Cattle breed

A cattle breed is a recognized population of cattle with shared inherited traits and a breeding standard. Breeds differ in characteristics such as size, coat, climate adaptation, and production.

Selective breeding: The deliberate mating of organisms to increase the frequency of desired inherited traits. Breeders shape a population’s defining traits by choosing which cattle reproduce.
Beef cattle: Cattle raised primarily for meat production. Many breeds are selected for growth, carcass traits, and efficient beef production.
Holstein Friesian: A dairy cattle breed known for its black-and-white coat and high milk production. It exemplifies specialized selection for high-volume milk production.
Artificial selection: Evolutionary change caused by humans choosing which organisms reproduce. Repeated selection shifts inherited traits toward a breed’s stated standard.
Landrace: A locally adapted domesticated population shaped by regional conditions and traditional farming. Landraces may lack the formal registry and standardized traits associated with established breeds.
Heredity: The transmission of biological traits from parents to offspring through genetic material. Inherited variation gives cattle breeds their characteristic combinations of traits.
Dairy cattle: Cattle raised primarily to produce milk for human use. Dairy breeds are selected for milk yield, composition, and milking suitability.
Angus cattle: A naturally polled cattle breed originating in Scotland and widely raised for beef. Its beef qualities and polled status have made it a prominent specialized breed.
Inbreeding: Reproduction between genetically related individuals, increasing the chance of shared alleles in offspring. Small or closed breeding populations can accumulate relatedness while preserving traits.
Cattle hybrid: An animal produced by crossing genetically distinct cattle populations or species. A crossbred animal can combine breed traits without belonging to a single pure breed.

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