chip:

Thanks for the info on the Black Angus/Red Angus situation. I grew up on a Black Angus ranch here in Oklahoma in the 50' and 60's. As you point out, a Red couldn't be registered, and if a cow bore a red calf, the whole pedigree on both sides was in question. Yet, many registered "Black Angus" cattle had just a little red tint here and there!

Here's another interesting thing about Black Angus. Back in those years, we were breeding for very short legged and thick bodied stock. Short noses were preferred. But breeders took this direction so far, and then began to have dwarf calves. As dwarfism is about the worst thing to have in registered cattle bloodlines, a large number of otherwise valuable breeding stock was sold at the stock yards. As your photo of cattle shows, the "ideal" Angus is now longer legged longer nosed, and a bit less "chunky" in the body than the prize winners of 40 and 50 years ago, as evidence of the move by breeders to avoid dwarfism.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)