Black Hereford (crossbreed): Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Black Hereford.JPG|thumb|250px|Black Hereford heifer grazing the [[New Forest]] in southern England.]] |
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The '''Black Hereford''' is a hybrid type of beef cattle produced in the [[British Isles]] by crossing a [[Hereford (cattle)|Hereford]] [[beef cattle|beef bull]] with [[Holstein (cattle)|Holstein-Friesian]] [[dairy cattle|dairy cows]]. Black Herefords are not usually maintained from generation to generation, but are constantly produced as a byproduct of [[dairy farming]]. They are one of the commonest types of beef cattle in the British Isles, outnumbering many pure beef breeds. |
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==Appearance== |
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The Black Hereford has a white face like the Hereford, but the red body colour of the Hereford is replaced by black from the Holstein-Friesian – white face and black coat colour are both [[dominance relationship#dominant allele|genetically dominant]] in cattle. The pied pattern of the Holstein-Friesian does not appear in the offspring. |
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==Black Hereford Breed== |
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==Origin== |
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Black Hereford cattle are a beef cattle breed, which are mainly influenced genetically by red Hereford cattle, but have some genetic influence from black Angus cattle resulting in black and white coloring. Like red Herefords, Black Herefords are becoming known for their feed efficiency and docile temperament. If a registered Black Hereford is crossed with a registered red Hereford and the resulting progeny is black, then it may be registered with the Black Hereford Association. The Black Hereford breed was formed to create cattle that would pass on the desirable traits of the red Hereford, but with black and white coloring. Black Herefords are often crossed with black Angus cattle to produce heterosis (hybrid vigor) in progeny, while increasing the number black and white calves. The Black Hereford Association was organized in 1994. The Black Hereford became designated as an international cattle breed in 2003 by the National Association of Animal Breeds. (See http://www.blackhereford.com). |
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Cattle only produce milk after calving, and so every dairy cow must produce a calf every year. In dairy herds (which in the British Isles are almost all Holstein-Friesians), the best milking cows will normally be got in calf to a dairy bull, usually by [[artificial insemination]] (AI). The female pure-bred dairy calves from these will go on to become replacement dairy cows. Half of the pure-bred calves will of course be male – these are mostly not needed for breeding, and are generally unsuitable for beef; they may be reared for [[veal]] or more commonly they are killed and disposed of at a few days old. Pure-bred dairy calves are not needed from the rest of the herd, and a beef bull is run with the remaining females to produce cross-bred calves suitable for beef – these females will be the poorer-quality cows, the heifers (first-time calvers), and any of the other cows which have not got in calf successfully by AI. The beef bull in this system may be of almost any beef breed, but the Hereford is one of the most widely used – one reason for its popularity is that the white face from the Hereford makes it very easy to avoid confusion between the cross-bred and pure-bred calves at birth. |
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==History of Breed== |
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The American Black Hereford Association was established as a non-profit corporation in 1994, by the late John Gage. When John Gage founded the Black Hereford Association in 1994 he relied heavily on his friend Hereford Hall of Fame breeder, Frank Felton, to design the genetic basis for the new breed. J&N Ranch, of Leavenworth, Kansas purchased the American Black Hereford Association and John Gage's cow herd from his estate sale. The first Black Herefords to qualify for registration were recorded in 1997. In 2003 Black Hereford received international breed designation by the National Association of Animal Breeds. In 2005 American Black Hereford Association implemented its own EPDs. Now there are breeders throughout the United States. (See http://www.blackhereford.com). |
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==Uses== |
==Uses== |
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Many cattle breeders desire the traits of the red Hereford, but want black cattle. Also, many breeders want to cross Hereford type traits into their black cattle while maintaining the black color. The Black Hereford allows breeders to accomplish both of these goals. One of the most popular crosses is a Black Hereford crossed with a black Angus to produce black offspring with heterosis. The Black Hereford is an efficient, docile cattle breed used mainly to produce beef. |
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Black Herefords are intermediate in type between their beef sire and dairy dam, making them hardy and healthy, and suitable for rearing on [[grass]]. When well-grown, all the males and most of the females will normally be killed for [[beef]]. Females not needed for beef may be kept for breeding further beef animals – they are put to another beef bull and allowed to rear their own calves on grass as ''[[Calf#Calf rearing systems|single suckler]]s''. |
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==Similar types== |
==Similar types== |
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Revision as of 07:09, 30 October 2010
Black Hereford Breed
Black Hereford cattle are a beef cattle breed, which are mainly influenced genetically by red Hereford cattle, but have some genetic influence from black Angus cattle resulting in black and white coloring. Like red Herefords, Black Herefords are becoming known for their feed efficiency and docile temperament. If a registered Black Hereford is crossed with a registered red Hereford and the resulting progeny is black, then it may be registered with the Black Hereford Association. The Black Hereford breed was formed to create cattle that would pass on the desirable traits of the red Hereford, but with black and white coloring. Black Herefords are often crossed with black Angus cattle to produce heterosis (hybrid vigor) in progeny, while increasing the number black and white calves. The Black Hereford Association was organized in 1994. The Black Hereford became designated as an international cattle breed in 2003 by the National Association of Animal Breeds. (See http://www.blackhereford.com).
History of Breed
The American Black Hereford Association was established as a non-profit corporation in 1994, by the late John Gage. When John Gage founded the Black Hereford Association in 1994 he relied heavily on his friend Hereford Hall of Fame breeder, Frank Felton, to design the genetic basis for the new breed. J&N Ranch, of Leavenworth, Kansas purchased the American Black Hereford Association and John Gage's cow herd from his estate sale. The first Black Herefords to qualify for registration were recorded in 1997. In 2003 Black Hereford received international breed designation by the National Association of Animal Breeds. In 2005 American Black Hereford Association implemented its own EPDs. Now there are breeders throughout the United States. (See http://www.blackhereford.com).
Uses
Many cattle breeders desire the traits of the red Hereford, but want black cattle. Also, many breeders want to cross Hereford type traits into their black cattle while maintaining the black color. The Black Hereford allows breeders to accomplish both of these goals. One of the most popular crosses is a Black Hereford crossed with a black Angus to produce black offspring with heterosis. The Black Hereford is an efficient, docile cattle breed used mainly to produce beef.
Similar types
- Black Baldy, found in Australia and North America, another hybrid beef type, black with white head, also derived from a Hereford bull, but usually out of an Aberdeen Angus cow.
- Groningen, a traditional dairy pure breed from Holland, black (or sometimes red) with a white head.
See also
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