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Color Patterns in Crossbred Beef

Last Updated: December 11, 2009

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Fact Sheet Written by:

John Evans, Associate Professor Animal Breeding

And Provided by

Oklahoma State University


Most breeds of beef cattle have a fixed color pattern that is characteristic for that breed because of previous selection. For example, all Hereford cattle have a red body color with a white face, all Charolais are white, and Red Poll are red. However, some other breeds may have more than one basic body color such as red or black Angus, and white, red, or roan Shorthorn. Still other breeds have multiple colors, which are unpredictable; for example, spotting, brindling, or solid colors in Longhorn. A knowledge of the genetic aspects of hair color, and experience, allows one to predict with some degree of accuracy the color pattern to expect among calves when crossing breeds. This fact sheet is to serve only as a guide. The predictions listed here give only the major expected colors. Because of gene segregation there will be some exceptions.

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Colors in Crossbreeds

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