The Belgian Blue Mound of Beef
Also Known By: Race de la Moyenne et Haute Belgique, Belgian Blue-White, Belgian White and Blue Pied, Belgian White Blue, Blue, Bluish Belgian These cattle originated in fundamental and upper Belgium and they, at one fourth dimension, accounted for nearly one-half of the cattle in the national herd. Local red-pied and blackness-pied cattle were crossed with Shorthorn cattle imported from England from 1850 through 1890. Some sources also cite the introduction of Charolais convenance throughout the 19th century. A true breeding policy was established in the early 20th century when the breed was established. At one fourth dimension the breed was divided into two strains, 1 primarily for milk product and the other a beefiness creature. Option is at present primarily for beefiness.
The Belgian Blue Breed of beef cattle is relatively new to the United States only is rapidly gaining acceptance with beefiness breeders and dairymen. Belgian Blue cattle as they exist today are the result of selective genetic breeding and evolution conducted in Belgium by Professor Hanset at the AI Center in the Province of Liege. In the late fifties, a contend arose among the breeders, the question beingness whether to maintain the dual-purpose blazon as it was or to select for more muscling. The muscling prevailed. Concerning this critical catamenia, three famous AI sires are to be cited: Gedeon and two of his grandsons Ganache and Vaiseur. From them came the model of the breed.
Physical Characteristics of the Belgian Blue
The Belgian Blue is a large sized animal with rounded outline and prominent muscles. The shoulder, back, loin and rump are heavily muscled. The back is straight, rump is sloping, tail ready is prominent and pare is fine. It has fine but strong legs and tin can walk easy.
The color can be white, blue roan or sometimes black. The breed is known for its quiet temperament. Weight and elevation of animals recorded averages:
| Males | Females | |||
| 12 months | 1047 lbs. | 47.2" | 816 lbs. | 45.3" |
| 24 months | 1709 lbs. | 53.2" | 1102 lbs. | 48.0" |
European comparisons betwixt the Belgian Blueish and Charolais constitute the Belgian Blue to accept a college muscularity, milk yield and daily gain. The Belgian Blue animals were also older at sexual maturity. Calving interval and calf mortality was approximately equal and Belgian Blue performed lower in calving ease and calving rate. Some sources stated that delivery in Belgian Blue cows is oftentimes by caesarean.
Crossbreeding
Results of studies conducted in Kingdom of belgium show that the carcass characteristics of the Belgian Blue were expressed in the crossbreds whose commercial value was then substantially increased.
The observation explains the growing interest for the Belgian Bluish breed equally a terminal sire, its carcass limerick and it's growth potential.
Meat Quality
In an all-encompassing three yr test, done past the USDA at the Meat Animate being Research Centre, Dirt Center, Nebraska, the Belgian Bluish crossbred cattle were tested with the industry standard Warner-Brazner shear exam for tenderness. The Belgian Bluish cattle had a lower shear value than the Hereford-Angus gimmicky average, 12.8 versus 12.9, with comparable tenderness and flavor on the sensory panel. Belgian Blue cattle besides exhibited less than one-half the fat cover, .21 inch encompass versus .45 inch encompass, a 53% reduction. Belgian Blue is on line for the new standards. The Belgian Blue as well showed 16% less marbling and xiv.2 more ribeye surface area than the boilerplate carcass.
Breed Associations and Registries
Reference:
American Belgian Blueish Breeders, Inc.European Clan for Creature Production, Animal Genetic Data Bank
Genus Bos: Cattle Breeds of the World, 1985, MSO-AGVET (Merck & Co., Inc.), Rahway, N.J.
Stonemason, I.L. 1996. A World Lexicon of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.
Photographs:
American Belgian Blue Breeders, Inc.
Source: http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/belgianblue/