Background Information
The combination results in a breed which unites the traits of
two highly successful parent breeds. The Brahman, through rigorous
natural selection, developed disease resistance, overall hardiness
and outstanding maternal instincts.
Angus are known for their superior carcass
qualities. They are also extremely functional females which excel
in both fertility and milking ability.
How It All Began
A review of the development of the Brangus
breed would take us back beyond the founding of the American Brangus
Breeders Association in 1949; however, registered Brangus descend
from the foundation animals recorded that year or registered Brahman
and Angus cattle enrolled since then.
Much of the early work in crossing Brahman
and Angus cattle was done at the USDA Experiment Station in Jeanerette,
Louisiana. According to the USDA 1935 Yearbook in Agriculture
the research with these crossed started about 1932
During the same period, Clear Creek Ranch of
Welch, Oklahoma and Grenada, Mississippi, Raymond Pope of Vinita,
Oklahoma, the Essar Ranch of San Antonio, Texas, and a few individual
breeders in other parts of the United States and Canada were also
carrying on private experimental breeding programs.
They were looking for a desirable beef-type
animal that would retain the Brahman's natural ability to thrive under
adverse conditions in combination with the excellent qualities for
which the Angus is noted.
The early breeders from 16 states and Canada
met in Vinita, Oklahoma, on July 2, 1949, and organized the American
Brangus Breeders Association, later renamed the International Brangus
Breeders Association (IBBA), with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri,
and eventually San Antonio, Texas, where the permanent headquarters
has been located since January, 1973.
There are now members in nearly every state,
Canada, Mexico, Australia, Central America, Argentina, and South Rhodesia
in Africa.
Registered Brangus must be 3/8 Brahman and
5/8 Angus, solid black and polled. Both sire and dam must be recorded
with the International Brangus Breeders Association. Foundation Angus
and Brahman cattle must be registered in their respective breed association
prior to being enrolled with the IBBA. Intermediate crosses necessary
to reach the 3/8 - 5/8 percentage are certified by the IBBA.
In recent years, the major portion of the Brangus
registered are from Brangus parents, but an increasing number of foundation
Brahman and Angus are being enrolled as the breed achieves greater
recognition.
Interest in developing breeds of cattle carrying
some percentage of Brahman breeding for the general improvement of
the commercial cattle of the United States speaks well for the apparent
advantages that Bos indicus cattle have in areas of high heat
and humidity.
Research at Louisiana has indicated that Brangus
cows increased their weights during the summer months while Angus
cows lost weight, indicating that they were more adapted to coastal
climates.
Calves from Brangus were heavier at birth and
weaning and for total pounds produced per cow. The Angus had an advantage
in conception rate and calved earlier, and the calves were more vigorous
at birth and survived better to weaning.
The breed have proven resistant to heat and
high humidity. Under conditions of cool and cold climate they seem
to produce enough hair for adequate protection.
The cows are good mothers and the calves are
usually of medium size at birth. The cattle respond well to conditions
of abundant feed but have exhibited hardiness under conditions of
stress.
Reference:
Briggs, H.M. & D.M. Briggs.
Modern Breeds of Livestock. Fourth Edition. Macmillan Publishing Co.
1980
Promotional materials. International
Brangus Breeders Association, San Antonio, TX.
Photographs:
International
Brangus Breeders Association, San Antonio, TX
