Yanbian cattle
The Yanbian is a taurine breed of cattle that originated in northeast China. They belong to the "yellow" class of Chinese cattle, and are closely related to the Korean Hanwoo breed, having diverged from a common ancestor in the late 19th/early 20th century. Unlike the majority of Chinese cattle breeds, Yanbian has had no ancestral breeding with indicine cattle. They are mainly distributed in northeastern China, in the Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning Provinces. In 2010, it was estimated there were 210,000 individuals. Females are 122 cm tall at the withers, 141 cm in length and weigh 365 kg on average; males are 131 cm tall at the withers, 152 cm in length and weigh 465 kg on average. Their coat colour is predominantly yellow, and both males and females are horned. They are primarily used as draught animals, particularly in rice production. They are also increasingly being raised for beef, with a dressing percentage of 40-48%. However, they have a slow growth rate, so production potential is limited. Yanbians were crossed with Limousins in 1987 to produce the Yan Yellow breed, which has improved beef production qualities.
| Life Span | 18-22 years |
| Weight | 450-900 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Yanbian cattle
Finding a responsible Yanbian cattle breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells cattles commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Yanbian cattle. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Yanbian cattles appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for a Yanbian cattle breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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