|
The Brahman breed originated from Bos
indicus cattle originally brought from India. Through centuries of
exposure to inadequate food supplies, insect pests, parasites, diseases
and the weather extremes of tropical India, the native cattle developed
some remarkable adaptations for survival. These are the "sacred
cattle of India," and many of the Hindu faith will not eat meat from
them, will not permit them to be slaughtered, and will not sell them.
These facts, in conjunction with he quarantine regulations of the United
States, have made it difficult to import cattle from India into this
country.
All the Bos indicus cattle are
characterized by a large hump over the top of the shoulder and neck.
Spinal processes below the hump are extended, and there is considerable
muscular tissue covering the processes. The other characteristics of these
cattle are their horns, which usually curve upward and are sometimes
tilted to the rear, their ears, which are generally large and pendulous,
and the throatlatch and dewlap, which have a large amount of excess skin.
They also have more highly developed sweat glands than European cattle (Bos
taurus) and so can perspire more freely. Bos indicus cattle
produce an oily secretion from the sebaceous glands which has a
distinctive odor and is reported to assist in repelling insects
Origin of the Breed
Some 30 well defined breeds of cattle
have been listed in India. Three principal strains or varieties were
brought to the United States and used in the development of the Brahman
breed are the Guzerat, the Nellore, and Gir. In addition, the Krishna
Valley strain was introduced and used to a lesser extent. The general
similarity of the Guzert strain to the cattle selected and developed in
this country would indicate that cattlemen working with the breed have
generally preferred this type.
Introduction into the United
States
There are conflicting reports as to the
exact manner of the introduction of Indian cattle to the United States,
but the following account was give to Dr. Hilton Briggs, author of Modern
Breeds of Livestock, by the American Brahman Breeders' Association to
help summarize the importations
The first Indian cattle, of which
there is any record, were imported in 1849 by Dr. James Bolton Davis of
Fairfield County, South Carolina, who, it is believed, became acquainted
with Bos indicus cattle while serving as agricultural advisor to
the Sultan of Turkey. Although the descendants of these cattle were spread
widely throughout the South, their complete identity was lost during the
Civil War. Two Indian bulls were given to Richard Barrow, a cotton and
sugar planter of St. Francisville, LA., in 1854, by the British Crown in
recognition of Mr. Barrow's services of teaching cotton and sugar cane
culture to a British representative who was to take these arts to India.
The offspring of these cattle became known as "Barrow Grade"
cattle, becoming widely known through the Gulf Coast region. The success
of these two animals led to the importation of two more Indian bulls in
1885 by J.M. Frost and Albert Montgomery of Houston, Texas. By mating
these two bulls to the offspring of the Barrow bulls, the first attempt to
concentrate the blood of Bos indicus cattle in the United States
was undertaken.
A few animals were imported by circus
organizations from time to time, some of the more desirable ones being
purchased by farmers and ranchers. One of the more famous of such
purchases was a red bull named "prince," acquired by A.M.
McFaddin, of Victoria, Texas, in 1904, from the Haggenbach Animal Show.
Another was the sale of about twelve head of Indian cattle by Haggenbach,
these finally being acquired by Dr. William States Jacobs of Houston.
In 1905 and 1906, the Pierce Ranch of
Pierce, Texas, assisted by Thomas M. O'Connor of Victoria, Texas, imported
thirty bulls and three females of several Indian types. These were
personally selected by Able P. Borden, manager of the Pierce Ranch.
In 1923-24, 90 bulls of the Guzerat,
Gir and Nellore types were imported from Brazil. In 1925, a second
importation from Brazil, including 120 bulls and 18 females, reached this
country. Both groups were shipped to Mexico and driven overland to the
United States.
Eighteen Brazilian bulls were brought
to Texas by way of Mexico in 1946.
Breed Development
It is said that during the period from
1910 to 1920, many cattle in the south-western part of Texas and the
coastal country along the Gulf of Mexico showed considerable evidence of Bos
indicus breeding. Naturally, many of the bulls that were used were the
result of crosses with other breeds. Some breeders attempted to keep the
stock pure, but they were in the minority.
