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History and Development of Zebu Cattle in the United States¹

Texas A&M University, College Station 77843

Abstract

Zebu cattle (humped cattle) apparently were developed by selection from nonhumped cattle. South and southwest Asia is the native region of Zebu cattle, but Zebus were taken to Africa at an early date. Most of the Zebu cattle that have entered the United States have been of breeds that originated in India. There are over 30 breeds of cattle in India and Pakistan, and these breeds can be classified into six major groups. The Guzerat, Nellore and Gir are important representatives of three of the breed groups; these three breeds have had the most influence on Zebu cattle breeding in the United States. A large majority of the Zebu cattle that have entered the United States have come from Brazil. Over 6,000 head of Zebu cattle have been imported into Brazil during the last 100 years. Some of the Zebu cattle imported from Brazil have been of the Indu-Brazil breed, a breed developed in Brazil during the 1920's and 1930's. In addition to several small importations, 33 head of Zebu cattle were imported into the United States from India in 1906; approximately 230 head were imported from Brazil through Mexico in the 1920's, and 18 bulls were imported from Brazil through Mexico in 1946. The Brahman is a Zebu breed developed in the United States from the cattle imported from India and Brazil. There are two distinctly different types of Brahman cattle: the Red Brahman and the Gray Brahman. Different breeds of Indian cattle were used in the formation of these two types of Brahman cattle. In the near future, more Zebu cattle from Brazil will enter the United States through the Fleming Key quarantine station.

¹ Presented at a symp. on "The Role of Zebu Cattle in Efficient Beef Production" at the Annu. Meet, of the Southern Sec. of the ASAS, February 5, 1979, in New Orleans, LA.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.