When looking for breeds of beef cattle for the private hobbyist, one must consider several factors when choosing a specific cattle breed.  Some breeds, while excellent meat producers can be downright dangerous to handle from the ground.  That means a horse or an ATV machine to work them and the cost of this must also be considered when calculating the final profit on the meat.

Called the Aberdeen Angus in its native country of Scotland, both red and black varieties are excellent meat producers, though I have heard the black ones are more consistent producers, due to the fact they were the preferred color and thus bred more widely and carefully.  Black and red Angus today are separate registries, both also have relatively few health and breeding issues.  They can be a little spicy temperament wise, and can be expensive to purchase due to their popularity and high steak quality.  When in doubt, go black!

Originating in France about 1600 or 1700, Charolias cattle are almost biblical they have been around so long.  To say they have made an impact on the American meat market is a gross understatement; these guys get big fast and pack a great meat quality. The breed came to the Americas via Mexico, and the original stock took off when introduced to the US.   Unfortunately, due to an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease, no more French cattle where imported until Canada allowed the imports from France under very strict quarantine rules in 1965.  But because modern American Charolias share only about three percent of their genetics with their French counterparts, these cattle can be interbred with imported cattle with no fear of inbreeding.  Great terminal weight and excellent muscling make the Charolias a great choice for cattlemen across the country.

Very few images conjure up romantic scenes of the Wild West like a Texas Longhorn does.  Makes you want to mount up and drive three thousand of them right into Montana.  Seriously, this is a great breed for folks starting out in beef cattle, they are intelligent, easy to work with, and very hardy.  They are awesome in hot, arid environments, and can sustain on weeds and spit.  They can travel days from water, and their beautiful horns can span up to four feet from tip to tip.  Some Texas Longhorns have even been trained to ride like horses, and they make excellent cart oxen.  They come in a variety of striking coat colors, and the traditional color is red and white.