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→Belgian Blue
==Belgian Blue==
==Belgian Blue==
The Belgian Blue (or British Blue in UK) is a continental beef breed and is the fifth most popular beef breed in the UK. The Belgian Blue originated in central and upper Belgium.
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====Characteristics====
====Characteristics====
The Belgian Blue is a large sized breed with very prominent muscling. Belgian Blue are renowned for their “double muscling” on their shoulders, back, loin and rump. Their coat colours may vary from white, blue roan, black or black and white. Although Belgian Blues have a relatively short gestation period and low calf weight, the purebred animal has a very high incidence of dystocia, with a very high proportion (up to 90%) requiring caesarian delivery. This is primarily due to a combination of the large double-muscling in the purebred calf and the pelvic dimensions/conformation of the dam. In recent years breeders have become aware of the welfare concerns of the wider public and are trying to select for ease of calving. They have excellent conformation, growth rates and killing out percentage. The weight of a mature bull is from 1,100+kg while the mature cow can weigh 850+kg. Belgian Blues may weigh over 1,300kg depending on muscle content.
The Belgian Blue is a large sized breed with very prominent muscling. Belgian Blue are renowned for their “double muscling” on their shoulders, back, loin and rump. Their coat colours may vary from white, blue roan, black or black and white. Although Belgian Blues have a relatively short gestation period and low calf weight, the purebred animal has a very high incidence of dystocia, with a very high proportion (up to 90%) requiring caesarian delivery. This is primarily due to a combination of the large double-muscling in the purebred calf and the pelvic dimensions/conformation of the dam. In recent years breeders have become aware of the welfare concerns of the wider public and are trying to select for ease of calving. They have excellent conformation, growth rates and killing out percentage. The weight of a mature bull is from 1,100+kg while the mature cow can weigh 850+kg. Belgian Blues may weigh over 1,300kg depending on muscle content.