-3] 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.

[tgr-4] Rassebeschreibung Rind: Deutsch Angus (in German). Zentrale Dokumentation Tiergenetischer Ressourcen in Deutschland. Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung. Accessed February 2019.