About Qinchuan Cattle

Photo source: SINA English News

The Qinchuan breed of cattle from China's Guanzhong Plain is becoming a formidable rival to world-famous beef-producing breeds. Known for its exceptional meat, Qinchuan Cattle were originally used as draft animals due to their muscular build and ability to pull heavy loads. However, they are now being used increasingly for beef production.

At maturity, Qinchuan bulls reach an average height of 142 cm and weigh nearly 600 kg, while cows stand at around 125 cm and weigh 380 kg. They have a distinct reddish-purple or yellow-red color and are usually easy to handle due to their years of use as draft animals. The breed has short, thick horns, a pink-yellow muzzle, and well-developed dewlaps.

Qinchuan Cattle have a carcass yield of 58-61% at 18 months or 52% at 2 years, producing tender, flavorful and well-marbled meat. They have a 210-day lactation period, producing 716 kg of milk with 4.7% fat and 4% protein.

There are over 700,000 Qinchuan Cattle in China's Shaanxi province, and their populations are growing as they are selectively bred with other breeds like Danish Red and Red Shorthorn for better milk and beef production. They have been selectively bred for thousands of years and are known for reaching sexual maturity early and having daily feedlot gains of almost 1 kg. However, they are not suited for extreme temperatures and may have underdeveloped hindquarters.