Crimson Aberdeen Angus cattle: Demand to provide smaller calves

Curiosity in pink Aberdeen Angus cattle continues to develop, as was confirmed finally Saturday’s breed calf present in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.

The occasion noticed quite a lot of ‘pink fanatics’ participating together with William Dodd, who farms close to Saintfield in Co. Down. He has been breeding pink Aberdeen Angus cattle for the previous 12 years.

His Glenbrae Crimson herd includes 20 cows, 5 breeding heifers and followers.

“Demand for the breed is now rising strongly all through Eire, the UK and the remainder of Europe,” he mentioned.

“Many industrial dairy farmers are eager to run a pink Aberdeen Angus bull with heifers. First-off, they produce a barely smaller calf. The bulls additionally color mark their progeny.

“Crimson bulls are simpler to see in a area when working with a gaggle of black and white heifers. So there’s a distinct well being and security profit to be gained from utilizing them on this approach.”

Costs

A robust demand for pink Aberdeen Angus has additionally been mirrored within the costs paid for them.

William Dodd secured 6,000gns for a home-bred bull on the current Aberdeen Angus pedigree sale in Stirling.

Glenbrae Crimson Maverick X164 had beforehand picked up the ‘better of reverse intercourse’ accolade at Balmoral Present 2022. He was 18 months outdated on the day of the sale in Scotland.

“No matter his color, Maverick is an incredible calf and can do properly in any breeding state of affairs,” William confirmed.

It seems that Europe is out of the step with the remainder of the world, the place pink Aberdeen Angus cattle predominate.

They’re the predominant Angus choice within the US, Canada, throughout South America and Australia.

Crimson is a naturally occurring color trait throughout the breed; it isn’t a mutation.

It has been the case that black cattle have been chosen because the bloodlines of selection within the UK and Eire for a lot of generations.

Genetic evaluation has confirmed that, coat color aside, pink Angus animals are equivalent to the Scottish inhabitants of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Right now, pink Angus inventory are registered individually from black Angus cattle in Australia, Canada, and the US.   

Crimson Angus cattle are naturally polled. Mature bulls have a mean liveweight of 935kg; the equal determine for cows is 635kg.

The Scottish Angus is often black, however pink people happen. This can be the consequence of cross-breeding within the 18th century of the small Scottish cattle with bigger English Longhorn inventory, geared toward growing their draught energy.