Cattle Hide Color Requirements – Black Angus

Posted: February 25, 2026 in For Cattle Producers

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A black and white cow with yellow lines on its body, standing on dirt with a green check mark symbol.

Acceptable Black Angus at Upper Iowa Beef

Per the American Angus Association Specification Guideline

2.2 Phenotype: “behind the shoulder” and “above the flanks”

Cattle eligible for certification in Angus influence beef programs based on phenotype (appearance) will have a main body that must be solid black, with no other color behind the shoulder, above the flanks, or breaking the midline behind the shoulders excluding the tail.

Not Acceptable Cattle at Upper Iowa Beef

Per the American Angus Association Specification Guideline

Points to Remember

  1. UIB only accepts black and red Angus cattle. Cattle shall be solid black or red with no other color behind the shoulder or above the flanks, tail
  2. NO Blue Roan, Charolais, or Simmental cattle
  3. NO Pinzgauer or Longhorn cattle markings
  4. NO cattle of dairy confirmation

NOTE: Cattle of non-program conformance will be discounted $55.00/cwt of hot carcass weight.

Downloadable PDF Resources

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