Certified Standard: Angus

Welcome back to The Bovine Buff! This week, you're learning about the most important beef cattle breed: Angus. Angus-influenced cattle make up about 80% of the American beef herd—that's around 74 million individual animals!

Despite being the most common cattle breed in the United States, the Angus breed history is anything but boring. Angus cattle began as "Doddies" and "Humlies" in Northern Scotland. These were colloquial names used by Scottish farmers to refer to any hornless—or "polled," as the industry calls it—cattle from the Angus and Aberdeenshire provinces in Northeast Scotland. In the 19th century, a herdbook was established, and the breed was refined from a varied herd of all shapes and colors into the traditional and uniform Aberdeen Angus you recognize today.

While the look of Angus cattle has evolved, modern cattle still carry genetic and physical traits from their 1800s ancestors. Angus cattle are black and polled. Occasionally, you’ll see red coloring due to a recessive gene, and a separate herdbook and breed association was created for these "Red Angus." Angus cattle are stocky, with moderate muscling and high fat deposition. They have a moderate frame size and a slightly more pronounced bend at the hock in their rear legs. An Angus steer typically reaches market weight at about 1,400 lbs. (~635 kg).

Even though an Angus steer might not look flashy on the outside, it's what’s on the inside that puts these black-hided cattle at the top of the industry. Angus steers have one of the highest rates of feed conversion and intramuscular fat deposition. In simple terms, you can feed an Angus steer less than other breeds and still gain the same amount of muscle. Plus, they develop more fat within their muscles, which gives you a juicy, flavorful steak.

These qualities make Angus cattle ideal for beef producers—you're getting a high-quality product at a lower cost. Over time, word spread to consumers about the consistent quality of Angus beef. Demand in grocery stores led to the development of branded programs that helped set Angus products apart and give them a premium value. The very first and most well-known program? Certified Angus Beef.

Next time you’re in the grocery store, take a look at the labels. Chances are, you'll spot the Angus influence right there on the shelves.