Black Baldy

The Black Baldy is a type of cross-bred beef cattle. It is traditionally produced by crossing Hereford bulls on Aberdeen Angus cows.[1]^: 29

Cow and calf

These cattle are commonly reared in Australia[2]^: 190 and New Zealand. In North America, the term Black Whiteface is also used in some regions.

Characteristics

The Black Baldy is traditionally produced by crossing Hereford bulls with Aberdeen Angus cows. The reverse cross, of Angus bulls on Hereford heifers, may also be employed in an attempt to produce smaller calves and thus reduce dystocia during birth.[3]^: 256

The first-generation calves from this cross uniformly exhibit the three principal dominant traits of the parent breeds – the polled (hornless) characteristic and the black coat of the Angus, and the white face of the Hereford. If first-generation Black Baldies are then bred together, the resulting calves are highly variable.[4]^: 107 The skin is black, which in sunny climates can reduce the prevalence of sunburn on bare skin, such as the udder of the cow.

Black Baldy calves exhibit heterosis (hybrid vigour), and may be healthier and faster-growing than comparable purebred stock.[3]^: 256 Black Baldy cows may reach sexual maturity sooner and have increased fertility.[2]^: 190

Use

The Black Baldy is reared for beef.[3]^: 256 Cows may be mated to a bull of a European beef breed, to produce a heavier, better-muscled and faster-growing calf.[2]^: 190

In Britain and Ireland a similarly-marked cross-breed, the Black Hereford, results from crossing Hereford bulls on predominantly black-coloured dairy cows.

References

Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 085199430X.
M.A. Campbell, B.J. King, M.B. Allworth (2014). The southern Australian beef industry. In: David Cottle, Lewis Kahn (editors) (2014). Beef Cattle Production and Trade. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9780643109896, pages 185–204.
Frank Flanders, James R. Gillespie (2015). Modern Livestock & Poultry Production, ninth edition. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781133283508.
D. Phillip Sponenberg, Jeannette Beranger, Alison Martin (2017). Managing Breeds for a Secure Future: Strategies for Breeders and Breed Associations, second edition. Sheffield: 5m Publishing. ISBN 9781912178544.

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[mason-1] Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 085199430X.

[cottle-2] M.A. Campbell, B.J. King, M.B. Allworth (2014). The southern Australian beef industry. In: David Cottle, Lewis Kahn (editors) (2014). Beef Cattle Production and Trade. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9780643109896, pages 185–204.

[frank-3] Frank Flanders, James R. Gillespie (2015). Modern Livestock & Poultry Production, ninth edition. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781133283508.

[spon-4] D. Phillip Sponenberg, Jeannette Beranger, Alison Martin (2017). Managing Breeds for a Secure Future: Strategies for Breeders and Breed Associations, second edition. Sheffield: 5m Publishing. ISBN 9781912178544.