Pedigree Beef Breeds : Zebu

History Zebu cattle originated in Southwest Asia and that their descendants were non-humped, they have evolved from three breeds of Indian cattle. The Guzerat, Nelore and the Gir had most influence over Zebu breeding. Zebu cattle are humped and belong to the Bos primigenius species of cattle. They were taken to Africa at an early date and within the last 100 years, have been exported to Brazil and the US.  Photo courtesy of the USDA It started off with small groups of this breed being taken to Brazil in the 17thand 18th Centuries where they were crossed with Brazilian cattle. These importations slowly spiked interest...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Whitebred Shorthorn

History The Whitebred Shorthorns (often referred to as the White Shorthorn) exact history is not known, but what is known is that it originated in Northwest England and Southwest Scotland and aroused interest in the Border counties of the UK over 100 years ago when the breed was referred to as the Cumberland White.  Photo courtesy of The Whitebred Shorthorn Association, www.whitebredshorthorn.co.uk One of the early pioneers and founders of the breed was Mr David Hall of Larriston, Newcastleton Roxburghshire, who along with Mr Andrew Park of Stelshaw, Bailey, Cumberland sold Blue-grey suckled calves at Newcastleton suckler sales...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Welsh Black

History The Welsh Black is a native British breed descended from cattle of Pre-Roman Britain in the rough mountain and hill country of Wales. There is evidence that the breed, or its forerunners, existed in Roman times and it has been suggested that the breed is based on cattle from the Iberian Peninsula.  Certainly black cattle have been bred in Wales for well over 1,000 years and, as in Scotland and many other parts of Britain, were often used as currency. This gave rise to the description of the Welsh Black as "the black gold from the Welsh hills".  Photo courtesy of Bridin, www.bridin.co.uk Up until the early 1970's...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Watusi

History Long-horned, 'humpless' domestic cattle were well established in the Nile Valley by 4000 BC. These cattle, known as the Egyptian or Hamitic Longhorn, appear in pictographs in Egyptian pyramids. Over the next 2000 years, the Egyptian Longhorn migrated with its owners from the Nile to Ethiopia, and then down to the southern reaches of Africa.  By 2000 BC, humped cattle (Longhorn Zebu) from Pakistan and India reached Africa.  Photo courtesy of The World Watusi Association,watusicattle.com When these Zebu reached the region now known as Ethiopia and Somalia, they were interbred with the Egyptian Longhorn. This combination...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Wagyu

History The word Wagyu refers to all Japanese beef cattle ('Wa' means Japanese or japanese-style and 'gyu' means cattle).  Cattle were first introduced into Japan in the 2nd century to provide power for the cultivation of rice. Because of the rugged terrain, migration was slow and restricted. Cattle tended to be isolated in small areas and each area had essentially a closed population.  From 1635 to 1868, the cow herd in Japan was officially closed by mandate of the Shogun. And except for a short period during the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800's the national herd has remained closed to this day.  Although,there...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Tuli

History The Sanga breed from which Tuli originate from evolved several thousand years ago in Africa. It is thought that the breed was the result of natural mixing of indigenous cattle with the Zebu cattle, which were herded through the continent by nomads during the first Arab invasion.  They have most likely existed in their present form for more than 5,000 years. Photo courtesy of Tuli Cattle Breeders Society of SA,www.studbook.co.za The Sanga breed is prone to wide variations in constitution and appearance.  Most are a light shade, ranging from yellow to reddish - brown and have a humped neck. They can have either short or...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Texas Longhorn

History The Texas Longhorn was fashioned entirely by nature in North America. Stemming from ancestors that were the first cattle to set foot on American soil almost 500 years ago, it became the sound end product of "survival of the fittest". Shaped by a combination of natural selection and adaptation to the environment, the Texas Longhorn is the only cattle breed in America which - without aid from man - is truly adapted to America. In his book The Longhorns, J. Frank Dobie states this situation well: "Had they been registered and regulated, restrained and provided for by man, they would not have been what they were."  With the destruction...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Tarentaise

History Courtesy of Ankenman Ranch,www.ankenmanranch.com The Tarentaise originated in the rugged Savoie region of France, in the Tarentaise Valley in the French Alpine mountains (in 1859). This breed is considered to have experienced less mixing with other breeds in the last 100 years than with most French breeds.  Originally they were selected primarily for milk production when making their breeding decisions. Due to the habitat of this breed, it was naturally selected for muscling, hardiness and adaptability in order for them to live under range conditions in the French Alps, the result is a dual purpose breed.  Today, the...

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Pedigree Beef Breeds : Simmental

History Simmental is a breed of cattle whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. Early records indicate that Simmental cattle were the result of a cross between large German cattle and a smaller breed indigenous to Switzerland. The name Simmental is derived from the name of the area where the cattle were first bred - the Simme Valley which is situated in the Berner Oberland in Switzerland.  Technically, the Simmental designation includes several breeds in Europe.  Photo courtesy of Drumsleed Simmentals,www.drumsleedsimmentals.co.uk The name is given specifically to the breed in Switzerland, while in Germany and Austria it is...

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