What does the Angus cattle offer or contribute to the cattle industry?

Angus cattle are primarily known for their ability to have great carcass quality and ability to cross with other beef breeds to obtain even better carcass traits. Cows are great for easy keeping on just grass and hay, as well as good milking ability, mothering ability, calving ease, raising growthy calves, and good overall reproductive ability. Calves that are raised for beef have good marbling and muscling ability. This British breed however is susceptible to early maturing, and as a result can gain fat quicker and easier than the Continentals. Hence crossing Angus with continentals like Gelbvieh or Simmental yeilds good lean carcass with just enough marbling to make the cuts not too fatty.

Marketing by the American Angus Association has created a product known as Certified Angus Beef or CAB. It is because of this successful marketing that the Angus breed has become much more popular in America than any other breed that is also raised in this country. It is also because of this breed that other breeders are able to infuse Angus genetics into their breeds and create black cattle. More about this is covered in the related questions below.