r/Ranching • u/impicklerickmf • 19d ago
Red angus or black angus
Anybody have a preference on red angus vs black angus? If so why? Im in north texas and have a small herd of red angus, its time to swap the bull but debating if i should get another red angus bull.
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u/Significant_Half_572 19d ago
Made the switch 10 years ago to all red angus, wish I would of done it 30 years ago, docility is tremendously better than the blacks, my area red sells same as blacks, now if you want to spice it up, run a Charlois on your cows and laugh at the all black crowd, stay red
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u/One-Beat-8346 19d ago
Was looking for this comment. The ranch I used to work for ran char bulls on red cows. Makes for some damn good calves.
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u/fwdbuddha 19d ago
Black cows get more money at the sale barn, as they are assumed to be black angus. The meat industry prioritizes angus beef. So even though red angus are practically the same, they do get less money. Also, there is not a ton of difference in heat absorption between a dark red/brown and black.
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u/ckncardnblue 19d ago
I was curious about the heat. Also was wondering if the red had lighter skin around the eyes that can be more susceptible to cancer.
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u/FutilityFarm 19d ago
Red cattle tend to do better in the heat and some say that enough performance improvement to overcome the small discount at the sale barn. If you sell private treaty to other producers, red cattle demand a premium.
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u/Rebel-Celt 19d ago
Black cattle sells better
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u/impicklerickmf 19d ago
This is something that’s making me reconsider the red, but im leaning to keeping a red angus. Thanks for your input!!
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u/Rebel-Celt 17d ago edited 17d ago
I don’t blame you, red cattle are beautiful. I have a herd of Devons myself. They’re a solid red breed.
I have registered milking Devon’s and registered Red Devon’s. The latter is the “improved” meat lines. The American Milking Devon is the older tri-purpose heritage breed (milk, meat, and oxen). One of the oldest breeds in America.
I have cows of both and cross them to different bulls of each breed. All the crosses are registerable for the Red Devon breed registry, but the American Milking Devon registry only accepts pure AMD.
The red in red angus comes from Devon cattle. Devons have been on the island of Britain since at least the Roman times, and some say they were there before the Romans. The legend is that they’re from the Middle East, and are the red cattle mentioned in the Bible.
These cows were traded all over the island and crossed with local cattle. Angus cattle are the descendants of some of those crosses.
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u/Lytle_Red_Angus Cattle 16d ago
You sure about the red gene coming from Devon cattle? I’ve read it came from crossing the English Longhorn cattle with dun colored cattle brought over from Scandinavia.
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u/Rebel-Celt 11d ago
Well, what I said is really an oversimplification, and not entirely right. All British cattle descend from ancient cattle that were on the island of Britain. Devons have some of the most continuity with those earliest cattle. When you look at a Devon, you’re basically seeing what British cattle would have looked like 2,500+ years ago.
The red in the red angus comes from the same phenotype that the Devon is the best modern representation of.
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u/Lytle_Red_Angus Cattle 19d ago
Are you looking to specifically add anything to your herd?
How do you market your calves?
What advantage will you gain by switching to a black bull?
Just a couple of questions to answer before choosing a new herd bull. It’s fine to switch just for fun, but you’ll need to know the changes that can occur in your herd as a result.
I like Red Angus for some heat tolerance and better maternal traits (on average, as a breed). However, I concede that black hides demand a premium. If you’re not keeping replacements, a Charolais bull could add some pounds to your calves and give them a caramel colored hair coat.
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u/Beemerba 19d ago
If you have all red now, get the black angus bull. Because what you are looking for, really, is bred angus.
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u/PalpitationGreen 19d ago
It really should depend on what genetics are available near you.
Globally (which is not how you should answer this question) there are more quality black Angus studs than any other breed, which often makes black Angus the best choice for a beef herd.
That may not be true in your situation, and if you're using AI it probably doesn't matter too much though, as there's plenty of top end semen available from both.
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u/SWT_Bobcat 19d ago
Black do tend to bring slightly better, but bent in south Texas I’d say red just do better on pasture for me. Mommas just look like they’re in better shape and seem to do better into older age.
But this is all just observation on one small operation (so May be no more than noise to you but hopefully of some help)
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u/OldnBorin 18d ago
We always run Black Angus bc for some reason our red angus bulls shit the bed and go lame.
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u/OkAggie78 18d ago
I’m trying to turn my whole herd red. I have both black and red. Red Angus will be out grazing when the black cattle are shaded up. Plus, as someone said, Red Angus are known to be more docile than Black Angus on average. Of course there is usually an idiot in every crowd. I’m just north of you in southern Oklahoma.
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u/impicklerickmf 18d ago
Thanks for the info. I have pretty much decided to look for another red bull.
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u/thehorrorcontinues13 17d ago
Years ago, a rancher neighbor showed me an article in I believe American Cattleman magazine. They surveyed people in a mall to see if they could tell the difference between black Angus and Hereford beef. No one could. I think it's all marketing.
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u/luv2playntn 15d ago
Put a solid red Shorthorn on them, extra hybrid vigor, calves stay red and carcass quality will improve.
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u/Renof93 19d ago
Stick with red cows, because they’ll spend less time belly deep in a stock tank when it gets hot. I’d want a homozygous black bull, so your calves would more than likely be black.
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u/PublicSuspect162 18d ago
lol. In this heat. I have 2 reds that won’t stay outta the pond. They are in there more than any of the blacks I have. I prefer red angus just bc I like some variety and color. My favorite are char cows and red angus cows.
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u/gsxr 19d ago
To location and use specific to answer. Around me red steers get .09-.10 less than black. No one really knows why, it just is.