Belgian Blue

The Belgian Blue is a popular terminal sire breed in both beef and dairy production in Ireland. Coat colour can be white, black, blue or white and blue. Their most unique characteristic is high definition muscular development known as double muscling.

Belgian Blue cattle originated from upper and central Belgium between 1850 and 1890 and were developed by Professor Hanset of the A.I centre of Liege by crossing local breeds with Shorthhorn cattle from Britain. The double muscling exhibited in the breed is due to a natural mutation of the myostatin gene and results in accelerated muscle growth and reduced fat deposition. This characteristic makes Belgian Blue very popular to beef producers because of the high meat to bone ratio and also to the health conscious consumers because of the high degree of lean meat. Belgian Blue also have a short gestation length rarely exceeding 281 days and good milk yields for producing calves to good quality weanling. Belgian Blues are often crossed with the dairy breeds especially where progeny are reared to slaughter due to the desirable conformation and fat scores achieved. Belgian Blue is one of the most docile breeds and very easy to manage. The importation of Belgian Blue cattle to Ireland took place in 1979 and used as terminal sires for quality beef production.

Advantage of Belgian Blue:

• Short gestation length and easy calving
• Superior in conformation
• Highest meat to bone ratios
• Very lean meat which is extremely desirable to consumers
• Very docile and easy to manage