Red Angus

The Angus breed originated in the British Isles and recorded reference to the appearance of red cattle dates back to 1805. The first Angus herdbook, published in Scotland in 1862 entered both reds and blacks without distinction. Early in the development of the breed, Hugh Watson of Keilor, Scotland, arbitrarily decided that black was the proper color for the breed - he could just as easily have chosen red.

Angus were introduced into the United States in the 1870s and both reds and blacks were registered in the American Angus herdbook until 1917 when reds were barred. Severe discrimination against the reds in order to assure a pure strain of black resulted in a marked decline in the number of red calves born. However, a number of cattlemen throughout the United States understood the outstanding value of the reds and in 1945 the first of these started selecting and breeding reds cropped from the best Angus herds in the United States. In 1954 a sufficient number of herds had been established and the breeders' organization known as the Red Angus Association of America, was formed.

Reference: Oklahoma State University

Red Angus Links

Red Angus Association of America

The Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society

Montana Red Angus Association