Black Baldy

The Black Baldy is a cross-bred type of beef cattle. It is traditionally produced by crossing Hereford bulls on Aberdeen Angus cows. These cattle are commonly reared in Australia[1]: 190  and New Zealand.

Characteristics

The Black Baldy is traditionally produced by crossing Hereford bulls on Aberdeen Angus cows.[2]: 29  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 (F1) 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.[4]: 56  Black Baldy calves may exhibit some degree of 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 higher fertility than cows of the parent breeds;[1]: 190  they may also remain healthier, have better maternal qualities, and have a longer productive life.[3]: 256 

If first-generation Black Baldies are then bred together, the characteristics of the resulting second-generation (F2) calves are highly variable: in gross morphology they may be – in roughly equal proportions – either red or black, either horned or polled, and either white-faced or solid-coloured, resulting in a total of eight possible combinations.[4]: 57 

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.[1]: 190 

The American Black Hereford was developed in the United States in the 1990s by crossing Black Baldy cows to Hereford bulls, and then selecting for black coat colour.[5]: 828 

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Black Baldy.
  1. ^ a b c 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.
  2. ^ Valerie Porter, Ian Lauder Mason (2002). Mason's World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types, and Varieties (fifth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 085199430X.
  3. ^ a b c d Frank Flanders, James R. Gillespie (2016). Modern Livestock & Poultry Production, ninth edition. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781133283508.
  4. ^ a b D. Phillip Sponenberg, Donald E. Bixby (2007). Managing Breeds for a Secure Future: Strategies for Breeders and Breed Associations. Pittsboro, North Carolina: The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. ISBN 9781887316071.
  5. ^ Marleen Felius (2025). Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004449015.


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