How Angus Took Over the Beef Business

Every cattleman has an opinion on Angus. Some swear by it and some are tired of hearing about it. Either way, the breed owns more of the premium beef case than any other, and it did not happen by accident. Here is how it got there, what the advantage really is and how to use it without leaning on the name alone.

Where it started

The American Angus Association's history page says the breed was built in northeast Scotland from local hornless black cattle called Doddies and Hummlies, with the earliest cow families dating to the mid-1700s and recording of individual cattle starting in 1862. George Grant brought four bulls to Victoria, Kansas, in May 1873, and the American breeders' association formed in Chicago in November 1883 with 60 members. A small start for a big breed.

Why it caught on out west

A hornless animal is easier and safer to handle, and cattle that stay in condition on rough country are worth keeping. That got Angus a place on ranches. Then the grading system did the rest. The USDA grades pay for marbling, and Angus cattle tend to marble at a younger age than many breeds. A packer or a feeder who sees more cattle grading Choice and better from one type of animal is going to pay attention.

The brand piled on top

The association's history page ties 1978 to the founding of Certified Angus Beef, set up with specifications meant to deliver consistent steaks. The brand's own page says cattle must be Angus-influenced with a predominantly solid black coat and then pass carcass specs, including modest or higher marbling. That put a standard behind the name. According to Oklahoma Farm Report, the brand reported 1.235 billion pounds sold in its latest fiscal year. Our page on what changed in Angus cattle tells how the breed moved the carcass numbers along the way.

What the advantage really is

• Marbling at a young age. Helps cattle hit grade without being held long.
• Market recognition. Buyers know the name and the programs built on it.
• Data. A huge registry and EPD system let you select for specific traits.
• Maternal traits. Fertile, moderate cows are the backbone of many herds.

Those are real, but they are an average advantage. The man who buys an Angus bull with weak numbers gets weak results, and the name will not fix it.

What it does not mean

A black hide does not make a steer a Certified Angus Beef animal. The brand's latest fiscal-year acceptance rate was 37.6 percent, per the same report, so most cattle still miss. Our page on what that rate tells a cattleman goes through it. And "Angus" on a menu may only mean a store program with its own rules, not a verified brand.

Do not ignore the other breeds

Plenty of commercial herds run crosses on purpose. Mixing Angus with other breeds can add hybrid vigor and balance traits like growth, milk and adaptation to heat or cold. The right answer depends on your country and your market. If you sell into a program that requires black cattle, plan the crosses around that. If you sell at the barn, choose what makes calves that sell best in your area.

How to use the advantage

1. Buy bulls on numbers, not looks. Read the EPDs, check structure and balance marbling against carcass weight. See farm.fm's page on understanding bulls.
2. Keep your cow herd moderate. Big cows eat more.
3. Collect carcass data. The Nebraska beef extension has research on how to read it.
4. Sell on the right grid. Match cattle to the program that pays for what they do best.

Straight talk

Angus earned its place with cattle that handled well, grew well and graded well. The name is worth something because the cattle behind it have been worth something. Keep making them worth it and the name will keep paying.

The records are the hidden edge

One thing the old-timers did that still matters: they wrote things down. A breed with a big registry and decades of performance records gives a bull buyer something to work with. EPDs estimate how a bull's calves should perform for birth weight, growth, milk and carcass traits, and a bull with solid data behind him is less of a gamble than one bought on looks. Our page on how to pick a bull's numbers walks through the basics. The catch is that the system only works if the data going in is honest. Keep your own parentage and weights straight, and send carcass data back to the breeders you buy from when you can.

Questions before you buy more Angus

• Which market am I selling into, and does it pay for Angus-type cattle?
• Do my cows fit my country, or am I forcing a type that eats more than the grass can give?
• Have I looked at my last set of carcass sheets before choosing a bull?
• What do I lose if the premium goes away?

Answer those honestly and the breed question mostly answers itself. A man who knows his market and his ground can make good money with Angus, with crosses or with something else.

For listings of ranch and farm suppliers, see Agriculture Directory. This site is independent and not affiliated with the American Angus Association or Certified Angus Beef. Details change, so check current documents.