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Our Cattle

The North American Cattle Association compared Corriente beef against conventional beef, pork chops, and Chinook salmon and found that Corriente can live in a feedlot setting and can produce lean, choice-grading carcasses. The steaks were tested and found to have about half of the fat content of the CAB, with higher unsaturated fat and lower saturated fat. What’s even better is the Corriente scored higher in crude protein and had less calories! The Corriente steaks compared equally, if not more, in flavor and aroma.

History

The Corriente can be traced back to the first cattle brought to the new world by the Spanish as early as 1493. These cattle were hardy breeds chosen especially to withstand the ocean crossing and adapt to their new land. They were brought to the West Indies and south Florida, as well as Central and South America. Over the centuries the descendants of these cattle were bred for different purposes – milk, meat and draft animals.

In the early 1800’s, European and other breeds were introduced to the new world, and by the 1900’s many ranchers in the Americas were upgrading their herds with modern beef cattle. From this introduction of many new breeds, pure descendants of the original Spanish cattle almost disappeared, but some survived with little human care or intervention in remote areas of Central and South America, and in very limited numbers in some areas of the southern U.S.


Roping & Riding

Corriente are the most common cattle used in rodeos. They are great sports cattle even though they are small.

Most steers are ready-to-rope at 12 to 14 months of age. At this age the horns may be nearly straight, but soon develop a curve so that the animal can still go through a roping chute easily as a two-year-old. They are very gentle but very strong. This makes them an ideal choice for team roping, bulldogging, cutting and team penning. They are judged on their stamina, strength and qualities of their performance. A mature bull usually weighs less than 1,000 pounds, and a mature cow less than 800 pounds. ​https://www.aqha.com/aqha-horse-awards

The Corriente are great range cattle!

Corriente cattle are “Easy Keepers” – meaning they have high fertility and are easy calving cattle. Our cattle are also easily tamed.

Corriente are hardy and require less food and water than other beef breeds. They can forage on the range and need minimal water which is beneficial for our rangelands. Where they graze there are less weeds, prickly pear, and mesquite. They graze without nibbling down to dirt. They are smaller than other breeds so they don't ruin their water holes by creating mud bogs.

Characteristics

Corriente cattle are narrow and fine in conformation compared to other beef breeds, their head neck, forequarters, and hindquarters are well balanced.

In this breed horns are given special attention, they come out straight and curve to the front and up a little, they are set fairly wide apart. Corriente cattle can be any color except solid white, many of this breed are black. They have a dense coat with hair in their ears and a heavy tail switch.

A mature bull can weigh up to 1000 lbs and a mature cow up to 800 lbs, the yearling bulls or steers are around 400 lbs.

-Quality lean beef, reduced fat content
-Great sport cattle
-“Easy Keepers”/Easy calving
-Easily tamed
-Hardy
-Less food and water required compared to other beef breeds.