The Aberdeen Angus is a Scottish breed of small beef cattle. It comes from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in north-eastern Scotland.
Aberdeen cattle have been recorded in Scotland since at least the 16th century and for some time before the 1800s the cattle were called Angus doddies.
On May 17, 1873, George Grant brought four Angus bulls, without any cows, to Victoria, Kansas. These were seen as unusual as the normal American cattle were Shorthorns and Longhorns at the time. The farmers quickly realized the good qualities of these bulls and afterward many more cattle of both sexes were imported.
The Angus is naturally polled and solid black in color. The native color is black, but more recently red colors have emerged. The UK registers both red and black cattle in the same herd book, but in the United States they are regarded as two separate breeds.
Black Angus is the most common breed of beef cattle in the US, with over 330,000 registered cattle in 2017.
Because of their native environment, the cattle can survive Scottish winters, which are generally harsh with snow and storms. Cows typically weigh around 1,200 pounds and bulls can reach nearly 1,900 pounds.
The main use of Angus cattle is for beef production and consumption. The beef can be marked as superior because of its marbled appearance.