What is the best beef cow to raise?

Interviewer: What is the best beef cow to raise?

CowboyBenWade: Black angus are almost the perfect cow to raise yourself. They are a smaller framed cow, which means that when they have calves, you don't have to go out there and help them. Larger framed breeds like the limosines often require assistance. Sometimes you even have to call the vet.

Interviewer: I wouldn't want to help out with that.

CowboyBenWade: Black angus cows are also good mothers, which means you won't have to be taking care of her calves. Some cow breeds will abandon their calves, and that just means more work for you. If you've ever had to bottle feed a baby cow for three months, you know what I mean.

Interviewer: Black angus don't have horns do they?

CowboyBenWade: No they don't. This is good because they can't gore each other or you when you are out there with them. Some cow outfits cut the horns of the larger cows so they can't injure each other when they fight. Bulls like to head butt one another. It's their way of establishing dominance. Horns just bring a whole new level of danger to all of that.

Interviewer: How is black angus beef?

CowboyBenWade: It's well marbled and flavorful when compared to some competing breeds. You can raise a lean black angus if you like your meat that way. I do. To get that marbling, you've got to fatten them up. Feed them some corn - they like that. It's like a donut to them. They love it.

Interviewer: Where did black angus come from?

CowboyBenWade: The ancestors of modern Black Angus were first brought to the United States form Scotland in 1873. People were initially afraid of the cows because they were all black. These bulls were bred with native Texas longhorn cows to produce the smaller framed, black angus we have today. They survived very well in the Texas winters and were an all around hardy breed. And they required very little maintenance. For these reasons, they became extremely successful, and were dubbed 'The Perfect Cow' by many cowboys of the day.

Interviewer: What's the difference between a black angus and a red angus?

CowboyBenWade: They almost the same, except for one has black hair and the other has reddish brown hair. Sometimes a herd of black angus will get a few brownish cows because black angus have red angus genes. For all practical purposes they are the same cow. However, some claim that black angus are more resilient to cold weather. This is unconfirmed, but if you live out west where it snows and get's really cold, it might be something to consider.

Interviewer: Are there any other reasons why you might not want to raise black angus?

CowboyBenWade: Yes, they are like wild cows. You can't get near them, and if you do they will kick you. Black angus are some of the most aggressive and unruly breeds. Don't plan on getting close to them unless you have a neck gate. Unlike some other breeds, black angus are not docile.

Interviewer: I like to pet my cows sometimes.

CowboyBenWade: You might want to get Herefords instead. They are one of the most docile breeds, and they are good for cuddling if you're into that.

Interviewer: Do they taste as good as black angus?

CowboyBenWade: That's a matter of opinion. Beef from Herefords is good, but maybe not quite as good as black angus. Some things you have to pick and choose. Herefords are a larger framed cow, so you would get more meat out of one of them. You also might have to assist with birthing from time to time.

Interviewer: What I want milk?

CowboyBenWade: In that case, you should get what's called an 'All Purpose' breed such as a Dexter. These cows can produce milk for you, and you can eat the calves when they get big enough of course. If you only want a couple of cows, go with this breed. They are docile and will let you milk them without kicking you.