LABOR DAY WEEKEND - AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
MICHIGAN STATE FAIR
BEEF CATTLE
Angus
Breed Characteristics
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The Angus breed was first imported to Victoria, Kansas from Scotland in 1873
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Has since become the most dominant beef cattle breed in the U.S
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The American Angus Association claims that Angus and Angus-cross cattle make up more than 60 percent of our commercial cowherd.
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To qualify as Certified Angus Beef, animals must meet ten strict requirements, including hide color, marbling, and rib-eye size
Highland
Breed Characteristics
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Like their name suggests, Highland cattle originated in the Highlands and west coastal islands of Scotland.
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A little known fact about Highland breeders is that they don't call their herd a herd. It is called a fold of Highland cattle because, in the olden days in winter the cattle were brought together at night in open shelters made of stone called folds to protect them from the weather and wolves.
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The Highland has the grandest head with a long fringe (that appears to cover the eyes) and the horns that are long and darken towards the tip.
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Highlands have a double coat of hair - a downy undercoat and a long outer coat which may reach 13 inches, and which is well-oiled to shed rain and snow.
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The hair color can be black, brindled, red, yellow, and dun.
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Highland beef is healthy and nutritious with lower levels of fat and cholesterol and a higher protein and iron content than other beef.
Shorthorn
Breed Characteristics
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The Shorthorn breed of cattle, which we know today, has evolved over the last two centuries, from Teeswater and Durham cattle found originally in the North East of England.
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The importance of the Shorthorn breed in the development of other cattle breeds is enormous, and Shorthorn genetics have been used worldwide in the development of over 40 different breeds.
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Beef Shorthorn come in three colors, red, white and roan.
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Red cattle may be solid red or have white markings and they can be horned or polled. They are bigger than their dairy counterparts and are grown specifically for their beef.
Red Angus
Breed Characteristics
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The Red Angus breed has the exact same origins of the Aberdeen Angus.
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Originally it was brought in by the Vikings from Europe and introduced to England and Scotland.
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The Red Angus is medium in size with a beefy carcass.
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It is red in color with pigmented skin and naturally polled.
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Red Angus females have excellent milk production and have a strong maternal instinct.
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Red Angus cattle are considered by breeders to be gentle natured and easy cattle to work.
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This breed produces a highly desired carcass with the meat being of excellent quality, this is due to the intra muscular marbling.
Chianina
Breed Characteristics
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The Chianina (pronounced kee-a-nee-na) may well be one of the oldest breeds of cattle in existence.
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The breed originated primarily in the west central part of Italy and was found in a wide variety of environmental conditions.
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The largest representatives of the breed, from the plains of Arezzo and Siena, have supplied most of the foundation stock that has been used in the United States and Canada.
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The name comes from the Chiana Valley in the province of Tuscany in Central Italy which is where Chianti wine is made.
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The porcelain-white Chianina is the largest breed of cattle in the world and have short hair that varies from white to steel grey in color.
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Bulls are often a darker grey around their front ends. Both sexes have black pigmented skin, including a black tongue, palate, nose, eye area and switch.
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The short horns curve forward and are usually black in the younger animals but become lighter, beginning at the base, as the animals mature.
Hereford
Breed Characteristics
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Herefords have taken their name from the county Herefordshire, an historic agricultural region of England where this breed has evolved.
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The modern Hereford is colored dark red to red-yellow, with a white face, crest, dewlap, and underline.
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Herefords with white flanks and white markings below the knees and hocks are also common.
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Most have short thick horns that typically curve down at the sides of the head.
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Mature males may weigh up to 1,800 pounds, while mature females may weigh around 1,200.
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These cattle are known for their vigor and foraging ability and for their longevity, many females live and produce calves beyond the age of 15 years.
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Herefords are generally docile and fast growing cattle with good beef quality.
Limousin
Breed Characteristics
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The history of Limousin cattle may be as old as the European continent itself.
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Cattle found in cave drawings estimated to be 20,000 years old in the Lascaux Caves near Montignac, France have a striking resemblance to today's Limousin.
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Limousin originated in the West of the Massif Central between Central and South West France, a rather rainy region with harsh climatic conditions and poor granite soil.
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As a result of their environment Limousin cattle evolved into a breed of unusual sturdiness, health and adaptability.
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During the early times of animal power, Limousin gained a well-earned reputation as work animals in addition to their beef qualities.
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The Limousin is large, fine and has a strong boned frame.
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Mature Limousin females should average 650 kilos and mature males 1000 kilos.
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The head is small and short with a broad forehead, and the neck is short with a broad muzzle.
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Coat color is golden-red and a lighter color under the stomach, inside the thighs, around the eyes and muzzle, and around the anus and end of the tail. The skin is free of pigmentation.
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Horns are yellow at the base and darken towards the tips; they are at first horizontal, then curve forwards and upwards.
Simmental
Breed Characteristics
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The Maine-Anjou breed (which is now called Rouge des Prés) originated in the northwestern part of France.
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At the beginning of the 19th Century, the cattle in this region were large, well-muscled animals with light red coats spotted with white.
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The Maine-Anjou is traditionally red with white markings on the head, belly, rear legs and tail, but today they are more solid in color pattern with black, red, black and white being the popular choice.
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Bulls weigh approximately 2000-2500 lbs. and females 1400-1600 lbs.
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The Maine-Anjou breed excels in performance/feed efficiency, disposition and has superb carcass traits.
Breed Characteristics
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Simmental is a breed of cattle whose history dates back to the Middle Ages.
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Early records indicate that Simmental cattle were the result of a cross between large German cattle and a smaller breed indigenous to Switzerland.
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The name Simmental is derived from the name of the area where the cattle were first bred - the Simme Valley which is situated in the Berner Oberland in Switzerland.
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Since its origin in Switzerland, the breed has spread to all six continents. Total numbers are estimated between 40 and 60 million Simmental cattle worldwide, with more than half in Europe.
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Simmental color varies from gold to red with white, and may be evenly distributed or clearly defined in patches on a white background.
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The majority have pigment around the eyes, helping to reduce eye problems which occur from bright sunlight.
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Simmental can be horned or polled, if horned horns are up turned, another distinguishing feature is that they have a heavy dewlap.
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They have a large frame with good muscling with cows at approximately 135-150cm tall and the bulls at 150-160cm.
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Their weight can vary on the use of their use but cows can weigh around 700-900kgs and bulls 1300kgs.
Beefhorn
Breed Characteristics
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The Shorthorn breed of cattle, which we know today, has evolved over the last two centuries, from Teeswater and Durham cattle found originally in the North East of England.
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The importance of the Shorthorn breed in the development of other cattle breeds is enormous, and Shorthorn genetics have been used worldwide in the development of over 40 different breeds.
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Beef Shorthorn come in three colors, red, white and roan.
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Red cattle may be solid red or have white markings and they can be horned or polled. They are bigger than their dairy counterparts and are grown specifically for their beef.