Angus Cow Beef Facts

Angus cows produce a consistent, quality meat that regularly achieves Prime and Choice status from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Angus cattle originates in the country of Scotland, identified by its characteristic solid, black coat.

  1. Geography

    • Angus cows originate from northern Scotland, in the counties called Angus, Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine. The cattle are nearly identical to the cattle depicted in cave drawings of the ancient inhabitants of northern Scotland, according to Oklahoma State University̵7;s Department of Animal Science.

    Breed Origin

    • Angus cows come from the natural cattle living in Angus and Aberdeen, called the Angus doddies and Buchan humlies, which were cross-bred in the mid- to late 18th century.

    Identification

    • Angus cattle have black coats, which indicate to breeders that it is a pure and high-quality animal, according to the Cattle website. Angus cattle also lack humps from the Brahman cattle stock and lack features from dairy cattle.

    American Angus

    • In 1873, George Grant imported Angus cattle in order to introduce it to the American markets as the ideal breed for beef, according to the Cattle website. By 1883, 1200 had been imported and crossed with the Texas Longhorn cattle, creating American Angus.

    Features

    • Angus beef is known for its marbling texture, which is the pattern of fat in the meat when it is separated into specific cuts. Angus cattle that eat the minimum amount of cattle feed consistently produce Prime and Choice cuts of meat, which are the best in flavor and appearance, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture̵7;s grading system.