Scottish Heritage
The Aberdeen Angus breed was developed in the early part of the 19th century from the polled and predominantly black cattle of northeast Scotland known locally as “Doddies” and “Hummlies.” The Doddies and Hummlies referenced hornless cattle located in the historic province of Aberdeenshire. The earliest cow families trace back to the middle of the 18th century.
The official recording of individual cattle began in the Herd Book in 1862, and later, the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society in 1879. The early history of the breed is the dedication of breeders determined to save the breed from extinction and preserve the original lines of Angus cattle.
In the county of Angus, Scotland, naturally polled, black cattle still roam the countryside just as they have for centuries. By linebreeding and selecting for type, these early Scottish pioneers established the foundation for a beef breed that, overtime, has made the greatest contribution to quality beef around the world.
American Beginnings
George Grant imported four Angus bulls from Scotland to the middle of the Kansas prairie in May of 1873, as a part of the Scotsman’s dream to create a colony of wealthy, stock-raising Britishers. Grant died five years later, and many of the settlers at his Victoria, Kansas, colony later returned to their homeland. However, Grant’s legacy on the U.S. cattle industry remains to this day.
Grant’s four Angus bulls were likely imported from the herd of George Brown in Scotland. When he exhibited two of the bulls later that year at the Kansas City Livestock Exposition, cattlemen considered them “freaks” because of their polled (naturally hornless) heads and solid black color. During that time period, red and white Shorthorns were the dominant breed. Grant, a forward thinker, crossed the Angus bulls with native Texas Longhorn cows, producing a large number of hornless black calves that survived well on winter range. The Angus crosses wintered better and weighed more the next spring, the first demonstration of the breed’s value in their new homeland.
Association Begins
Ten years after Grant introduced Angus to the United States, the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeders’ Association was founded in Chicago, Illinois, on November 21, 1883, with 60 members. Eventually, the group’s name was changed to the American Angus Association and the headquarters were relocated to Saint Joseph, Missouri, where it records more cattle each year than any other beef breed association, making it the largest beef breed registry in the world.
Today, more than 80% of the cows in the United States are Angus-influenced and are valued, not only for their maternal characteristics and growth potential, but also for their ability to produce high-quality, consistent meat for consumers.
Serving cattlemen and consumers
The American Angus Association has four entities that serve the beef industry in different ways.
Certified Angus Beef®
The 1978 beef landscape left getting a great steak at restaurant or retail as simply a matter of chance—and odds weren’t in the consumer’s favor. Certified Angus Beef LLC’s founders decided developed 10-science based specifications to ensure a high-quality eating experience, every time, with the Certified Angus Beef® brand. They knew the key to beef demand and ultimately their success as Angus breeders.
The country’s original branded beef program remains a not-for-profit, owned by the members of the American Angus Association. As a subsidiary of the Association, the Ohio-based team works to build demand for Angus beef, and more dollars in cattleman’s pockets. Annual sales of the brand have grown to more than 1.2 billion pounds sold by over 15,000 licensed brand partners in 55 countries.
AGI®
Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI®) has been providing services to the beef industry and various beef breed organizations since 2007, assisting in the genetic evaluation of economically important traits. As a for-profit subsidiary of the American Angus Association®, AGI looks to lead genetic change for the beef industry in cooperation with Angus families.
The entity develops genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs) and indexes for the Angus breed that are updated on a weekly basis, supporting the breed’s National Cattle Evaluation. AGI also conducts research and develops new science and technology to benefit the entire beef business.
Angus Media
Angus Media is the Association’s for-profit entity that focuses on informational and marketing resources for our breeders. Angus Media shares the stories of our cattle producers, provides relevant information on management and marketing and creates targeted advertising and sale book production to expand the reach of Angus genetics.
With more than 11,000 paid subscribers, Angus Journal® is the flagship publication of the American Angus Association and the primary source of the latest Angus sale listings and offerings. Angus Beef Bulletin® is a complimentary, qualified circulation publication distributed to nearly 62,000 commercial cattlemen nationwide who have recently purchased a registered Angus bull. And Angus Media’s progressive team also provides an array of digital marketing services, from website hosting to targeted advertising.
Angus Foundation
Through the loyal and steadfast dedication of progressive cattlemen, the Angus Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to proudly support educational events, programs and initiatives for Angus cattlemen and juniors. The Angus Foundation exists to support education, youth and research to further the Angus breed and the agricultural industry.
The Angus Foundation both raises and manages charitable gifts to provide opportunities for junior members, Association members and the future of the industry. Through the generosity of caring individuals, the Foundation has awarded more than $4.2 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research throughout the past decade.
ANGUS CATTLE HISTORY: The History of the Angus Breed in America
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