BELGIAN BLUE

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American Blue Cattle Association, Inc.

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CHARACTERISTICS

• large sized animal with rounded outline and prominent muscles
• color can be white, blue roan or sometimes black
• Belgian Blue perform low in calving ease and calving rate
• The Belgian Blue cattle had a lower shear value than the Hereford-Angus contemporary average, 12.8 versus 12.9, with comparable tenderness and flavor on the sensory panel

CONTINUED CHARACTERISTICS

• Males:12 months 1047 lbs. 47.2" Females: 816 lbs. 45.3" Males: 24 months 1709 lbs. 53.2" Female: 1102 lbs. 48.0"

Origin:
These cattle originated in central and upper Belgium and they, at one time, accounted for nearly half of the cattle in the national herd

WHY?

• Originally bred as a dual purpose animal for both dairy and meat

PROBLEMS

• cold climates can be tough on Blues, as their skin is thin and they don’t deposit much fat
• gestation period is short, allowing more possibilities of the cow falling pregnant again soon after
• Not good for beginner farmers

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