Since there are records of less than
300 imported Brahmans, most of which were bulls, it must be assumed that
other breeds supplied the foundation animals for the breed. The bulls were
used on cows of the European breeds and on the descendants of these
crosses. By the fifth generation (31/32) the offspring carried not only a
preponderance of Bos indicus breeding but selection pressure had
permitted the development of an animal generally regarded as superior to
the original imports for beef production.
Physical Characteristics
- Size. Brahmans are intermediate in
size among beef breeds found in the United States. Bulls will
generally weigh from 1600 to 2200 pounds and cows from 1000 to 1400
pounds in average condition. The calves are small at birth, weighing
60 to 65 pounds, but grow very rapidly and wean at weights comparable
to other breeds.
- Disposition. The disposition of
Brahman cattle is often questioned. Brahmans are intelligent,
inquisitive and shy. They are unusually thrifty, hardy and adaptable
to a wide range of feed and climate. However, these characteristics
also suggest careful, kind handling methods. Brahmans like affection
and can become very docile. They quickly respond to handling they
receive, good or bad. Well bred, wisely selected and properly treated
Brahmans are as easily handled as other breeds.
- Colors. Brahmans very in color from
very light grey or red to almost black. A majority of the breed are
light to medium grey. Mature bulls are normally darker than cows and
usually have dark areas on the neck, shoulders and lower thighs.
- Heat Tolerance. Studies at the
University of Missouri found that Brahman and European cattle thrive
equally well at temperatures down to 8° F. They found that European
cattle begin to suffer adversely as the air temperature goes above 70°
F, showing an increase in body temperature and a decline in appetite
and milk production as 75° F, is passed. Brahmans, on the other hand,
show little effect from temperatures up to and beyond 105° F.
Although heat tolerance is only one factor in environmental adaptation
of cattle, it is considered the most important. These are some of the
other factors that allow Brahmans to adapt to adverse conditions.
- Hair Coat. The short, thick,
glossy hair coat of the Brahman reflects much of the sun's rays,
adding to its ability to graze in the glaring midday sun without
suffering.
- Skin Pigmentation. The black
pigmented skin of Brahmans keeps out the intense rays of the sun,
which in excessive amounts will damage deeper tissue layers.
- Loose Skin. An abundance of
loose skin on the Brahman is thought to contribute to its ability
to withstand warm weather by increasing the body surface area
exposed to cooling.
- Sweating Ability. Brahmans have
sweat glands and the ability to sweat freely through the pores of
the skin, which contributes materially to their heat tolerance.
- Internal Body Heat. One factor
contributing to the great heat tolerance of Brahmans, discovered
in the Missouri studies, is that they produce less internal body
heat in warm weather than do cattle of European breeds. Waste heat
is produced from feed at the expense of growth and milk
production.
Brahman cattle have been found to fill a
unique place in American cattle production. The Brahman and cattle
carrying percentages of Brahman breeding have been found extremely useful
in the southern coastal area of the United States, where they have
demonstrated their ability to withstand hot and humid weather and to
resist insects. In more recent years Brahman cattle have spread
considerably from their initial locations and are now found widely through
the United States. They are also good mothers and produce a very
satisfactory milk flow under conditions that are adverse for best
performance of the European breeds. Cancer eye is almost unknown in the
breed. They have established a considerable reputation for a high dressing
percentage, and their carcasses have a very good "cutout" value
with minimum of outside fat.
Probably the greatest tribute to the
Brahman breed and its breeders is the rapid growth of the breed outside of
the United States. They have constituted a large proportion of our exports
of breeding cattle outside continental North America.
Brahman Breed
Associations and Registries
Reference:
Briggs, H.M. & D.M.
Briggs. Modern Breeds of Livestock. Fourth Edition. Macmillan Publishing
Co. 1980
Photographs:
American Brahman
Breeders Association, Houston, TX
Handbook of
Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation,1989,
3rd Edition
|
