Beef Cattle breed profile
Angus (Black)
Also known as: Black Angus, Aberdeen Angus
- British beef breed
- Scotland
- large
- Temperament: calm
Black Angus is the dominant beef breed in U.S. commercial cow-calf, feedlot, and direct-marketing channels. Marbling, market access through Certified Angus Beef, and a deep selection-data pool make it the default commercial choice. Heat tolerance limits its dryland fit in the Deep South without crossbreeding.
Production & size
Mature size and output.
Female weight
1100–1400 lbs
Male weight
1800–2300 lbs
Daily gain
2.8 lbs/day
Reproductive traits
Gestation
283 days
Seasonality
year round
Maternal
good
Health & climate
Parasite resistance
good
Heat tolerance
fair
Cold hardiness
good
Humidity tolerance
fair
Common health concerns
- Fescue toxicosis on tall fescue pasture (Southeast)
- Heat stress in Deep South / Gulf without crossbreeding
- Foot rot in wet conditions
Management requirements
Experience
some experience
Housing
basic shelter
Fencing
standard
Feed system
pasture, hay, grain supplement
Market access
Commercial market
excellent
Direct-market appeal
excellent
Premium potential
Yes
Certified Angus Beef program is the largest branded-beef program in the country and creates a documented price premium for qualifying carcasses.
American Angus Association →Regional fits
Angus (Black) performance by ag region.
Corn Belt Core
excellentBlack Angus is the dominant commercial cow-calf breed across the Corn Belt Core. Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio all have deep Angus seedstock pools and the strongest commercial market access through Certified Angus Beef.
Strengths: Deepest commercial seedstock pool in the country; Angus genetics are easy to source from local AI suppliers and bull sales. Excellent cow-calf market access.
Weaknesses: On endophyte-infected tall fescue pasture (common in southern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio), Angus suffer fescue toxicosis — heat stress, reduced conception, retained winter coat. Endophyte management or fescue replacement is mandatory.
Mid-Atlantic South
goodAngus is the consumer-recognized direct-marketing breed; the Mid-Atlantic South has strong farm-direct demand from Mid-Atlantic urban centers (DC, Baltimore, Richmond).
Strengths: Strong customer demand and farm-share programs in the Northern Virginia / DC corridor support premium pricing for Angus direct beef.
Weaknesses: Coastal Plain heat-and-humidity stress Black Angus; Red Angus or Brangus may finish more reliably on the Eastern Shore. Tall fescue endophyte pressure parallels the Corn Belt situation.
Sources
Data quality: extension verified