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Grasslands remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, provide habitat for wildlife, and help replenish the water table.
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Beef Cattle Breeds
Beef cattle breeds have been genetically selected to produce animals that are well-muscled, because muscle is beef. Beef breeds commonly found in Canada include Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Charolais, Simmental, Limousin, Maine Anjou, Salers, Gelbvieh, and Shorthorn. Other breeds are used by the dairy industry to produce milk for people, most notably the black-and-white Holsteins. Dairy breeds tend to have thinner coats of hair and have less muscling than beef breeds, as they put all their energy into making milk. Beef breeds are more muscular and only produce enough milk for one calf each year (or occasionally twins!)
Other genetic traits that farmers and ranchers look for when choosing bulls and cows for their herds include having good feet and legs for traveling to grass and water ("ranging ability"), producing lots of milk and taking good care of a calf ("mothering ability"), and being able to have a calf easily without assistance ("ease of calving"). Some beef farmers raise purebreds, but most have herds consisting of crossbred animals (combinations of more than one breed) to combine the best qualities of each breed.
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